Mahyar Garmsiri’s ergonomic handles are a delightful addition to any ceramic piece. Favouring majestic sculptures, he infuses his creations with a sense of the extraordinary. Organic and accordion shapes, and a current preference for speckled clay, lends a certain aesthetic that singles Mahyar out in the ceramic crowd. Raised in Mississauga, Mahyar later headed to Newfoundland to obtain a Master of Human Resource Management. Soon afterward he decided to move to London to be with his girlfriend. At first, he barely knew anyone in town. Craving a true sense of belonging and eager to delve into ceramics, Mahyar Googled “pottery in London,” and London Clay Art Centre (LCAC) immediately appeared. Having attended a few classes at LCAC in the summer of 2018, Mahyar finally felt at peace. He says, “I met really kind, amazing people. It was important for me to find a community and LCAC provided that. I was able to surround myself with a group of like-minded individuals who support one another.” Finding his artistic voice was a new feeling and Mahyar became a member in 2019.
According to him, LCAC is a creative beacon in the community and provides exceptional artistic workshops. While noting there are smaller art studios in London, Mahyar is adamant that LCAC has a unique flavour of its own. He also praises its Clay 4 Kids program which he says teaches “artistic skills, creative development, confidence, and networking.” As far as adults are concerned, in the future Mahyar would like to see something he calls a “potters connect session” which would include 4-5 clay artists each demonstrating their craft in the span of approximately five minutes. He believes such an exposition would be invaluable for students and members at LCAC who would get to witness the latest in pottery techniques and skills, and be inspired to enhance their own. “There is so much we can learn from each other. Building our knowledge can only help further the overall strength of LCAC. That knowledge will continue to empower the community and the lives of people we touch through the amazing London Clay Art Centre.”
