Martha Cashman is a ceramicist based in Cork, Ireland.
Utterly inspired by her country’s rich history, Martha makes works dedicated to the unsung peasants and farmers that bring forth produce from the soil. Childhood memories of these generous and knowledgeable people have made a long-lasting impression. She recalls “the farm helpers and local women who visited and helped my mother in the house. Their understanding of the daily running of a small farm holding impacted on me greatly and led me to appreciate and respect the land we took from daily.”
Marsha Cashman – porcelain, wood
Her most recent work is made from glazed paper porcelain. Some are fine kitchen utensils; some pieces are interspersed with woven wire, carved birch and ash wood to accentuate and enhance the delicate white porcelain. The pieces are either box framed using limed ash or hung simply from rusted nails.
martha cashman – drills – porcelain and gold lustre
martha cashman – memories of rose cottage – porcelain spoons
What I love about Martha’s work is that ability to manipulate something so delicate as porcelain and present it with rustic naturalness, without losing its subtle elegance. There are ideas of beauty contained in the most commonplace of objects, in the most commonplace of places.
Martha Cashman – ‘Family Heirlooms’ – porcelain textured with vintage linens, painted & polished driftwood.
Martha Cashman – ‘Family Heirlooms’ – porcelain textured with vintage linens, painted & polished driftwood. (detail)
Martha has won several awards for her work and was selected last year for the 4th Biennale Linen Diaspora in Portneuf in Quebec Canada. She is also currently the chair for the Society of Cork Potters. You can find more of her work on her website, www.marthacashman.com
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With thanks to Martha for sharing her ideas and images here.