Journal // Studio Visit with Ford's Factory

We visited the studio of Mt. Maunganui based potter Josh Taylor, who produces work under Ford's Factory. Playful, considered, structural, and yet entirely unassuming, a teapot presents itself more like an art piece, but is also fully functional or a bowl that is beautiful left out on the table, empty or filled. All these objects are handmade in his Mount studio and fired out the back in a kiln set amongst flowers and herbs. Here Josh talks to us about his work and studio life.

What’s your full name and how did Ford’s Factory come to be? Joshua Ford Taylor. The Factory began shortly after I failed my final industrial design university paper. I was pretty upset because I put so much work into it but I think it really lit a hot little fire inside me. I had studied fine arts and industrial design but I was always interested in the space between, when I started making ceramics it just seemed to make sense of that space. With some encouragement from my friend Laurie, I made the factory store and I was up and running as fast as I could.

But it’s not a hopeless thing, it’s a driving thing. It’s addictive, making things.

I think its really important having work in physical spaces also, because I want people to see the work close up. A photo often doesn’t come close to doing a ceramic work justice.

There’s something about the place which seems to encourage a kind of reckless creativity. No doubt Barry designed it for that. So far every time I come here I learn how to think about clay in a different way.