Melville Mudroom is owned and managed by sisters Kate and Nina Shand – both have a long journey with clay. Nina ran a successful wood-firing pottery studio in McGregor for the past 25 years, and Kate started finding her way with clay a decade ago. Clay has been a lifeline to both sisters during difficult times.
Nina not only has 25 years’ experience making functional and sculptural ceramics, she is also a researcher with a Master’s in industrial sociology. She has facilitated numerous pottery and firing workshops at her previous ceramic studio, Millstone Pottery, and has exhibited locally and overseas. She makes hand-built, slabbed forms, often from one slab of clay, which are cut with various darts/pleats, resembling dress making patterns.
Kate is an art therapist with an MA Art Therapy from the University of Johannesburg. She has facilitated many arts-based workshops over the years. She is passionate about working with clay and its ability to heal. Other qualifications include a Masters in Heritage (Wits), Advanced Diploma Visual Art (Unisa), and Community Art Counsellor (Lefika la Phodiso).