March 2024 Newsletter
Club Notes and Updates
Mal Sole and Clinton Davis help move wood to the kiln for the 2024 Anagama firing.
Anagama Wood Stacking, Part 2
Thanks to the volunteers who showed up in the mist to stack the next batch of wood for Anagama 2024. They made a considerable dent in the amount we’ll need for our (probably last) firing happening 4-8 September.
We will likely hold one final wood stacking day next month sometime, and then additional working bees to get the kiln ready for our last blast. Keep in mind that pre-firing volunteer work gets you TWO ADDITIONAL pieces in the kiln!
We’ll promote additional Anagama volunteer opportunities through the usual channels as they come up.
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Members’ Gallery
We want to feature a regular “Members’ Gallery” the the monthly newsletter!
Is there something you’ve made that you are particularly proud of??? If so, please email your photos (and descriptions, if you’d like) to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
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Signage Consolidation in the Studio Room
There is a method to the madness
Admin (Heather) has been working on sections of the studio to consolidate signage. The new signage isn’t fancy, but it does have strategy:
White signs are labels and general instructions for that item/space.
Neon yellow signs are health and safety.
Pink is specific directions for an area/item.
Green is for PlusONE tasks to help out around the studio. (More about this below.)
Some other logic behind the new system include being able to print all signage in the studio itself (hence black and white and based off of A4 paper), as well as keeping with the WPA “brand” so that things are visually consistent.
Signage is being done in manageable chunks, and given the amount of health and safety items necessary downstairs the kiln room/glaze room will be tackled at another time. If you feel something important is missing please email admin (at wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com) and we can tweak until it’s right!
DID YOU KNOW…?
There are lots of little ways that you can help around the club!
Wondering where you can be most helpful for PlusONE tasks while at the studio? Look no further than the little bright green “PlusONE Opportunity” labels popping up around the studio. Anywhere that ANYONE can help out (no special training needed) will be noted so that you know where and how to take care of the task at hand.
It takes an astonishing amount of volunteer hours to keep the club running at its best. Your five minutes of time here and there make a huge difference!
Have suggestions for more “Plus ONE” opportunities? Email wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
A Recipe for March
NEW! As lots of potters are also interested in food – and it is the season when your garden runneth over with zucchini/courgettes – we’ve got a recipe for you. Click the “+” below to expand the recipe.
If you have any favourite recipes that you’d like to share, please email wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
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From King Arthur Baking Company
(Recipe courtesy of Laura A.)Ingredients - Cake
8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (99g) vegetable oil
1 3/4 cups (347g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup (113g) sour cream, buttermilk, or yogurt, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (64g) unsweetened cocoa, Dutch-process or natural
2 teaspoons espresso powder (optional)
3 cups (363g to 450g) zucchini, shredded*
1/2 cup (85g) chocolate chips
Ingredients - Icing (optional)*
1 1/3 cups (227g) chocolate chips
7 tablespoons (99g) half-and-half or heavy cream
DIRECTIONS
1) Preheat the oven to 325°F (160 - 165C). Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan.
2) To make the cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, oil, sugar, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until smooth.
3) Beat in the eggs.
4) Stir in the sour cream, buttermilk, or yogurt alternately with the flour. (See "tips," below for more details on this step, if needed.
5) Add the cocoa and espresso powder, mixing until smooth.
6) Fold in the zucchini and chocolate chips. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
7) Bake the cake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top springs back lightly when touched, and it seems set. A toothpick or paring knife inserted into the center should come out clean when done.
8) Remove the cake from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack.
9) To ice the cake: In the microwave or on the stovetop, combine the chocolate chips and half-and-half, heating until the chocolate softens. Stir to melt the chocolate, and spread over the completely cooled cake.
Storage information: Store leftover cake, well covered, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.
PSAs from the Club Admin
Canvas/sheets from the slab roller keep turning up in the kitchen?
We keep discovering the canvas sheets and cloths for the slab roller hung with the tea towels in the kitchen. (A canvas sheet had even been torn in half!) Please know that the canvas and cloths at the slab roller are for slab roller use only and not suitable as tea towels. If you need them, extra tea towels can be found in the left drawer in the kitchen. Thanks!
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Want us to repost something on Instagram?
I’ve added a “day” to the social schedule to amplify member’s work. Mondays and Wednesdays are generally slated for WPA happenings/ classes/ events, but Fridays will become a day of sharing your posts via stories. Be sure to tag us on your post and we’ll be sure to amplify as a story at the end of the week. Tag us in a story on Thursday/Friday and if I get it before it expires I’ll share it as well.
We have over 2,400 followers on Instagram, so let’s help get your work out there and in the public’s eye!
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Anyone need a damp cabinet?
Kathleen Kuehn of AWHI Yoga and Wellbeing is looking to give away their broken refrigerator. It’s located at their studio on Johnston Street in the CBD. It is free to anyone who can come and pick it up. If you are interested, please contact Kathleen via AWHI’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/awhiyoga
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Clay prices are going up.
