February 2024 Newsletter
Club Notes and Updates
Ceramicus 2024 Updates
Dates confirmed, seeking suggestions for a guest selector, and call for organising committee
We are pleased to confirm that after a successful 2023 event, Ceramicus 2024 will be held at the Begonia House at the Wellington Botanic Gardens and we will run another pop up market.
Dates for your calendars:
• 27 Oct: Receiving day
• 29 Oct: Opening night
• 30 Oct to 10 Nov: Exhibition open
• 2 & 3 Nov: Pop up market
• 10 & 11 Nov: Exhibition close and collection of pots
Looking for an organising committee
To help spread the load, we are looking for members who can take the lead on:
• Funding and sponsorship
• Promotion and advertising
• Graphic design
• Exhibition set-up
If you are willing and able to manage any of these, please get in touch with Kate via wellingtonpotters.events@gmail.com
Any suggestions for a guest artist and selector?
We are welcoming suggestions from our members for a guest artist and selector for Ceramicus (preferably someone who hasn’t had the honour in the past). Please send names and any links (website, social media etc) to: wellingtonpotters.events@gmail.com
——————————————————
Potter in Residence
Following on from Chris Dunn and Marama Mayrick’s residencies in 2023, we are accepting proposals for our next 3 residency positions:
• Autumn: March to May
• Winter: June to August
• Spring: September to November
These residencies are a great way to boost the vibrancy of our club and increase the diversity of workshops offered. More details on what is involved and the application process are on our website.
Please share with anyone you think may be interested and reach out to Kate (wellingtonpotters.events@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
——————————————————
Volunteer(s) of the Month
Tomo Shin
Our early start (5:30am !) colleague cleaned and lubricated every single one of our 14 wheels during January. This was no mean feat, especially with those several wheel heads that hadn’t been removed – thus never been cleaned underneath - for several months. Chipping and scraping dried clay, sponging and then greasing the axles. Tomo; you are a star!
Clinton Davis
Mr Fix-it, trim-it, shovel-it, invent-it. You may not even notice the improvements he has made but your experience at WPA is definitely enhanced by our quiet achiever.
And a big thank you to everyone who came out to the Working Bee and pitched in: Laura R. Allen • Heidi (Hedy) Ankers • Chrissy Blair • Gemma Brown • Moss Cantwell • Holly Connolly • Sarah Drake • Rose Ellis • Mara Elwood • Susy French • Emma Grose • Wiebke Heise • Joy Lancaster • Dorothy Leigh • Mel Mepham • Maria Ni Fhlatharta • Robyn Nicholas • Faye Nielsen • Priti Patel • Peter Rumble • Tomoko Shin • Christine Winbush • Nicole Wood • Sharyn (Shar) Young • to those who did pre-/post- tasks from the whiteboard!
Keep your eyes peeled for more ‘plusONE’ opportunities around the club rooms. Your help — no matter how small — keeps the club up and running!
DID YOU KNOW…?
Why we use grog
Grog actually has a purpose in clay, and not just to wear away at your skin while throwing! We use grog in clay when we want:
• The clay to shrink less
• To maintain stability
• To help prevent cracks/cracking
• To build thinner and stronger (and as a result, taller)
How much grog you want in your clay will be a personal preference based on what you want to achieve in your piece (and balanced with how much you want to exfoliate your hands if throwing). Experimenting with different clays will help you learn what type of clay you like and how it works best with your style.
We list grog size and amounts in the Clay Store when we have that information available.
Studio Updates/Notices
Attention All Cubby Renters
How’s your cubby looking? Please check how your cubby is stacked.
Falling items - there have been incidents with items falling from cubbies. Falling items are obviously hazardous, they also create trip hazards and it is difficult to know where the items fell from. Any items that fall from cubbies will be put in lost property, any clay will be recycled.
Sticky-outy items - note that items should not extend more than 5cm out of your cubby. Any further than 5cm and your things are likely to be bumped by moving ladders. If this applies to you, please restack your cubby ASAP. Failure to address this may see your items removed (see below).
We have removed some of these items from cubbies at the Maintanence Bee and Admin will be emailing people regarding their items. If you discover a missing item from your cubby before you are contacted, please email wellingtonpotter.info@gmail.com for collection.
