The magical works of Mia Casal
Last May, one of my best friends, May Ann Casal-Soriano, celebrated her birthday. Her sister, Mia Casal, greeted her on Facebook and asked if anyone could guess how old May Ann was. Mia — who is a gifted potter based in Zambales — promised that whoever guessed May Ann’s age correctly would get one of Mia’s handmade coffee mugs as a reward.
Because I’ve known May Ann since our grade school days, I of course knew the answer and was the first one to submit it, thereby winning the coffee mug made by Mia.
When my prize was delivered, I was thrilled to see that I won not one but two beautiful mugs and a gorgeous serving bowl as well! And not only was I impressed, I got so sentimental knowing that these lovely pieces were handmade by an artisan I’ve known since she was a nine-year-old wearing braided pig tails.
Truth be told, May Ann has gifted me with some of Mia’s pottery pieces over the years and I have proudly displayed them in my home. Thanks to the timing of my new Facebook prize and May Ann proudly sharing that Mia’s work is being noticed by art collectors, I decided it was the perfect time to interview the Zambales-based potter.
And so, dear reader, please read on to learn more about the magical works of Mia the Potter (not Harry):
Mia, what made you go into pottery?
“I was working for the family publishing business and realized that I am not happy in a corporate setting. I wanted to be more creative.”
Where do you get your inspiration? Describe your work.
“I am inspired by what I see in Zambales. Moving closer to nature opens up a lot of inspiration from the sea, the mountain, the rivers, the bukid, etc. I even add black sand to the clay I use which Zambales is known for.”
The prize I won from you was from your “Barnacle” collection. What’s the story behind that?
“I take walks along the shores of Zambales beaches after a typhoon to find inspiration. My barnacle cups were created at a time when the sky was dark and circumstances were uncertain. The barnacle collection was inspired by driftwood that washed ashore that came with a cluster of uniquely-shaped barnacles.”
What challenges do you face as a potter? What are the rewards?
“One challenge is not having extra time to market myself on social media. I do it every now and then, which I love. I wish I could take more photos and short clips of my creative process, but a potter’s daily tasks eat up a lot of their time.
“One of the rewards of a potter is when clients unexpectedly find you. People know when one is serious in pursuing a career and eventually deciding on staying in a chosen industry or path.
“Another reward is the capacity to dream bigger, not only for myself, but also for the people whom I have trained, which also includes giving back to our humble town San Narciso in Zambales.”
Is there a reason why you live in Zambales?
“I want to be close to nature. Taking things slow while being productive is possible. I have also missed making pots. When I was in Manila, I was hosting pottery workshops at my studio, which I loved, too. I wanted to create ceramics for myself and others again.”
Is it lucrative to be a potter?
“Anything is lucrative nowadays when one is totally focused on a vision while having innovative ideas and having a lot of faith plus perseverance in one’s calling.”
Do you think pottery is a dying art or gaining popularity?
“Pottery will never die. For as long as there is clay on the surface of the Earth, it will continue to thrive. It is gaining more popularity now in the Philippines since several pottery studios have sprouted in Manila and other provinces, too. Those who are serious in creating pottery have set up their own studios in the comforts of their homes.”
Thank you Mia and congratulations! I hear your works are gaining in popularity.
(If you’d like to see Mia’s works, visit her Instagram account @miacasalceramics.)
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