Sally Bate is a ceramic artist, originally from Yorkshire and now based in Greater Manchester.

'Overall my practice is concerned with memories, personal and collective, universally significant. Using the medium of clay to convey important messages about contemporary issues. The idea of palimpsest where layers of memories are concealed, revealed, showing glimpses and traces of story and narrative. I am particularly interested in women’s stories, absences and silences, in showcasing Herstory, not just History. Using the properties and processes of clay, underpinned by archival research, to create contemporary ceramic objects that hold narrative meaning and evoke memories.'

She recently completed an MA in contemporary ceramics where her final project was inspired by the objects and records from the Mill archive supported by oral histories of former female workers. These stories also reference parallel domestic narratives of weaving and sewing making them recognisable to everyone.

'I am very interested in the object or artefact. Objects communicate, connect and interact with individuals and groups. I researched objects from the Mill archive and then interpreted them in Parian porcelain sculptural objects to evoke memories. I also used many ceramic processes to add to and reduce the forms and surfaces before using print techniques to build layers and narrative to the sculptural objects. I consider my approach Making with Meaning'

Sally will explain how she was inspired by objects and records in the Mill archive and how she used them to develop forms and surface decorations; show tests from development processes and also demonstrate some simple techniques with objects from her MA.

She will also showcase some new work in development.

This is a hands on informal talk with a limited number of attendees, so you will be given plenty of chance to explore and ask questions about Sallys research and practice. and view her work up close. The format will be a 1hr talk by Alison followed by the opportunity to visit the rest of the Archive yourself as part of the event.

We strive to be as accessible and inclusive as possible, and thanks to National Lottery Heritage Funding, not only are all tickets subsidised, but also, this event will be BSL interpreted as well as being able to offer a limited number of free Accessibility & Inclusivity tickets to Deaf and disabled customers, and also to students.