Silvia, first of all, how did you get into pottery?
Silvia Schennach: After becoming a mother in 2016, I decided that I wanted to live out another facet of my humanity and that I wanted to leave my learned profession behind for the time being. Although I studied Diploma Education, my heart has always been for the arts. In 2010, I was in New Zealand for almost a year and discovered my passion for pottery. After that, I attended various pottery courses and in 2020 decided to go it alone. After all, I had already gained enough experience in my own pottery rooms in Ehrwald in Tirol.
What exactly does S.heART, the name of your ceramics studio, mean?
Silvia: S.heART stands for many things. First of all, it is important for me to involve nature. Since I did an herbal training, I offer herbal classes in Ehrwald for young and old, which take place outside in the fresh Tyrolean air. But also in pottery, you are always in tune with nature. The clay itself comes from Mother Earth. And so every piece of clay, every ceramic is a gift from the earth. You can also find the four elements in the pottery process: the clay from the earth is formed with water and hands, then it dries thanks to the air and finally it is burned in a fire or in an oven.
In addition, there are some meanings in the name S.heART itself. Of course, there is the letter S at the beginning, with which my name also begins. Then there are the English words "she" and "heart," which once stood for femininity and the art of the heart. The name is as multifaceted as I feel, so to speak. Incidentally, it is pronounced with the English words and a short break in between: "she art."
What items do you potter in your courses in Ehrwald in Tirol?
Silvia: There is always an overarching theme that the participants can take up in their course work. I give instructions on how people can make bowls or cups, for example. Vessels are my personal area of expertise. When I transform what is formless at the beginning into a shape during the pottery process, it fills me completely. Also paying attention to the seasons is very important to me: in the summer in Ehrwald in Tyrol we often make garden ceramics, in the winter we make Christmas decorations. In the courses we also pottery without a turntable. In outdoor pottery, your own expression becomes much more evident and you have a faster visible experience of success.
How do the pottery courses work?
Silvia: The pottery classes always take place on two different days: one is pottery, and on the second date the course works are glazed. It's important to me that you get to experience the whole pottery process. After the works have been air-dried for a good week, they are fired for about two days and then painted by the course participants themselves. The three-hour classes, which take place in a circle of a maximum of four people, are suitable for everyone: children from eight years old, young and old, are always welcome. I also offer weekend classes, where the students have a bit more time, from 10am to 5pm, to immerse themselves in the art of pottery. And those who are in the beautiful Ehrwald and Tyrol for a holiday are also welcome. Because if the second deadline for painting cannot be met, I design the art myself according to the wishes of the participants and then send it to them.
What do you like most about pottery?
Silvia: I love to be creative and express myself creatively - you can see that in my blog. For me, pottery is meditative stillness and vibrant vibrancy at the same time. It just feels so good when you have created something yourself - and you do it all by yourself with your own hands and your heart. You always enjoy it: for example, when you drink your own Tyrolean coffee from your own cup every morning - like I did in Ehrwald. Pottery also appeals to all the senses, and I always say: you can literally pottery happy.
