TOUCH // Claire Ellis - Chef-turned-ceramicist. Claire Ellis is a Canadian-born emerging ceramic artist and designer based in Naarm (Melbourne). While working as a chef at the internationally acclaimed restaurant in Naarm, Attica, Claire made tableware for the tasting menu and created a ceramics studio within the restaurant. Claire’s chef experience influences her work through a focus on raw materials and experimentation. Her research focuses on incorporating transformed waste materials into her work including glass, plastic, eggshells, ceramic sink trap waste, broken ceramics and rock by-products. Her current art practice explores avenues for environmentalism, activism and catharsis in ceramics.Thanks to our generous local sponsors BrightStar and Shayna Burns for supporting our speakers with presentation and SEO coaching, Shadowhouse for the video producyion, Offline Supply Co for the sweet notebooks, Allpress Espresso for keeping us fed and caffeinated, The Commons for hosting us, and Mark Lobo Photography for continuing to support our events every month.