——————————————————
Studio Updates from Peter
Peter has been hard at work over the break streamlining and tidying up our processes. Check out his updates/announcements on what has changed while you’ve been on holiday:
We have a new, very efficient and virtually dust-free WPA clay recycling centre, situated just outside the main door. It might look a bit convoluted, but it is clean and efficient and was cheap to set up. It just needs your cooperation to keep it clean and tidy. Please follow the signage when recycling your clay and just ask if you have any questions. A big thanks to Ingrid Peek and Bay Curry for their hard work on this!
The members’ personal clay recycling area (under the washing line, back of building) has been tidied. Please follow the rules attached to the racking when using the area. We will be monitoring the success of this and if abused it may have to be re-thought/abandoned.
Recycled plastic under the slab roller: Donations are welcome but no flimsy stuff [e.g. the type used to cover dry cleaned clothes] and please place in the marked partitions (small, medium, large, etc).
Drying shelves: Stacks A, B and C. In an attempt to not overcrowd the shelves and avoid damage to the pieces drying there, more regular attention will be paid to the limits placed on the use of these shelves and the polyboxes on the dollies. Some points to keep in mind:
- Pots exceeding the 14 day limit, pots without documentation, and the incorrect use of batts are likely to see your pots removed to recycling without notice.
- Drying pots only are permitted on these shelves. No bisque, no containers of slip, no trimmings or clay shards (use the recycling facility at the back of the building).
- If you have more than 1/4 shelf’s worth of work, please hire a shelf on Stack D or take your pots home.
- Extra polybox storage will soon be available (under Stack C). Proper documentation should be attached to your box(es) and the 14 days limit and a maximum of 2 polyboxes per member will all apply.
We’ve made more batts for drying pots, as they seem to disappear as quickly as we make/get them. You will find them on the purpose built cubby by the Drying Cabinet (small ones) and bigger ones at each end of Work Bench 1 (next to the “clay” table). NOTE: when you take your pots down to be fired, please make sure any batts you were using are thoroughly cleaned and returned to their proper places. Use of cutting boards for storage/drying will result in the recycling of your pots. Also, removal of batts – or of any WPA property from the premises – is not permitted. No exceptions.
PSAs from the Club Admin
Foster home for a kiln
Sam Duckor-Jones is looking for a foster home for their kiln (WPA’s old FE2). It’s fairly sizeable and needs a three-phase plug. Sam expects to use it once or twice a month (at most), and the foster parent(s) can use it as much as they want. Sam is also happy to pitch in rent for the space it occupies. If you think you could be a good option as a foster for a kiln, please contact Sam directly via email: s.duckorjones@gmail.com
——————————————————
EDIT: SOLD Small Cobcraft kiln for sale
John Niland has contacted the studio about a small electric kiln that he has for sale. It is a Cobcraft, with an internal dimension 300mm x 420mm. Please click here for photos and send questions directly to John at: info@nilandart.com
——————————————————
Gas kiln for sale
Mal Sole is offering his gas kiln for sale, click here to view a photo. Please contact Mal directly for dimensions and additional details at: jan.mal@xtra.co.nz
——————————————————
EDIT: SOLD Glazes for sale
Karen Lee has some glazes for sale. She is a new member who is cleaning out her home studio and has some glazes she doesn’t use: Abbots Variegated Blue, Sea Urchin, Floating Green, Charcoal. They are all in the 10L Plastic Pails. If you are interested in any of them please email Karen directly at karen@numik.co
——————————————————
Tealight Candle Houses Weekend Workshop EOI
Last year’s Tealight Candle Houses Weekend Workshop was doubly over-subscribed. If you are interested in this 2-day hand building workshop, please contact the tutor, Peter Rumble, at sales@rumbles.co.nz with an indication of when this year would suit you.
——————————————————
A reminder to all to please clean up your mess in the glaze room!
I’ve gotten a few reports of things being unsatisfactory down there. Clean the tables, put everything back where you found it, and do everything you can to not contaminate the glazes! Thank you.
Upcoming WPA Events
Raku Club
Raku Club is starting again soon with two firings planned for February - Saturday 3rd and Saturday 24th (with raincheck days on the Sunday). To become a member of WPA’s Raku Club you must have attended at least one firing as an observer or had previous experience of Raku firing elsewhere.