An FYI that clay prices increase from March 8. The increase is coming from our distributors with Primo brand increases being significant; Witgert prices less so. There are currently several "out of stocks" in the shop, but that situation should be rectified by mid-March when a new shipment is due.
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Do you need a bigger working space?
We have a desk on the mezzanine floor available! Rental is $60 per month, rental term ends 31 May. If you’re interested, please email wellingtonpotters.cubbies@gmail.com.
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Stools at wheels being switched out.
We’ve made the difficult decision to swap out the stools at the wheels for ones that are non-adjustable. All of the adjustable stools have proved to be too fragile and we need something that holds up to the heavy use they get. If you need something taller/shorter, it may be worthwhile purchasing your own and bringing it for your personal throwing sessions. Thanks for your understanding on this matter!
Upcoming WPA Events
March Raku Club(s)
Watch this time, participate the next!
As an observer of a raku firing you will be on the other side of a barrier and won't fire anything yourself. HOWEVER, observing a firing means you to participate in a future Raku Club event.
You ARE entitled to submit one piece – a small bowl, vase, etc – that the Raku Club will glaze and fire on your behalf. The entry fee for this event covers the cost of glazes, gas, materials, etc (refundable up to 7 days in advance of the firing). See here for more info on materials.
Only six observers per session. Sign up for a slot below.
If you have raku experience from elsewhere and are keen to join Raku Club, email wellingtonpotters.membership@gmail.com.
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Friday Support (Fort)nights
Friday Support (Fort)nights will be running tonight (1 March), 15 March, and skipping Good Friday (29 March). They will be back on the regular fortnight rotation in April! Friday Support (Fort)nights are free and there is no need to sign up – just show up!
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Clay Club – 19 March
March’s Clay Club date has been announced: Tuesday 19 March! Join the very popular 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!
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Tealight Candle House Workshop: 6 - 7 April
Peter Rumble’s very popular “Tealight Candle House Workshop" is back for an encore!
Brighten your life (and maybe someone else’s, too) by making one or two little tea light houses over two days. You can use provided templates or do your own thing with the 2kg of clay provided. Peter Rumble, hand building maestro, will guide, jolly and cajole you into delving the depths of your building and decorating creativity to make the most of a 2- day workshop.
Peter’s workshop will fill quickly (it is already half-full without any promotion), so be sure to sign up ASAP to secure your spot.
Community News/Events
Specialist Courses at Driving Creek Pottery
8 - 12 April: Fundamentals of Practical Glaze Chemistry with Ronald Boersen
This 5-day course is intended for potters who want to start mixing their own glazes and for those who already have some basic knowledge and experience.
Self-confessed glaze nerd Ronald Boersen will guide you through ways of understanding and exploring glaze chemistry. Putting theory into practice, you will explore different testing methods and review the fired results. We will host this course on site here at Driving Creek from April 8th to 12th. For more information and to book, click here.
20 - 24 March: Production Throwing with Callum Trudgeon
As well as the usual five day throwing courses that are offered throughout the year, we have introduced a five day production throwing course. This is aimed at more advanced throwers who are looking to increase their speed, accuracy, efficiency and repetition of forms.
This course will be taught by our lead production potter Callum Trudgeon. Callum joined us in 2022 from The Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall. He was trained and worked in production for nine years at The Leach and holds a wealth of knowledge and experience. The next course will be held May 20th to 24th here at Driving Creek. For more information, please click here.
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Ema Frost Kintsugi Workshop: Re-use, Re-Purpose, Beautify with Gold
Sat & Sun 16th & 17th March in Wellington, Toi Poneke and Whirinaki Whare Taonga
Kintsugi is a Japanese tradition of fixing broken pottery with gold - making its imperfections its beauty. Bring a broken piece to repair, and if you don’t have one, Ema has plenty of back ups.
If you are interested visit: http://tinyurl.com/5ddyan3w
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In Defence of Bricks: Article excerpt from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (London)
Sad and beautiful browns: in appreciation of London stockbrick
(Story submitted by Moira S.)
Ulrike Wahl, stonemason, surveyor and SPAB Fellow writes a love letter to London stockbrick, arguably an urban vernacular material.
The London stockbrick is the most familiar material to make up the fabric of London, yet it is one that receives relatively little attention. Pevsner likened its effect on the street architecture of the city to the use of Bath stone in Bath. However, whilst most people recognize the beauty of the latter, the London stockbrick is too often considered common, dirty, and possibly slightly miserable – if it is considered at all.
Yet it is a great brick! There is beauty in its variety of colour and texture, and it is durable and resistant to the worst of London’s pollution. It has a rich craft tradition, spanning two hundred years or more. Christopher Wren already recognized the potential of the raw material when he said that “…the earth about London, rightly managed, will yield as good brick as were the Roman bricks … and will endure, in our air, beyond any stone our island affords'. …
Have some content for the newsletter? Email it to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 25 March.
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.)
