Made By Miriam – Let the beauty evolve!
Before the world turned upside down and inside out, I was already sensing a gentle shift in society. Not a revolution, that would be terribly un-British, more a gentle murmuring in the consumerist psyche.
Mass production, the lord of generic blandness that for years led us by the nose like the Bisto kid, left us feeling slightly empty and just a teensy bit cheated… much like an unsatisfactory takeaway. Nothing major, just a constant series of minor disappointments that led to a general feeling of … well…meh.
For me it started with an increasingly mothballed wallet. I began noticing my purse primly click shut at the mere mention of a big brand, yet when I scampered past a small independent crammed with handmade delights, my money would flutter forth with joy and much desired freedom. Why? Because we want to connect. We want to know the story behind the treasures in our homes, we want there to BE a story and we want products made with joy, meaning and depth.
As I say, before the world went into lockdown and the future began to look bleak not orange, I had the pleasure of joining local Glass Artist ‘Made by Miriam’ on one of her workshops. Run from her gorgeously eclectic home, Miriam invites you in for an afternoon of expert tuition and creativity, along with a healthy dose of puppy cuddles courtesy of Maggie the resident Pug (don’t worry; puppy cuddles are not compulsory!) but seriously… who doesn’t love pugs.
Initially the sheer volume of knowledge required for this art form, from dichronic glass, confetti, powder, foils, silver, copper, chemical reactions, kiln settings, reactive, strikers, opacity, transparency, layering… leaves you gasping ‘what is this wizardry!’ Yet, the lovely environment, combined with Miriam’s warm welcome and clear mastery of her art instantly puts you at ease.
The first thing I discovered was that each work is a complete unknown. Although guided by knowledge, it is still an organic process driven by a myriad of variables that could result in an infinite number of outcomes. ‘What!’ I exclaimed!... ‘you don’t know how this will turn out?!’ As my inner ‘control freak’ began to develop a nervous twitch… water was required… I took a deep breath, followed Miriam’s advice and just… began.
To my utter astonishment and joy I found this lack of control to be both liberating and cathartic. The freedom of the unknown was an allure that until then I hadn’t truly believed existed. Before long, I was sprinkling, layering, dotting and cutting with such immersion that before I could blink the hours had passed. However, when I stood back to admire my work, I was somewhat bemused that despite by best efforts to forego my love of control, my creation remained defiantly neat, tidy and perfectly matched.
Whilst the wonderful ladies around me created marvellous, free spirited and beautiful abstract pieces, mine belied my character to a tee. But therein surely lies the beauty. The process of fused glass seems to capture the personality of the creator. As an organic abstract process our preferences naturally appear in our choice of colour, material and texture to create an art that is both tactile and expressive.
After a hesitant start, in truth I found the whole experience addictive and more than a little awe-inspiring. The sheer joy of meeting new people and creating was a form of self-care I had never really considered, yet the whole event was just a glorious way to while away an afternoon.
If there is one positive to come from the uncertainty of the last few years, even more so given the current turn of events, it is the emergence of thriving independent businesses and creatives. The evolution of the side hustle into successful enterprises has brought with it a lifeline of individuality. Disrupting the never-ending stream of mass production and monotony that for years has dominated our high streets and homes.
Tucked away in every town I guarantee there is super talented individual, singing their own song, following their own path and bringing some much-needed colour and inventiveness to the world. The trick is knowing where to find them ;) Search online, find these small businesses and support their endeavours. Remember, every time you buy from a small business an actual person does a happy dance!
What these independents offer is individuality, ingenuity and a touch of the unique. The afternoon with ‘Made By Miriam’ provided the opportunity to re-engage with a lost love of creating. For many of us, art is something we leave behind at school, the cheerful break between the horror of maths and physics, the catharsis of a non-serious hour. We take this feeling for granted, seeing it as a frivolity when we leave to earn a buck and time becomes money.
But that feeling is gold dust, it is the freedom of doing something for the pure joy of it and we need more of that today than ever before.
Once the firing process was complete my creation arrived in the post. Beautifully wrapped, I cautiously opened the package to reveal a surprising result. Despite my controlled and careful production, the firing process had morphed my precise work into an unexpected delight of perfect imperfections. Colours had fused, shapes softened and tones shifted in the light with an overall feeling of joyful abandon that I alone could never call forth.
The beauty of the process was collaborative. Forces beyond my control, natural energies, chemical reactions, had all become part of the creation. It was like a team effort between myself, nature and science… and… more surprisingly… I found I liked that!
This art form is beautifully cathartic and in the hands of a professional like Miriam Beig it is a wonder of alchemy. Conducting the materials to work in perfect harmony, guiding the unpredictable to become unique and soulful creations is a work of pure artistry.
For the rest of us, it is a lesson in joy; to create, to share, to let go of control and just let the beauty evolve.
To attend a workshop at ‘Made By Miriam’ vouchers are available to redeem when life returns to the ‘New Normal’. Until then keep creating, keep supporting local and remember, joy is a necessity not a whim.
For more information and to see Miriam’s beautiful work visit www.madebymiriam.co.uk