You can sign up to be an observer which also entitles you to submit one piece - a small bowl, vase, etc that the Raku Club will glaze and fire on your behalf. The $5 entry fee for this event covers the cost of glazes, gas, materials etc.
Sign up as an observer in HelloClub (see buttons below) to submit a pot and watch a firing and then you can be fully involved next time around!
If you have raku experience from elsewhere and are keen to join Raku Club, talk to Ingrid or email wellingtonpotters.membership@gmail.com.
——————————————————
Friends and Family Friday- 23 February
We’re pleased to continue the popular ‘bring a friend night’ for 2024! These will be held on the last Friday of the month, with a hope to run them monthly.
How it works:
• Members can bring one friend to work from the main studio.
• Open any time between 5pm and 9pm.
• It’s free, but please sign up so we know how many to expect.
• You are responsible for providing clay, overseeing what your friend does, and making sure you have cleaned up tidily after yourselves.
• You are welcome to bring snacks and a drink to enjoy.
• Club members are allowed to fire items made during this evening by your friend or family but must take responsibility for paying and collecting the items promptly.
Keep your eyes peeled to the regular channels for scheduling updates (Facebook, Instagram, our website, HelloClub, and the MMCU). And a thank you to Christine Winbush for volunteering to run these again this year.
——————————————————
Tuesday Club Mornings and Friday Support Nights are Back!
Our club social meetings are back! Be sure to stop in on Tuesday mornings (from 10am - 12pm) or Friday evenings (fortnightly, 7pm - 9pm) for answers to your pottery questions, tips, tricks, and general advice on all things clay-related. No need to sign up–just show up–and there may even be cake.
——————————————————
Clay Club rescheduled to 17 February
Join the Clay Club to gain knowledge of recycling your own clay, the importance of grog, different clay types and their use, firing temperatures, and utilizing the pug mill to make recycled clay (which we sell to members). No prior experience is required. As an added bonus, your time at Clay Club counts towards volunteer hours! This is a popular place to volunteer/learn, and sign ups are limited.
Community News/Events
Bookings are open to hire the Hautere Kiln at Te Horo for private firings.
This 10 cu ft soda/salt brick kiln was built by Duncan Shearer and a team of helpers for The Mirek Smisek Arts Trust. It is available to be hired, with dates available through Feb, March and April (and beyond).
Located at Te Horo (Settlement Rd), this diesel-fuelled brick kiln has cured after four firings and is now ready for your work! Either individuals or get a group together may hire the kiln; the kiln has approximately enough space for about 6 or 7 people with one banana box each.
Each firing takes 3-4 days and costs $1000 plus $500 for the kiln operator, all inclusive. You supply your work bisqued, glazed and wadded. Clay used must be ok at 1300, and help and information is available for glazes and slips. It’s great fun to be on site throughout the firing and pictures of previous firings are available. Weekend firings work best, but midweek can be accommodated, too.
For more information and/or bookings, email The Trust at thekilnsattehoro@gmail.com
——————————————————
Anneke Borren at Academy Galleries until 4 February
——————————————————
Art Through Foraging Workshop
24 and 25 February 2024
This two day workshop with Adrienne Riseley (artist in residence at the Kilns at Te Horo) uses clay creatively without firing. You will be asked to forage a piece of wild clay and then learn different ways to make paint from the clay and use the clays in your own handmade paper.
For more information and to sign up, click the link below.
——————————————————
Korean Ceramic Art Tour
14 - 24 April 2024
Well-known Australian Ceramicist Marian Howell will again be leading a small group ceramic tour to Korea. Enjoy 5 days learning from leading ceramic artists Moon Do Bang, Bae Joo-hyun and Eunmi Cho and immerse ourselves in Korean culture visiting Museums & Galleries, Icheon Ceramic Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace and historic sites plus sampling a variety of Korean food.
Have some content for the newsletter? Email it to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 26 February.
Nga mihi for doing your “plusONE” so that WPA stays a thriving space for us all.
(Note: the missing macron above is not a typo, but a disappointing formatting quirk of the website platform.)
