Bow Families: embracing the moon and sun with clay discs and pinch pots making with Alison Lam
Sunday 25th May 2025 , 11:00am to 1:00pm
Come and join Alison Lam as we make clay discs and pinch pots decorated using inspirations that draw from festivals related to the moon or sun. Open to children and families of all ages – all materials provided.
Equipped with a range of fun materials like air-dry clay, cookie cutters and gold leaf, Alison will work with children to make their own clay discs and pinch pots decorated using inspirations that draws from some of the listed festivals below that are determined by the moon or sun.
Moon:
The start date of Ramadan is determined by the new moon, marking the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.
The date of Easter, the central event of Holy Week, is calculated according to the spring equinox and the first full moon after this astronomical event.
Sun/summer festival
Taking place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival usually takes place in late May or June.
On the eve of June 23rd, Barcelona lights up in flames. Across this Catalonian city, bonfires and fireworks are lit in honour of the start of summer for Feast of Sant Joan.
Held on the last Saturday of July, Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is one of the most spectacular summer festivals in the world!
In this workshop, children will learn about the possibilities of pinch pottery, a range of colouring, mark-making and decorating techniques.
This event is an inclusive, friendly environment which is accessible to all abilities and age groups.
Bow Families is a series of free, drop-in family art workshops that take place on the last Sunday of every month in the Bow Arts Courtyard Room. These sessions are a wonderful opportunity for local families to get creative and try something new! Each session is led by a Bow Arts’ Artist and all materials are provided.
More about Alison Lam
Alison Lam is a social practice, neurodivergent, interdisciplinary artist working with porcelain, metals, glass and paper. Through her socially engaged practice, she investigates themes of grief, discardment, and ostracisation using experimental, hands-on processes she describes as “drawing with her hands.” Alison’s art is deeply shaped by her experiences as a mother to two autistic sons with complex needs as she explores resilience, inclusion and the hidden beauty in overlooked details.
Alison lives and works in London. She has been an Artist in Residence at Lauderdale House and a Guest Lecturer at Brighton University, Middlesex University, and the MASS Sculpture Course.
Recent solo exhibitions include This is Where I Leave You at Studio KIND in 2024 and Conversation Starters: Suspended in Time at Espacio Gallery in 2023. She has also exhibited in group shows such as Fresh Air Sculpture in 2024, Ugly Duck in 2023 and October Gallery in 2022.
Alison has delivered workshops for institutions including the British Library and has been a speaker at events such as the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto Conference (2024), eseacontemporary Manchester, ArtCan and the Rights in Focus Conference. Her work has been supported by funding from Arts Council England’s DYCP programme and a National Lottery Project Grant.
Access information
The Bow Arts Trust courtyard room has step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system. Accessible parking is not available on-site but blue badge parking can be found 500m away on Fairfield Road.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event, would like to make us aware of any access requirements that you have in advance of visiting, or would like this information in an alternate format including Easy Read, please email nunnery@bowarts.com or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3)
Access requirements could include things like providing equipment, services or support (e.g. information in Easy Read, speech to text software, additional 1:1 support), adjusting workshop timings (e.g. more break times), adjustments to the event space (e.g. making sure you have a table near the entrance) or anything else you can think of!
Transport information
Bow Arts Trust, 183 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ
Nearest station(s): Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away.
Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area.
Bike: Bicycle parking is located at Bow Church Station. The nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Bow Church Station.
