Alex from Mystery Creek Ceramics

Meet the Maker

13 Mar

Written By Daymark

Meet the Maker: Alex Wilkinson from Mystery Creek Ceramics

Alex changed course from her academic background after attending a beginners ceramics class back in 2015. Applying her knowledge of chemistry to something less conventional and more creative sparked a passion in Alex that meant the rest was history. Eight years later she has completed her honours in sculpture, founded a bustling ceramic workshop facility in Kihikihi, secured wholesale partnerships with multiple galleries around the country and trains other artists in her field. Opening a retail store to front Mystery Creek Ceramics was a natural progression to connect not only with clients but other artists - with an offering of everything a ceramic artist might require, catering to both casual hobbyists and those pursuing ceramics as a serious vocation.

Tell us about your style and the identity of Mystery Creek Ceramics.

Mystery Creek Ceramics has developed out of a love for Nerikomi and functional, beautiful tableware. There is simply nothing better for me than creating a beautiful object that I can use every day in my kitchen. Through Mystery Creek Ceramics, I strive to create fun, colourful objects that others can find both function and adoration out of.

There are so many facets to your operation! Outside of creating, what do you love about what you do?

Passing my passion for ceramics on is always a favourite part of my practice. Through teaching at clubs like the Waikato Potters Society, training other artists and interns and now through mentoring customers in store who come to purchase their own production materials.

What would you say to someone looking to get into ceramics?

Do it! The art form is so incredibly cathartic as you are forced to give in to the serendipity of the process. You have control over the pattern to an extent but once the piece gets in the slab roller and in the kiln all kinds of weird and wonderful things can happen. It’s a pleasure that we often forgo as adults and there is so much to gain from it, creatively and mentally.

Can ceramics be an at-home hobby?

Definitely. To facilitate this, we have just started selling at-home kits in collaboration with Mac’s Mud Clay and Kiwi Underglaze. You can choose between ‘Make Your Own Mug’, ‘Make Your Own Bowl’, Make Your Own Dream Creation’ or ‘Paint Your Own Clay’. This is a great gateway to the ceramic bug. All the firing costs are included with the clay kits; so you simply drop them off in store for us to fire them on behalf in our studio.

Any advice for other makers?

After the success of my coloured stripe range, I’ve definitely faced worries of how to follow up and ‘will I be a one hit wonder?’. Something I try to remember is that it took 15,000 mugs to get my artistic identity to where it is today. With each batch comes some form of development and the creative journey is a practice; not a race.