Marita Green
Marita Green is a potter from New Plymouth, who works from her home studio in Westown. Her work is a response to the rhythms of her life; being a wife and mother, a Catholic, a gardener, and getting through the life's daily challenges with a sense of humour. She aims for a sense of light and freedom in her work, and sometimes a bit of thought provocation.
Marita's creative history has been in sculpting, but over the last five years she has been making functional-ware. As the Mum of two boys, she makes things that work aesthetically and functionally in her home, with the hope they fit in to others’ as well.
Her favourite things to make are tumblers and cups, because tea and coffee drinking is such a common daily ritual. She likes the thought of sharing that universal experience with her customers.
Marita works on an electric potters wheel, and describes the physical process of her work as integral. She creates objects as authentic and honest as possible.
"There is a real place for hand-made things in a sea of mass production. I throw my pots on a wheel, and fire in an electric kiln. Most of my domestic ware is earthenware, and is slip decorated (slip is a coloured liquid clay applied before firing).”
Marita also likes the fun of making jewellery, but works exclusively in porcelain for this, as it has the greatest strength and clear white colour.