May 2024 Newsletter
Club Notes and Updates
Have you responded to the Studio Technician proposal?
By now you will have received an email asking for your feedback on a proposal to contract a Studio Technician.
We’ve had a good response so far but we want to hear from as many of you as possible so please click HERE to vote and provide your feedback - anonymously or not, your choice. Our consultation period runs until Friday, 10 May 2024 and based on the majority vote, a decision will be made to contract someone for a six-month trial.
Why are we considering this? Despite our best efforts, we still do not get enough volunteer support for some of the more hands-on aspects of running our clubrooms. As a result, some activities are not done regularly or as frequently as required. The model of contracting part-time support to WPA has already been proven with the successful engagement of our club administrator, Heather Baltzley. As a result, the Committee is considering an additional paid position of Studio Technician for 20 hours a week, 48 weeks a year, for a six-month trial period.
You can find the proposed duties for this role here.
This does not mean that we can do without your volunteer support - the Studio Technician role is intended to support our volunteer activities or fill in gaps. We still expect everyone to do their plusONEs while at the clubrooms, as well as contribute to things like Glaze and Clay Clubs and Working Bees.
The role would be partly funded by existing contract arrangements like kiln loading and tutoring, and increasing the frequency of some activities. For example, by creation of more club-recycled clay to sell, greater throughput of club firings, restarting the kiln licence training, tutoring other related training courses, and / or increasing the number of private firings available in the kilns. These activities would add no additional fees for members.
The balance of the role (wages minus above funding) is estimated to cost approximately $15,000 per annum. WPA has sufficient cash reserves to fund this balance without adversely affecting general repairs and maintenance of the clubrooms and equipment.
At the end of the two-week consultation period, if the proposal is successful, the Committee will advertise the role internally to all its members.
Any questions? Please email contact Admin (wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com).
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Thank you to those that helped at our latest Working Bee!
A small group of dedicated people got a large amount of tasks done!
Our latest Working Bee has just been and we are very grateful to the following people for taking the time to help - either on the day or in advance.
BIG thanks to those who attended: Abby Z, Adele B, Amanda S, Anna B, Ashleigh McL, Bay C, Beth McN, Brian C, Bridget T, Coral D, Emma F, Fleur C, Gabrielle A, Heather B, Hedy A, Ingrid P, Jane G, Julie H (x2!), Lans H, Lyndi C, Lyuba Z, Madison A, Mara E, Margie L, Megan G, Michelle M, Peter R, Priti P, Robyn N, Rosemary D, Sandy E, and Shannon M. You all get extra good karma for the quarter!
We had a blast at this last Bee. It was very rewarding to get the studio in shape for the membership that uses the rooms and – as always – Julie provided some amazing food. If you missed out this time be sure to sign up/pop in during our next one. We hold them roughly once a quarter, and even if you only have time to do only one task each session your time is recognized and appreciated.
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Do you enjoy op-shopping? Or have an overflowing linen cupboard?
Clay Club is always keen to receive donations of basic, rectangular-shaped pillowslips (ie not Y-shaped or European pillowslips).
If you’re fossicking through charity shops and find some for 50c or less, why not buy us a couple? Or how about getting onto your Swedish Death Cleaning early and clear out the back of the linen closet? It’s best if the fabric isn’t too worn as they have a tough life at WPA.
If you’ve got some to donate to the clay recycling cause, you can drop them into the purple crate labelled ‘Pillowslips’, under the pugmill. Thank you!
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Cubby renewal and mezzanine desks
Cubby renewal information
The cubby rental year ends on 31 May!
If you have a cubby here’s what you need to know:
• If are renting a cubby and do not wish to continue, email the cubby coordinator at wellingtonpotters.cubbies@gmail.com
• If you are renting a cubby and want to keep it, you will receive an invoice via Hello Club on 25-26 May. Please pay this before 1 June.
• If you don’t pay your cubby invoice before 1 June, then your cubby will be emptied and made available to someone on the waitlist.
