Welcome to Ajoupa
Ajoupa Pottery was created in 1987 by Rory and Bunty on the site of an abandoned Pottery in Chickland Village, Trinidad. We produced original figurines, depicting country life, from locally dug clay. All work was handmade by a team of dedicated men and women. The original Pottery was closed down in 2010 due to the heavy hand of globalization, which put many craftsmen, all over the world, out of business. Ajoupa Pottery can be found on e bay. Turn it over and find the stamp “Ajoupa Pottery”.
Rory built a new much smaller studio not far from the old workshop. Bunty started experimenting with glaze making and Raku firing. Workshops are offered in the first part of the year in Raku pottery and mosaic making. Bunty’s work covers large sculptural pieces, mosaic panels and tabletops and smaller work. Favourite pieces at the moment are the Trini Pothounds that are Raku fired to give them that adorable scratchy, muddy, patchy look that characterize our stray dogs. Every dog is different! And cats too!
Rory has set up a woodworking workshop. He makes benches and thrones from slabs of fallen trees. The 4 acre garden is a constant work in progress that needs all hands to maintain. There are birds to watch and trees to hug.
In July and August Adam joins us from Canada where he teaches pottery. He uses porcelain to make cups and bowls in his large gas fired kiln.
We are open most days, but call first and make an appointment. We look forward to seeing you.
Photography Gallery
From Our Blog
Exploding Pots
In the Time of Covid I found myself looking around for something new to challenge me. I had imported some St. Thomas Body stoneware clay a few years before. Deonarine very kindly threw these pots for me as they were too big for me to handle. The last thing he said...
Fish Abundance Mosaic
The Central Bank Museum and Art Gallery of Trinidad and Tobago recently acquired my favourite piece of work, “Fish Abundance”, for their permanent collection. The pieces are made of locally dug terra cotta clay, glazed and fired and assembled to form the mosaic. Size...
Caribbean Potters in Belgium
Potters work hard. As Bunty’s sister used to say, either you are breaking the ice on top of a bucket of glaze, or if you live in the Caribbean, tearing out your hair while you try to dry pots out while the rain pours down outside your workshop day after day. We choose...
Raku Workshops
Raku is the Japanese technique of firing pottery in the simplest of ways. It is possible to achieve an earthy harmony between the pot and the glaze that is often very special. The workshops run on two consective Sundays from 9am to 4pm.
DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
Please bring your lunch. We make fresh baked bread and serve juice, coffee and tea.
All materials are provided.
Size of the class is limited to 8 students.
Course cost is $2000 per person.
Book your space by making a 50% deposit two weeks before the start of the workshop.
Reviews
“Bunty O’Connor grew up absorbing the infusions of culture in Trinidad. Her work includes figures, plates, mugs, bowls, mosaics and sculptures. The figures include what O’Connor calls ‘demi-gods’, creatures which catch the spirit that infuses the artistic life of the Carribean Islands.”
“Through experimentation with Trinidad’s clays, she and husband Rory have recorded recipes that would be valuable to the other traditional potters, and to the country’s universities. “The central part of Trinidad consists of clay laid down over millennia by the mighty Orinoco River (flowing from Venezuela). We are a tiny island in its delta. This sedimentary red clay is our basic raw material. Our Ajoupa terracotta comes mainly from a huge clay pit where local brick and tile manufacturers get their raw material.”
“Ajoupa Pottery opened for business in 1987 as a workshop located in the hills of Carapichima, Central, Trinidad. The main focus was on experimenting and creating beautiful thrown, pressed and handmade terracotta wares and ornaments for sale. That particular workshop is no more but Ajoupa Pottery has been invigorated with new life and a new vision. The new design studio, its storage and workspaces are being constructed by Rory, using salvaged and local materials and in some cases cedar wood from their own backyard.”
“To walk in the garden is a privilege. Bunty is doing tremendous work with seed collecting and propogation of indigenous trees. The family hikes regularly and much of her inspiration and creative spirit comes from this close connection with her landscape. She is surrounded by five acres of slightly undulating land that looks northwards up to the northern range and throws a backward glance to Tamana in the central range.”
Listen to Bunty’s interview on Episode 483 of The Potters Cast here: http://ThePottersCast.com/483
Origins
This long and meditative archive film on Ajoupa was made by Luis Sanchez in 2000. The only sounds are the background noises of a quiet workshop in the countryside of Trinidad. We like it so much that we decided not to dub any sound into it. Enjoy!
Open Studio
Every year we get together with friends for a weekend to showcase the special work that we produce throughout the year. We invite you to come and meet the artists and buy. You can bring a cooler and folding chair and spend the day exploring the garden or just sitting in the shade and listening to the birds. It’s a great way to relax and breathe some fresh air. There are walks throughout the garden, so wear sensible shoes and insect repellent is recommended! Please park outside the gate.
See you this year:
November 9 & 10
9am – 5pm
People get lost in spite of google maps, so call us on (868) 673 0605 and (868) 705 9693.
Mosaic Workshops
Details
Making mosaic requires learning certain skills. We will help you develop your own design. Each day we will cover a different step in Bunty’s unique mosaic process.
It’s challenging and fun.
It is easy to make pots or small sculptures by hand with the clay in a playful way even if you have never made pots before. During the week your pots dry and are fired, so that they are ready for glazing on the following Sunday. The clay pieces are fired in a gas kiln which is opened, red hot so that the firing process can be seen and experienced. The resulting finish can be very surprising. Raku is a great way to break through inhibitions and appreciate the magic of the random. It is a very satisfying experience.
The workshops run on two consective Sundays from 9am to 4pm.
March 17th and 24th, 2019
May 12th and 19th, 2019
Please bring your lunch.
We make fresh baked bread and serve juice, coffee and tea.
All materials are provided.
Size of the class is limited to 8 students.
Course cost is $2000 per person.
Book your space by making a 50% deposit two weeks before the start of the workshop.
Contacts and Location
We are located in the rolling hills of the central range of Trinidad in the West Indies. Find us using the video below (thanks to Solman for the music). To contact us directly, call (868) 705 9693. You can visit us by appointment only.
