We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gilda Alai. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gilda below.
Alright, Gilda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
When we finally find our passions we all wish we could have started them sooner. Throughout my life I had tried different things that never stuck however I was always doing something creative or building things with my hands. It wasn’t until my kids had started driving that I found more time to try some new things and decided to take a pottery class at the place I always passed when dropping my kids off at their swim practice. With the help of an amazing teacher that fostered a learning environment of this new craft I fell in love with pottery. Pottery like any art form takes time to get to a certain skill level, with more time maybe I would have learned more but now after more than 15 years of making pottery I still learn new things all the time. I never thought I would call pottery my career, and it doesn’t feel like work since I have so much fun in the studio, but this is my creative career. Although I wish I had started sooner I am a believer that everything happens for a reason and who knows if I had started pottery sooner if I would have loved it as much.
Gilda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Gilda and I am a pottery artist and pottery teacher. I grew up in Tehran, Iran and throughout my work I try to bring influences of my Persian heritage, the people I have met and nature into all of my work. Pottery is an art form that is meant for everyone to use everyday. For me there is nothing better than drinking my morning cup of coffee from a handmade cup which is why I love sharing pottery with everyone.
I wanted to share my love of pottery with not only the pieces I make but also the craft itself so I host pottery classes in my home studio. Classes are kept small, in an encouraging environment for all skill levels and are always so much fun,
Although Pottery is an individual activity the people I meet from selling my work or in my classes rejuvenate me and inspire on designs of my pieces.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Besides turning a lump of clay into a one of a kind piece of functional art the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the joy something I created with my hands brings to others. Each of my pieces are made with the hopes of bringing some joy to everyone’s daily life and it makes me so happy to hear how someone is using one my pieces in their homes. From someone drinking out of their new favorite mugs or someone finding one of my people planters that has matching glasses with them each piece of pottery finds it’s perfect home.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Although my journey of pottery only started a little more than 15 years ago my journey of resilience started as a teenager when I left my country. The hardships I went through as a teenager leaving my home and everything I knew made me who I am today which is a reminder that we are all capable of doing things we never thought we could or would have to do. Honoring my heritage through my work is a small reminder of the resilient teenager I was. Starting a small business is something I never thought I would being doing and although I am still learning as I go the journey has been an exciting one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.koozehpottery.com
- Instagram: @koozehpottery
- Facebook: Koozehpottery