The clay I used was extra firm clay due to having it for a long time, and was clay meant for wheel throwing or hand building. I have a pottery wheel so my intention was to make a few pots. I began with the kneading process to remove the air bubbles from the clay. I kneaded 3, 4-5 lbs balls of clay for about 30 minutes, which was a very kinesthetic experience. Kneading clay, particularly when it was harder than usual made me pay more attention to my bodily tension, awareness and movement. I have been recovering from pregnancy related carpel tunnel and had to rely on other parts of my hands, wrists and arms when kneading and centering the clay onto my wheel, something I would need to think about when working with others and the population. Hinz speaks about the “discharge” of energy that reduces the individual’s level of tension” (p. 41, Hinz, 2009), which allows for a level of relaxation, and for me this was helpful to think about as I settled into the wheel after kneading for some time. The wheel provided a very sensory experience that quickly moved into the perceptual component. The sensory component comes from the constant adding of water to the clay, which often feels slick and smooth and can be very messy. The sensation from the combination of mud and water went away rather quickly and I became only concerned about form. This phase of the process is when I am most focused and engulfed in the process.
I would use clay on adolescents with eating disorders due to its transformational qualities and the process oriented nature of the material. In “Craft in Art Therapy” it state’s “through the prolonged period of developing the craftsmanship of clay art making, the artist goes through an inner alchemical process of self-transformation” (p.57). The inner alchemical process is linear to the process of using clay in this way. There are specific steps you have to take when using clay that cannot be skipped and if they are, the pot or vessel will literally explode in the kiln. When using the wheel, one does not simply begin throwing with 5 lb balls of clay, you start off small and gradually get bigger, similarly to recovering from an eating disorder one might say “one day at a time.” There is a sense of pride that comes with every piece you make, building self-esteem, something adolescents with eating disorders could really benefit from. One’s pot will grow crooked and will collapse if it is not fully centered on the wheel, serving as the perfect metaphor for prioritizing the centering and grounding of one’s life. This is a valuable thing to learn early on, particularly if one is struggling with treatment related to eating disorders. When I think of those who have eating disorders and what they struggle with most, what comes to mind is the desire/need to be in control and learning to give up that control thus, transferring that control over to the clay body and process could be beneficial in their self-discovery. There is an even balance of control and things that you simply can’t control when working in clay. If you drop your piece, or accidently bump it while it is wet, you might need to start over, similar to a relapse.
Further, individuals with eating disorders have a keen awareness to their bodies which would make this a great form of therapy for them being that the way in which one’s body is positioned (elbows tucked into the inner thighs) is integral when centering clay on the wheel. “Sensory-rich processes and kinesthetic movements therefore help clay art making provide a profound effect on raising somatic consciousness (Stein, 1998) or body awareness in a physical space (Schutz, 2005) that also can create positive psychological effects, such as mindfulness.” Further, one wrong swift movement and a newly formed wet pot will be ruined, thus teaching us a lot about the impermanence of the material when the clay body is wet and more permanent once the clay body is fired to bisqueware.
Leone, L. (2021). Craft in art therapy: Diverse approaches to the transformative power of craft materials and methods. Routledge: Taylor & Francis. Print
