Cork Potters Society News | May 2025
We are delighted to spotlight the inspiring work of Cork-based sculptor and society member Martha Cashman, whose creative journey continues to connect coasts, communities, and craft across continents.
As part of the Coastlines exhibition celebrating the cultural ties between Cork City and its Sister City, San Francisco.
Venue: United Irish Cultural Center, San Fransisco
June 14th, 15th 16th
Opening June 13th, Friday 7pm
Martha will also host a “Creative Clay Demo – Meet the Maker” session for adults on Saturday, June 14th from 2pm to 3pm at the United Irish Cultural Center. This engaging talk and live demonstration offers an insight into Martha’s sculptural process and the stories behind her latest body of work.
Visitors will discover how Martha’s pieces—many of which appear as relics or artefacts—are shaped by nature, memory, and place. From the windswept shores of Longstrand, West Cork to the sandy beaches of San Francisco’s Bay Area, her materials include pit-fired porcelain, seaweed, sand, and driftwood, offering a rich tapestry of geographical and emotional resonance.
The Coastlines exhibition opens on Friday, June 13th at 7pm and continues over the weekend (June 14th–16th). This poignant collection addresses themes of diaspora, home, and the ever-changing relationship we have with the land and sea. A second hands-on workshop for younger audiences, “Clay Play for Children”, takes place on Saturday from 3.30pm to 5pm, welcoming children aged 6 and up.
Unfinished pit fired works made during the visit. Marth has brought Seaweed from West Cork Longstrand, to the pit firing in Petaluma and using the sand there for the firing. Driftwood from Crissy Feild beach and Bakers Beach, Muir beach and Sunset beach are being used to form the handles.
Martha’s work is held in numerous international collections—from Tunisia to Turkey, Cyprus to Romania—and has garnered acclaim through her participation in global symposiums and exhibitions. A recent volunteer with Slow Food East Bay and community ceramic studios in Berkeley and San Francisco, Martha continues to merge creativity with community and ecology.
Originally from a farm near the sea in East Cork, Martha spent many years in the U.S. as a successful interior designer before returning to Ireland in 2020 to study ceramics at MTU Crawford College of Art and Design. Since then, she has become a passionate advocate for sustainable creativity through her eco-awareness project, More Clay Less Plastic Ireland, and remains an active member of Cork Potters, Cork Craft & Design, and The Design & Craft Council of Ireland.
We encourage all friends of the society based in San Francisco, to attend this special weekend and experience Martha’s unique coastal dialogue in clay.
For full event details and to see more of Martha’s work, visit www.marthacashman.com