12/7/2021 12:00:00 AM Inspirations Studio is a life-changing pottery shop that brings hundreds of women together to learn how to make ceramic objects like cups, mugs and bowls in a safe environment. The studio was established in 1994 as a craft collective for under-housed women and evolved into one of the first social enterprises in Toronto. Today, women visit the studio to make and sell their ceramic pieces for anywhere from $10.00 to $100. From helping them get a little money in their pockets to boosting their confidence so they can flourish through life’s challenges, the studio is a meaningful place for the women who walk through its doors. To celebrate the opening of Inspirations Studio at YWCA Toronto’s Church Street housing program, our team caught up with director Gudrun Olafsdottir to talk about the historical significance of the studio and how their ceramic-based program positively impacts the lives of women and gender diverse people. Tell us a bit about Inspirations Studio and what a typical day looks like? For over 27 years, we have provided pottery-making workshops, arts education, and skill building opportunities for women who have been impacted by poverty, homelessness, and mental health. First, women must become members. Membership in the studio is free and members are responsible for all aspects of their work. Right now, the studio has 30 members and is working on welcoming ten new women. The studio runs classes for other agencies, too. Since moving to our new location at Church Street, the studio offers classes called “Welcome Home Workshops” to the 120 women who live there. They pay for their own ten-pound bag of clay, which costs about $25.00. After the women create their ceramic objects, we sell them at the studio and 80 percent of the sale goes to the maker. Our core mission is to empower and equip women to make and sell pottery and to gain extra income from that acquired skill. There is something therapeutic about art and clay, in particular, in helping our members deal with emotional trauma and in increasing their self-esteem. Let’s talk about your relationship with YWCA Toronto. How did you open your studio in the Church St building? When the pandemic hit in 2020, we had to close our studio, which was on Dundas Street. We were looking for a bigger space to accommodate the classes we offer and YWCA Toronto’s Church Street location came to the rescue! It was a perfect match for us, because we are committed to reducing stigma, and are supportive of women facing gender-based violence, mental health challenges and homelessness. We knew this was the best choice to further our transformational work. Gender-based violence is a pressing issue. We want to ensure women fleeing abuse or experiencing homelessness feel safe and gain valuable skills in the art programs offered here. As rates of gender-based violence continue to rise during the pandemic, it is imperative that policies be put in place to invest in healing arts program and support groups to help women who have been harmed. How has the pandemic impacted your work with women at Inspirations studio? Before reopening our studio during the pandemic, we created an online store to sell the women’s work. We operated on a work-from-home format by delivering tiles and clay products to all our members to allow them still to be able to create and sell online. We held weekly virtual art classes to train women in wheel throwing, hand building, glazing and design of ceramics. Although many women did not have access to our training sessions because of limited internet service, there was a silver lining: We came out of COVID with a bright, spacious studio at Church Street that allows for social distancing. What is the journey a woman goes on from when she starts working with your studio to when she finally sells a piece in the store? When a woman creates pottery at our studio or sells a custom-ordered piece, she feels a sense of purpose, pride, passion and joy. Some women continue to speak about how extraordinarily happy they feel and the intrinsic value in making a difference in their community. To support the studio and its membership, click here to check out their products and purchase an item online. -- Gudrun Olafsdottir has worked at Inspirations Studio for seven years, the last three as Director of the program. She has worked independently as a ceramic artist and teacher for 25 years. Gudrun holds a diploma in ceramics from George Brown College and a degree in Art History from The University of Toronto. She also has training in conflict resolution, crisis intervention and trauma informed care.
