Ceramicist, materials designer and researcher Carly Breame joined the Mahler & LeWitt Studios Materia program in partnership with the University of the Arts, Art for the Environment residency initiative. Carly studied on the Material Futures MA program at Central Saint Martins, London. An advocate for environmental integrity and sustainable materials production, she develops tools to measure environmental impact and – combining research and craft – designs usable materials which represent local environments. 

Carly began her residency asking, ‘How can the dining table – specifically tableware – represent the material culture of Spoleto and the surrounding region? How can the landscape be reflected in the experience of dining?’ She continues, “Through my research I aim to develop ethical and visible supply chains in materials, building traceability and transparency whilst considering how to reduce the environmental impact. As a designer, I am interested in functional objects that exist around the dining table. The act of dining is the heart of any community. The dining table serves as a meeting point. A space for collectiveness, for restoring and rejoicing. The dining table, in this project, will be the centre piece uniting the work and its uses, whilst creating an opportunity for dialogue around associated issues.”

Initially Carly investigated the geological landscape of Umbria, examining and sourcing accessible clay deposits exposed in riverbeds, landslides and quarries. The largest clay source came from a quarry in Marsciano producing roof tiles. The sheer scale of the quarry drew attention to the environmental impact that the extraction of materials such as clay have on the landscape, particularly when processed as products for our built environment. Creating knowledge around materials by tracing their extraction and understanding their impact on the environment – is at the centre of her project.

In Umbria, fertile land is predominantly used for vineyards and olive groves. To reflect this, Carly incorporated in her ceramic glazes dried grape skins and stems. She also used other by-products of regional cuisine including the shells of snails, a local delicacy. Her experiments with various recipes, which sometimes used locally sourced ashes, were documented in an Open Studio event (pictured below). Using the locally sourced clay and glaze ingredients, Carly produced several prototype utensils in collaboration with the Deruta-based master potter Fabio Veschini. The designs reflect regional ceramic traditions. Eventually Carly took commissions from local restaurants, producing series of tableware. In 2024, at the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi 67, we celebrated Carly’s project with an event at the Sol LeWitt Studio (pictured top): She said, “The aperitivo is an invitation to gather around the dining table, to eat and drink from utensils which materially represent the Valle Umbra, and to engage in conversations around the materials we use day to day.”