This event will be held in English.
With your hands in the clay is a clay workshop with visual artist Esra Sakir at the Waag. Esra is artist in residence at Food Park Amsterdam. Join in and discover more about Amsterdam clay from the Lutkemeerpolder. A natural material that invites a conversation about our relationship with soil and food. What better way to visualise ideas than with your hands in the clay? The workshop lasts about two hours and all materials will be provided by us. Secure yourself a place via ‘tickets’.
‘I am very passionate about clay and use it as a medium to engage others on pressing humanitarian and environmental issues.’ - Esra Sakir
What do you think of when you think of ‘The Gold of Amsterdam’? Probably not clay. Let this evening change your view on this! During this interactive workshop, you will get to work making intuitive shapes from clay yourself. Meanwhile, a link is made with the origin and value of the material.
On the western edge of Amsterdam lies the Lutkemeerpolder: Amsterdam's last piece of fertile farmland, now in danger of disappearing. Its high clay content makes it ideally suited not only for food production such as vegetable gardening, but also for modelling. During this Waag Open workshop on Thursday 4 July, you will be introduced to the transformative power of clay under the guidance of artist Esra Sakir.
Artist Esra Sakir has been working with this precious material for some time. Using clay and ceramic techniques, Esra makes art at the intersection of women's empowerment, interculturalism and the environment.
Programme
| 19:15 hrs | Doors open |
| 19:30 - 19:40 hrs | Welcome & introduction by Waag |
| 19:40 - 21:30 hrs | Workshop by Esra Sakir |
| 21:30 - 22:00 hrs | Closing and drinks |
Practical information
You're allowed to bring your own clay, but it is not necessary. Also, you can ask Esra to bake your work, but there will be some extra costs involved (between 10 and 20 euro).
About the artist
From March to June 2024, Esra Sakir will be the artist-in-residence at Food Park Amsterdam and Waag Futurelab. Using clay and ceramic techniques, Esra Sakir explores local and communal food systems in Amsterdam Nieuw-West together with local residents. Clay is closely linked to the fundamental elements of existence and brings a lot of life: from a nutritious soil for plants to the fruits of those plants that in turn feed us. Clay is also one of the oldest materials for cultural expression. In the soft clay, ideas can take shape. Clay becomes an object with which we share: we can store food in it and can express our visions of the future with it. Esra Sakir's workshops and work makes us think about our relationship with soil, sparking a conversation about local ecology and food.
Waag Open
Every first Thursday evening of the month, Waag opens its doors! We organise various workshops and present collaborations between scientists, designers and artists. All Waag Open programmes can be attended by anyone and everyone. Waag Open takes place in the making spaces on the first and second floors of the historic Waag building on Nieuwmarkt.
Accessibility
As the Waag building is a listed building, it is unfortunately not equipped with a lift. This event will take place in the Makersguild on the first floor of the Waag building.
If you are tight on funds and would like to participate in this event, please contact tanja [@] waag [dot] org.
