Hi Mariella, we hope you're enjoying the coffee!

LOVE THE COFFEE THANKS!

1. Can you give us an introduction to your practice, interests and experiences?

This is what inspires me; endless feedback loop of relating to the world around. My family (history) is very international & interested in other cultures which drew me to look @ differences in cultures + how they relate + solve problems + also the similarities across it all. You see this loads in symbols 💗 Joy + love drives things but so does fear + things people think as the darkness. I like to try to acknowledge the dark as there is always both + there’s a lot of beauty + it just is. ⬅️ Sometimes things are just sad + suck. (a lot in the world right now)

6. Who, where or what has you feeling excited at the moment? Who, where or what has you feeling concerned at the moment?

Will that kick us into gear + start to look after each other better? We are nature, we are not separate – listen to your body, I am not above my body, love your body, let it heal you.

I was really enjoying learning how to make functional ceramics after studying Fine Art. It’s very meditative + addictive + surprising as you only have so much control. Then I got chronic pain in both arms stopping me from doing most things let alone something longer than a few minutes. I am writing this over days – it’s good practice – mind over body. As I write my physio told me to repeat “this doesn’t hurt, you are ok, it doesn’t hurt”. Mind sends pain signals even before I start or even look at others using their arms, it is emotionally driven (the pain) tipped off by trauma – mind/ body connection + how subconscious can control + reprogramming sensory understanding is my current interest + inspiration.

How perception + emotion actually changes information + even receptors in cells! The same thing happens in diff. mediums + scales around the world. Apparently handmade things by people you know increases your health as it makes you feel connected to larger world. Clay is mud – mud is everywhere in all its forms – it was + always will be if we are here or not that’s why I love it. Food is grown in it, we eat out of mud bowls, we poo in a toilet made of mud. Walk on mud bricks – also eating mud as a baby gives you a stronger immune systems ha.

👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ PAREIDOLIA 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️ 👁️

Perceiving a familiar pattern where none exists – seeing faces everywhere comfort + caution. Fight or flight ⬅️ think that’s why all da faces.

SMALL BIG
BIG SMALL
LOVE HATE
DOES IT
MATTER
LET’S
JUST LIE
DOWN

5. Tell us about Hands Free Project, we love the one off designs! ❤️

HANDS FREE PROJECTS is using a sewing machine as robot arms – as a pass time. I can do a lot more as it does all the work. It’s a fun distraction from pain + I can go slow! My granny is a quilter + it’s great to have time to do long quilt projects – I make for babies. The jumpers are just colour experiments. I am excited to collaborate in a new medium - fabric printing + pattern cutting. All mediums are fantastic - fabric is good for warmth, healing + love. When angry I made a metal sword

The evil eye 👁️ (KEEP SAFE) is across the world - I use it from my greek Oma (Dutch granny) she is a potter, a mother of 3 + a feast maker. Family is food. Two fabulous women whose craft is art + they taught me passion to make in all aspects. Eyes + seeing is also about always learning - that’s why collaborating is great!

8. Tell us about some of your favourite collaborations and the role collaboration plays in informing your work?

Sharing, making + celebrating others talents 👍 thumbs up. Working with Catherine from Object Company was great fun, as what we do contrasts, total freedom + she’s v. talented + driven - young female power house (POWER ♀️).

@ Bakery47, I had total freedom + loved the joy good food + pottery can bring in a community (lookout coma between joy and good)

My favourite was making beads with Sean - just funny + he was trying to keep my business going after my arms hahaha 💕.

PARANOIA
PARASCOPE
PARROT

4. Are there any books or authors that you find yourself coming back to time and time again, if so what are they and why?

Right now I read ‘The Language of Kindness’ a nurses story - Christie Watson - an NHS nurse, LIVE LONG THE NHS. She is a psychiatric nurse where I am right now (in the book). Sad, inspiring… Nurses should be millionaires. End of.

Also zines @ Rattel Library @ Glasgow Autonomous Space (GAS) - gender, race, oppressed groups, community - mental health cookbook - creating connection through food + herbs.

If anyone wants to chat about growing plants + food for good brain - HIT ME UP - want to make a zine about people's stories.

wwwwwwww............spiderweb.com

9. Can you talk to us about the series entitled Poster Painting on your website? We are intrigued!

I didn’t have a tv + saw Ghana film posters - I just doodles them after a break up haha. They were more reflective than I realised. Now it’s a great therapy for me. I used to dream in film shots. My dad makes documentaries so they are silly - I’d recommend to do it haha.

10. If funding and resources were no object, is there a particular work or project that you would like to realise?

Can someone fund us to make a centre: It’s free for all
Canteen
- everyone helps
- eat off made ceramics - we all make
Garden
- grow trees
- food
- colours
- bees
Swimming pool + sauna
- all mosaiced
- mental health
- mindfulness
Play + art
- kids + adults
- all backgrounds + ability
Nurse centre
Lessons taught by kids
Legal/ occupation/ life/ €£ support
Boxing + yoga
Music - making + dancing
look like Niki de Saint Phalle tarot garden inspo
clown healer come-kinetic sculptures to dance

BORN. PLAY. DIE ***

HAHAHA
YEAH HUH?
REALLY? FOOL

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LOOK.
WHAT IS THAT? WHY??

HAPPY CRY SEA - SAD CRY SEA
SALTY TEARS MELT ICE CAPS
WE DROWN WOOPS

Mariella Verkerk is volunteering, making quilts & occasional ceramic commissions in Glasgow. You can find her on instagram at @handsfreeprojects & @mariellaceramics.