Tim's Story
Around 3 years' ago, or possibly a little longer, a friend (who shall be nameless) suggested that I might remind myself of my childhood small show of ability with clay, by attending the Wednesday "in-house" session of Credo at Anchor House, Orpington.
So, on a standard autumn day in September 2007, I sat in the games room at the rear of Anchor House and started to mould from a tile cutter a slab of clay. The tiles were then fired and I returned to decorate them, cover them with some simple colour and glaze them to be completed. Little did I know exactly what had begun on what warmish day in 2007.
"Where's the colour gone?", I cried when I applied the clear glaze base to the bisque-ware tiles. I was quickly reassured that the firing process melts the glaze and my application of original mauves and blue was going to be fine!
And so the first snowfalls of what eventually became a small "avalance" were underway. A year went by and slowly my competency with ceramics was starting to unfold. It was becoming clear that I could make a significant mark within this "unusual" organisation Credo which, in turn, has probably become a sort of shared and blessed legacy!
Someone immediately remarks: "what's unusual about the charity Credo?" You start to realise, after perhaps a handful of sessions with Credo that you are, in fact, striding through every story of struggle along with creative prodigy and it shows everywhere! My case is that Credo has what it needs to turn seeds of creative thought into the most incredible stories of final results and final appreciation. If someone wants to criticise what Credo, its members, its staff, its supporters, its funders, its friends - in fact, everyone involved in the charity - can achieve, then they can damn well test the water! In truth, even someone who could not see the work could benefit from its tactile strength. Promise!
My story continued after just over a year when I was invited for interview at a local branch project closer to where I live and more convenient and, in some ways a little more scope for greater professionalism with the ceramics I was producing. My hands trembled in January 2009 when I read that I had been accepted and was allowed to contribute to the course at this Penge "wing" of the Credo organisation. Greater things!
From then, in a way, I have not looked back. I would not say my work is stunning. I would not say even my ceramics are close to the musical things I have achieved. I would not say that ceramics are my ultimate Nirvana. What I would say is that, through Credo and thanks to those involved, there are some seriously interesting works that are attributed to me and always will be; and this has been against the grain of the entire set of people that thought it was some kind of hilarious joke that "that guy" could make work from clay! And I can glance over to my ceramic "zone" and reassure myself that this is true.
In conclusion, I am living proof that this charity is a kind of miracle. If more setups like this were able to supply this end result, then the world would be changing in the way that everyone knows it needs to so do. GOD BLESS CREDO!
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