L'espace d'un tour - Pottery
In the 15th arrondissement of Paris, Sandrine Charbonnel shapes clay to create objects designed to embellish our interiors and our lives. Sandrine Charbonnel makes both utilitarian and singular pieces, such as the Les Copaines"Made in Paris" bowls, as well as more figurative sculptures. Driven by the desire to pass on her skills, she also offers courses in potter's wheel and modelling.
Sandrine offers objects that awaken the everyday and create emotions through their uniqueness: rather than reproducing the smooth creations of the trade, the craftswoman prefers to let a few drops of enamel run through her work and give way to spontaneity. She also devotes herself to sculpting groups imbued with humanity, be they dancers or wrestlers.
" I like to represent the solidarity that emanates from the collective. We live together so we support each other, we don't let each other down and we create together. I like the tension between people," she explains.
This creative approach is rooted in Sandrine's background. After growing up in Essonne, she moved to Paris and finally found a pottery workshop to enroll in. She qualified as a social worker, became an educator and then a nursery director, but never abandoned her passion. At the age of 47, she was granted individual leave to follow intensive training at the Chemins de la céramique workshop. This course, which culminated in a CAP (vocational training certificate) in turning, marked the beginning of her professionalization. " The school was fabulous. I learned so much. And then I definitely fell into this profession ".
She then opened her workshop, where she in turn passes on the art of clay modeling through sessions open to all: " The people who learn are very interesting. Their a priori naive questioning brings us back to our first interrogations and allows us to deepen our creative journey ". These workshops, far removed from traditional academic courses, enable each participant to explore his or her own creativity, whether through utilitarian objects or more personal creations.
The designer confides that Paris is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and energy: "It's an electric city with a wide variety of neighborhoods and atmospheres. I need it to stimulate me. Sandrine has also signed up to the "Fabriqué à Paris" label, which gives her the opportunity to meet her peers while promoting the capital's craftsmanship.
" This kind of scheme encourages the emergence of authentic links with the people who make life happen, helping to give each neighborhood its distinctive character," concludes the craftswoman.
Practical information
Atelier-boutique
139 bis rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.