Pricing for the 2024-2025 hire year will remain the same:
• Extra small cubby: $30 per year
• Medium cubby: $60 per year
• Large cubby: $80 per year
• Glaze room cubby: $100 per year
• Mocha unit: $320 per year
We have over 50 people on our cubby waitlist. As cubbies become available, emails will be sent out to those at the top of the waitlist. Please keep an eye on your spam folders. If you want to check whether you’re on the list or add yourself, here’s a link.
Expressions of interest for mezzanine desks
Desks on the mezzanine are leased for 1 year for $60 per month, a total cost of $720. The rental year runs from 1 June to 31 May. If you would like to be considered for a space on the mezzanine from 1 June, email the cubby coordinator at wellingtonpoters.cubbies@gmail.com before Friday 17 May.
Members’ Gallery
Some members of the club held a private soda firing up at the Kilns at Te Horo. Although the first firing never got to temperature, they were able to re-fire a few days later and got some great results.
Is there something you’ve made that you want to show off? If so, please email your photos (and descriptions, if you’d like) to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
DID YOU KNOW…?
Your glazes can be too thick!
Haven’t had a chance to do the “Glazing Basics” class yet and are afraid that your pieces may be rejected by the Kiln Team for being too thick? Here is Peter’s quick cheater advice on how to (dip-) glaze your pieces:
Dip your piece for three seconds then withdraw.
If you want to add accents to the rim or overlay a different glaze....
WAIT UNTIL FULLY DRY (30 minutes in the drying cabinet or 2 hours ambient temperature)
THEN Dip your piece a second time for TWO seconds BUT ONLY TO A MAXIMUM OF TWO-THIRDS FROM TOP TOWARDS BASE.
Any questions? Please feel free to ask more experienced potters around the room (Tuesday’s Club Mornings or Fridays (Fort)Night Support), or sign up for one of the monthly “Glazing Basics” classes.
Cake for April
If you have any favourite recipes that you’d like to share, please email wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
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A Tuesday favourite from Julie Harrington. Photos courtesy of the internet.
INGREDIENTS (CAKE)
• 2 large apples peeled and grated
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 125 grams melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 1/2 cups plain flour (or to make gluten free 1 1/4 cups rice flour and 1/4 c ground almonds)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (Edmonds if it's gluten free)INGREDIENTS (TOPPING)
Mix together:
• 60 grams melted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup shredded coconutDIRECTIONS
1) Preheat the oven to 180 deg, grease and line a 23 cm round cake tin.
2) In a bowl mix together apple, dates, baking soda and boiling water. Set aside for 10 mins.
3) In a large bowl, melt butter in the microwave, mix in sugar. Add egg and vanilla and whisk together well.
4) Add apple and date mix to butter mix and stir.
5) Fold flour and baking powder into a wet mixture.
6) Pour into cake tin and bake for 50 mins
7) Take the cake out of the oven and spread over the topping mix. Return straight to the oven and bake for a further 20 mins.
8) Cool cake for 15 mins before taking out of the tin.
PSAs from the Club Admin
Be gentle putting stuff on the “to be bisqued” shelves.
A reminder to be gentle when moving items onto the “to be bisqued” shelves. We’ve had a spate of broken/knocked items lately and we know mistakes happen – bone-dry clay is insanely fragile – but it is worth a reminder. Thank you!
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Yes, we know the front door lock is being funny.
If you’ve either had an issue with getting into the rooms, or have found the door “unlocked” lately, we know the lock is being weird and we are on it. That said, if you find either of these issues when you come into the rooms, please just let Admin know so that we can track how it’s behaving.
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The mystery of the tea towel drawer.
We’ve had – yet again – someone use the cloths meant for the slab roller as kitchen towels. This made us scratch our heads until we realised that not everyone knows that the left drawer in the kitchen is where you can find clean tea towels.
Admin will label the drawer shortly.
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Were you the person who found my secret task at the Working Bee?
If so, please email me (wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com) with what the task told you to do and you can claim your prize! Once it has been collected, I’ll re-hide the task for the next Bee. Congrats to whomever you are!
