Hidden talent of Kittitians revealed through workshop

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-NEARLY 600 pieces of finely crafted pottery can be seen on display at the St. Kitts Craft House, an outstanding yield nine weeks into the Pottery Skills Workshop sponsored there by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF). 

The workshop began on February 13 and features prominent artisan out of St. Lucia Adam Azaire as the facilitator. In a previous interview, General Manager of the Craft House Austin Weekes said that the workshop would help provide marketable tourism craft skills to the nearly 40 participants.

Pieces created thus far at the workshop have ranged from decorative napkin holders and elaborately designed tea pots, to hand-crafted knickknacks and traditional pottery done on the wheel. 

With three weeks remaining before the workshop is completed, Azaire said that he has been very pleased with the passion with which his Kittitian students have pursued the art. 

“I think they have done an excellent job. They are very enthusiastic and it is going through for most of them. Knowing that they came in with no knowledge of pottery, and to see what they have been able to produce now, it is amazing.”

The facilitator stated his belief that the abundant enthusiasm of his students to learn the craft is likely the source of their massive success, and has pleased him as a teacher and artisan. 

“It is tiring, but it is really pleasing to see how they have developed. That is what I want to see. I want to see them really shine in whatever I teach them. It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction.”

Weekes, who is the main coordinator for the programme, said that he too was thoroughly impressed with the results thus far.
“To be honest, I am overwhelmed by what I am seeing here, and I am most pleased to hear at least a dozen of the participants say they are going to take it up full-time. As a matter of fact, I have already ordered them some clay and other things to do that,” he told SKNVibes yesterday (Apr. 21). 

Both men noted that there is a hugely untapped niche market for the sale of unique pottery in the tourism sector, and the students from this course stand to benefit greatly from their time in the venture.

To this end, the Craft House will be hosting an exhibition and sale of marketable works for the students on May 22 at the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Ballroom. 

Because the workshop has been such an overall success, Weekes said his department has already begun the planning stages of hosting an “advanced” workshop in the future, with Azaire tentatively slated to return for that course. 

“I have already started discussions with Adam and the BNTF to have a follow-up workshop. We think next year around the same time would be best. That workshop would be a more advanced stage,” he said.