Pot Of Gold

BY PRASAD Abu Bakr

AT a time when pottery and ceramic manufacturers have broken new ground being absorbed into international market trends as commodities with big market values it is indeed a pathetic truth that Sri Lanka is lagging behind in keeping up with what is being done for improvement for the pottery industry around the world, even though it has been a craft that has been around in our country over the years.

A grand exhibition on a national level depicting the creative talents of pottery and clay workers from over 200 villages based island-wide opens today at the National Art Gallery under the presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Minister of Small Industries and Rural Development K. D. Lal Kantha.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 4.00 pm to 10.00 pm today (4) and from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm on both tomorrow (5) and Monday (6).

Amongst over 1000 creations that are due to go on show are a collection that will reflect the creative talents of artistes who participated in a Technical and Design enhancement workshop specially for clay and pottery workers held islandwide recently during a 2 week period.

It was held at the National Crafts Council for pottery workers mostly from the western and the southern province and in Kandy covering the central and north central provinces and in the Monaragala District.

During the workshop artistes underwent training opening new vistas for them steering them away from deep seated traditional methods and moving them towards contemporary methods of technical advancement and designs styles to suit today's international market trends.

New firing methods to suit a variety of novel raw materials that are being used in the process of manufacturing clay and pottery creations at present and modern colour combinations in vogue along with a knowledge in packaging methods for sales and exports were some of the areas that were covered.

A special effort was also made to rectify and bring production costs to a minimum, under this extensive workshop that was held totally supported by the Ministry of Small Industries and Rural Development making available all facilities needed for the purpose.

This is done with the view of leading the pottery and clay industry towards the present programme of leading the country towards a productive market economy on a national level.

It is further envisaged to lead the local pottery industry to the highest level by producing items suitable for both local and international markets by taking the artistes a step further training them in new glazing methods that is widely used in the ceramic industry which has a wider export market the world over.

The holding of workshops and exhibitions of this nature is a goal towards taking our local pottery and clay workers beyond their traditional kiln.

The exhibition is a step towards the vision of setting up a total of 1000 pottery villages islandwide. The extensive workshops that were held islandwide mentioned above was an initial step towards this goal.

The ministry hopes to have more similar programmes in the future opening up vivid opportunities to the workers involved in the pottery industry that has been ailing and almost arriving at the brink of collapse in recent times.

Pottery which has been a traditional craft for over centuries in the country has always remained a homely product, making of clay utensils mainly for cooking purposes and storing of drinking water in clay goblets.

But during the recent past pieces of pottery was used as 'object's de art' mostly by interior decorators in their work. Garden layout artist's too followed suite and pottery became an in thing turning towards new design concepts shapes and sizes.

It is a usual and fascinating sight that one meets on the way up or back down from Kandy near Kegalle. Lines of stalls adorn the main road with different creations by our local pottery workers. Those stalls have been around for years with workers working and toiling on their own to make ends meet.

If we probe islandwide it is evident that there is a large number of families that have made pottery making their main line of income. But it is important to find out whether they generate any money at all immersed in a business that calls for so much hard work.

Under the recent probing by the Ministry of Small Industries and Rural Development it seems that the workers in the pottery industry are being brought to the helm through different programmes and workshops.

Signals that there is a new awakening in the small industries sector is becoming evident in recent times which is also a signal that is triggering off an upward trend in the handicraft sector all round.

It is of course a total necessity that Sri Lankan handicrafts need to find not only an overflowing export market but also a market within its home of origin.

So the need arises that the ministry concerned will improve the awareness amongst the local public through making available local handicrafts not only of decorative and ornamental value but also for utility purposes, marketed through islandwide outlets and at strategic points like public parks and restaurants.

Coming back to the 'Guru Peheyen Ran Peheyata' exhibition that will open this evening, blooming hope for many a pottery worker, let's hope that all the sweat and tears they shed to produce theses unique creations put on show today will ultimately lead them to the pot of gold.