Suggestion Box Updates
Thanks for your suggestions in the suggestion box! Believe it or not, the suggestion box is NOT a black void of notes from you all! Suggestions get read, discussed, and logged at the Committee Meetings. Below are the suggestions and outcomes from this month’s meeting (click the “+” to expand).
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Outcome: We love this idea and will be reaching out to the gardens ASAP. Also, if anyone needs any fill, we could offer what we have.
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Outcome: Admin is on task to buy a mirror, and the membership is advised that there are small bottles of saline in the first aid kit downstairs. (The first aid kit is at the glaze room door on the kiln room side.)
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Outcome: We have, and several times. Unfortunately, as we are on Council land we are actively DISCOURAGED from putting up a tank/figuring out a rainwater catchment solution. We are very disappointed as well.
This said, we recognise that we do need to pay attention to how much water we are using. Everyone can start small (turning off the water while washing items, washing your tools in an ice cream container instead of under the tap, sharing cleaning water, etc.) and we can collectively work from there.
Do you have any good water-saving advice? Email wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com or post them on the Members’ facebook page.
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Outcome: We are looking into it! Watch this space…
Upcoming WPA Events
CEC classes restart soon!
Just a quick heads-up that you will start seeing CEC classes return to the club rooms on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Check the HelloClub calendar for details.
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Need help or advice on anything clay-related?
Visit a Tuesday Club Morning or Friday Support (Fort)Night
Have ceramics-related questions and need some help? Come out to Tuesday Club Mornings (aka “Cake Club”) or Friday Support (Fort)Nights to ask your questions about all things ceramics-related.
Tuesday mornings see long-time WPA potters Mal Sole and Vera Burton in the rooms for advice (as well as cake) from 10am - noonish. Friday Support (Fort)Night evening sessions are from 7 - 9pm with Hedy Ankers, our Glazing Basics tutor.
No need to sign up, just come on in!
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Raku Club
11 MAY & 18 MAY - Although there is only one 18 May spot remaining to participate in May’s Raku Club (sign up in HelloClub), there are plenty of observers spots available!
Anyone is welcome to come and watch a raku firing from the other side of a barrier. If you wish to join Raku Club for future firings or submit a piece for firing, you MUST, however, sign up as an observer. This enables us to track your attendance before we add you to the Raku Club roster and send you notifications if the firing is postponed due to weather.
Signing up also entitles you to submit one bisque-fired piece 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 (refundable up to 7 days in advance of the firing).
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Friends and Family Night
31 MAY, 5:00PM - 9:00PM - This is your chance to bring along ONE friend or family member to see what ceramics and pottery is all about. Christine Winbush will be your host for the evening, but you are responsible for providing clay, overseeing what your guest does, and cleaning up. You are welcome to bring snacks and a drink to enjoy, too! Come any time between 5pm and 9pm.
Club members are allowed to fire items made during this evening by your friend or family, but must pay for and collect the items promptly. If your intention is to work on the wheel with your friend, please share a wheel so that others may participate as well.
The event is free to attend, but we do have a cap for member numbers so that we ensure everyone has a space to work. Sign up to reserve your space. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Note: There will be no Friday Support (Fort)Night this night.
Community News/Events
The Dowse Art Museum Opening Night
The Dowse has invited us to their opening night to celebrate the new season of exhibitions on Friday 17 May at 6pm. The new exhibitions include: Paul Maseyk (Jugs in New Zealand Painting), Russ Flatt (te ahua, te wa, te atea), and Yvonne Todd (Brides)
RSVPs to rsvp@dowse.org.nz
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Driving Creek Pottery has new courses up!
New intensive courses include a 5-day wheel throwing course, a 5-day fundamentals of glazing class, and a 5-day production throwing class. For more information, click below to be taken to their website.
Clay Works Potters’ Market 2024
Fancy a long weekend in Auckland? Clay Works Potters’ Market 2024 is happening 10 and 11 May! For more info, check out their facebook page below.
Have some content for the newsletter? Email it to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 25 May.
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.)
