Meet Our Member: Hiyam Farran

It started with one handbuilding class....which led to a journey of self-discovery!

When did you fall in love with pottery?

Reflecting on my journey with clay, I believe it was always present—out there in the Universe and within me—waiting to reveal itself when I was finally ready to receive it.

I remember being a little girl collecting the wax coating from small Camembert cheese rounds and shaping it into tiny pinched baskets with my fingers. I loved art, and I loved making things with my hands. But sometimes life takes us in different directions before we rediscover who we truly are at our core. In 2021, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery—an existential quest to find my purpose in life and understand my true essence as a human being. This journey led me to question everything I thought I knew about myself and the belief systems that had shaped the way I showed up in the world. After a reflective period, I made the decision to change careers and found my way into The Therapeutic Arts. The Therapeutic Art Practitioner uses the creative process as a tool for healing. In this practice, the focus is always on the process, never the product. Clay, in particular, can be an incredibly therapeutic and insightful medium.

A friend suggested I try pottery, so I enrolled in a handbuilding course. As with any new hobby or passion, there were techniques to learn and skills to master. At first, however, I felt skeptical. The more I focused on technique, the more blocked and stuck I became. The more I thought about what I wanted to create, the more stressed and disappointed I felt. I didn't want to give up pottery, but I still wasn't truly feeling it.

As I continued getting to know myself better, I realized that what I needed was a safe and nurturing space—one that allowed room for failure, encouraged exploration, and welcomed experimentation. I longed for a place where I could let go of control and perfectionism, free from expectations and judgment. So I made a conscious decision to release all the traditional handbuilding techniques I had learned—coiling, pinching, and slab building, and instead, approach clay like a child would with curiosity, openness, and a clean slate. This shift changed everything.

Today, my relationship with clay and pottery is deeply aligned with the philosophy of the Therapeutic Arts. To trust the process is to trust that your authentic self will guide you exactly where your heart and soul need to be. More than a love story with clay, this is a journey of self-discovery.

Grounded In Presence

What have been the benefits of working with clay?

Clay can be deeply symbolic. It has the ability to convey life lessons, mirror our experiences, and serve as a powerful tool for introspection.

When I visited Windsor in January 2025, I took a handbuilding course with Lisa. During the first session, I was introduced to the Japanese Kurinuki technique. At the time, I was still uncertain about my future in pottery, yet that technique stayed with me throughout the entire program. I remember feeling a deep sense of satisfaction as I carved away and removed excess clay. I couldn't understand why it felt so meaningful at the time. It was only a few months later, while practicing in the pottery studio, that I realized that the act of removing excess clay reflected exactly where I was in my own journey. I was in a period of my life where I was letting go of everything that no longer served me—old beliefs, expectations, and patterns that were preventing me from becoming my authentic self. Working with clay continues to reveal profound metaphors for life.

Stretching the clay, for example, can be seen as an invitation to expand possibilities, test our boundaries, and move beyond self-imposed limitations. Clay teaches flexibility, patience, resilience, and trust. For this reason, clay can be an invaluable tool for mental well-being and personal growth within the Therapeutic Arts.

Also, clay offers me is the opportunity to fully experience the present moment and to be completely immersed in the Now. The constant noise of the mind quiets and a sense of peace emerges.  In a world that often encourages us to rush, plan, and strive for outcomes, clay invites us to slow down, listen, and simply be. It reminds us that transformation is not something we force; it is something we allow. Perhaps that is why I continue to return to clay. Beyond the objects I create, it offers me a way to connect with myself and cultivate awareness.

Do you have a favourite piece you’ve made so far? What’s the story behind it?

It's hard to choose a favourite piece because each one carries a part of me—a story, an emotion, or an intention. What I love most are the pieces that emerge through unexpected discoveries; those moments when I accidentally uncover a new way of expressing myself. They remind me why I trust the process so much. If I had to choose the piece that carried the deepest emotional significance, it would be the one I

created to process the loss of my father. I used black clay reminiscent of the dirt on his grave as a way of navigating though grief and pain. Creating that piece became a deeply personal and healing experience, allowing me to transform difficult emotions into something tangible.

Where Silence Lives. (In Honour of my father.)

Favourite Tool?

My approach to clay is highly intuitive. I don’t plan in advance which tools I will use or what form the clay will ultimately take. I tend to gravitate toward wooden tools, especially those that allow me to tap, beat, stretch, and respond directly to the clay. I enjoy the physicality of the process and the dialogue that develops between my hands, the tools, and the clay.

Favorite Clay?

I am drawn to clay bodies that celebrate the marks of the maker and reveal the story of the creative process. I love clay that highlights texture and retains evidence of touch and movement. For that reason, I usually choose clay with a high grog content. Its texture and character align with my organic approach to pottery especially when complemented with stains rather than glazes.

Unfolding the Space Within

Favourite Time of Day to Come to the Studio?

There is something special about starting the day with clay. The quiet atmosphere of the studio and the fresh energy of a new day create the perfect conditions for me to engage in the creative process. Morning studio sessions allow me to be fully present, grounded, and open to whatever the clay wants to reveal.

Best local food spot?

I rarely eat out, however, I like a good coffee shop with a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere like Taloola Café. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, relax, and enjoy the moment--something that resonates with my creative practice.

Where Healing Begins

What do you listen to when you work?

Music plays an important role in my creative process. I listen to New Age and meditation music, especially compositions featuring frequencies associated with grounding, relaxation, and sound healing. Nature sounds, pan flutes, and acoustic guitars create a calming atmosphere that supports both creativity and reflection.

I also enjoy World Fusion music. I'm inspired by instrumental music that blends different cultural influences and invites for rhythm and movement as I am transforming the clay. Ultimately, the music I choose helps me quiet the mind, trust the process, and fully immerse myself in the present moment.

9. What's your next pottery goal, or the skill you're most keen to learn?

My goal is to continue to develop a deeper relationship with clay. With time, patience, and consistent practice, I hope to cultivate a signature style that feels authentic to who I am as an artist. I am interested in continuing to explore, experiment, and trust the creative process, allowing my work to evolve naturally rather than forcing it into a predetermined direction. For me, growth happens through curiosity, discovery, and remaining open to what the clay has to teach me. I would also like to enrich my journey in pottery with the philosophical and cultural Japanese concepts of wabi-sabi, Mushin, Yohaku no Bi, or Shizen. Ultimately, I would love to include the Therapeutic Arts into my pottery practice and share it with the world as a space for presence, self-discovery, and transformation.

Textures of Transformation

10. Best part of being a member of Ford City Potters Studio?

To be able to create is a gift, but to create in the presence of others is a blessing.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a member of the studio is the sense of community. While pottery can be a deeply personal practice, there is something special about sharing that experience with fellow artists. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with creative individuals, exchange ideas, learn from

one another, and celebrate each other's journeys. The studio provides not only a space to create, but also a space to belong.

Check out our new classes starting in July, including one-day workshops and shorter summer classes....