Collaboration, minimalism & keeping it local
Collaboration and Locality- Themes inherent in our work and approaches that have become a way of life to us over the years. Minimalism- An approach that we admire and aspire to, even if we struggle with ‘less is more’ in our practice sometimes (it can be VERY hard to be minimalist when you have as many good materials to work with as we do).
Ceramics and floristry go hand in hand, after all what is a cut flower without a vessel to hold it in place and allow it to drink? One half of PYRUS is a qualified ceramic artist, while the other is in awe of the patience, planning and temperance required to become a good one. This summer we finally took the plunge after years of throwing ideas about (pun intended) to collaborate with East Lothian based ceramic artist and potter Allison Weightman to create a little flower bowl for arranging. We wanted something small and simple that could hold a kenzan (flower pin) and would be accessible to everyone that would like to try their hand at flowers, or improve their practice.
We are great believers that flowers are not and should not be a luxury available to the privileged few, and to that end, a vessel that holds a few stems beautifully is both friendly in approach and to the pocket. You can pop to your local florist (please ask for British stems), take a few stems from your garden or go for a walk and choose some treasure from the hedgerows to play with.
The resulting limited run of bowls Allison has created completely exceeded our expectations and we are so delighted to share them with you as part of our online winter collection. Their tactility is striking, like the very best sea-worn-smooth pebble you trophy home from the beach. They are such special little objects in their own right that they seem perfectly happy by themselves, and hold their own without flowers. We suggest you try and work with them frequently, minimalism really is the name of the game here. Slow, meditative daily practice helps blow the dreary Covid cobwebs away.
We really wanted to introduce you to Allison and share her process, and that is where the collaboration became a trinity. The brilliant Scottish Borders based photographer Andrew Hope has been visiting the garden this year, documenting things often overlooked by us with his considered, sensitive eye. We were very lucky to have Andrew shoot our winter collection for us and he was interested in meeting and capturing the hands behind the bowls. And that is the best thing about creative collaboration- the people.
2020, you can take away our human interactions and right to move freely but you won’t take away our friendships, creative community and hope for a more connected and collaborative future.
Remember to shop local this Christmas, more than any other. You are helping a real person and not a cooperation. Moreover, you are supporting the ingenuity, creativity, sacrifices and downright hard work that is behind each and every artist, one man band or small business.
An enormous thank you to Andrew for these beautiful images and we hope you enjoy the bowls as much as we do, you can find them and the rest of our winter collection in our Christmas shop.
Seek out and follow Andrew and Allison on Instagram @andrew_.hope and @allison.weightman
