Meet
a Trin i
A Labour of Love In the small community of Chase Village, a potter picks up a clay urn and rests it gingerly on the potter’s wheel. He is covered in a thick film of grey dust, from his short hair to his worn sneakers. A thick, earthy aroma fills the workshop. Deonarine “Catch” Ramsaran is a master potter at Radika’s Pottery. Twelveyear-old Ramsaran ran away from school to learn pottery. When his mother found out, she beat him. The next day, he returned. The skill would become his life vocation. During the 1800s, Indians immigrated to Trinidad to work 0n its sugar estates. Some were members of the Kumhar caste, well known for their pottery skills. When the sugar industry diminished, these individuals turned to pottery to earn a living. Today, the humble livelihood has become a vibrant business in T&T. Many of the community’s terra cotta artists obtain clay from nearby Carlsen Field. The former American World War II base is the best place to find what locals call “sappatay mud.” This type of clay is ideal for pottery because it is very malleable and can withstand the kiln’s high temperatures during the firing process. Clay can be quite expensive. A potter may pay about $500 for a truckload of clay. Before use, it is soaked, dried and sifted to remove debris and small stones. In the early days, potters would “dance the clay” (manually mix the clay with sand with their feet) for hours to make it smooth. Today, it is quickly fed through an electric powered pug mill. The clay is then kneaded and moulded on the potter’s wheel. Finally, each piece is baked in a homemade, wood fire kiln for hours, until it gets that characteristic orange-red glow. Andy Benny, the current owner of Radika’s, explains that pottery in Chase Village started with the Seecharan family.
Edison Boodoosingh/trinimages.com
by Suzanne Bhagan
Today, many of the potters in the area are directly related to the family. Seecharan’s son, Tiklal, encouraged his children (particularly his sons) to learn the art. Surprisingly, his daughter, Radika, was the one who helped the family business evolve into the success it is today. She opened Radika’s Pottery in the late 1970s. In the early days, the shop sold deyas (small clay pots used in Divali) and kalsas (goblets) that were used in Hindu ceremonies and in the kitchen. Her son, Andy, admits that success did not come overnight. He pauses, lights a cigarette, inhales and exhales slowly, saying, “We worked real hard.” Radika’s has always been a trailblazer. Andy claims that they were the first potters to experiment with new designs, techniques and pieces. He explains that many new items were the results of “wheel accidents.” He says, “Many times, with the shake of the hand, you come up with something new.”
Eventually, his family outgrew its title of “deya people.” Today they produce giant terra cotta urns, sconces and pieces inspired by Mexican and other foreign designs. Andy boasts, “This is the only place where you can get stuff made, stuff that you see in books, once it can be done on the potter’s wheel.” Over on Ghany Street, just off the main road, is Makh’s Pottery. Jitram Makh, the owner, is Radika’s brother. His son, Mack, also a potter, encouraged his father to expand the shop’s production line. Today, they produce beautifully glazed deya houses, wind chimes and decorative pots. Mack admits that pottery is a “labour of love” because it can take as long as two weeks to produce a simple jar. Laughter remains a mainstay in the workplace. Andy says, “Here, somebody always around to make you laugh. The exuberance they bring, helps with the creativity you need to have for pottery.”
The Ins & Outs of Trinidad and Tobago
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