November 2024 Newsletter

Written By Wellington Potters Association Info

Club Notes and Updates

Ceramicus 2024: Now Open!

THANK YOU to all 53 potters (with an astounding 142 works) who submitted their pieces for this year’s Ceramicus. We’ll run a recap in the December newsletter with winners and their photos, as the “People’s Choice” award doesn’t get tallied until after this issue. In the meantime, however, here is the list of the award winners:

  • PREMIER AWARD, SPONSORED BY CLAY DOWN UNDER: Caren Pistorious, Basket of Brews

  • EXCELLENCE AWARD, SPONSORED BY BOT POTS: Julie Harrington, Prickles in my socks

  • MERIT AWARD, SPONSORED BY BOT POTS: Lans Hansen, Bronze Arete Vase

  • CREATIVE COLOUR AWARD, SPONSORED BY KIWI UNDERGLAZE: Sarah Drake, Round squiggle pot

  • EMERGING POTTER AWARD, SPONSORED BY BOT POTS: Jennifer Meech, Rangatira Ātaahua

  • HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARDS, SPONSORED BY BOT POTS:
    Chris Dunn, Lidded Jar
    Peter Rumble, ENGINE-UITY
    Kate Mac, ok boomer
    Tony Mahoney, My Imaginary Menagerie

  • WELLINGTON POTTERS’ ACQUISITION AWARD: Lans Hansen, Coral Vase

Don’t forget the Pop-Up Pottery Market is scheduled for this weekend (2 & 3 November, weather permitting), from 10am - 4pm! Bring a friend and pick up some lovely work from your fellow members.

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Introducing the New WPA Life Members

Anneke Borren (right) and Caitlin Moloney at their recent exhibition up at Driving Creek Pottery.

Anneke Boren

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit; Fellow New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts; Life Member, Wellington Potters’ Association

In 1963, Anneke Borren emigrated to NZ with her family, at the age of 16. She was determined to become a potter after four years of night classes in Holland.

In New Zealand she met Flora Christeller, and then Roy Cowan and Juliet Peter. They helped her become a member of WPA (1965). Two years at Heretaunga College, one year at Vic Uni, and in 1966 got accepted at Ilam Art School.

She had a great year at Ilam, but pottery was seen as a craft, not Art, so she went back to Europe until mid-1969. When she returned to NZ she set up her pottery in Paraparaumu and rejoined WPA.

In 1970, a group of established potters set up the N.Z. Potters Guild. Anneke was invited to join them, by far the youngest of the group. They had exhibitions and biannual meetings. Anneke’s New Zealand-wide exhibitions during the 70s were large and sellouts. They averaged 400 pieces of domestic ware per show, which is one of the reasons many regional museums have her work from the 1970-80s in their collections.

The guild disbanded about 1975 and some members, including Anneke, were invited to join the N.Z. Society of Potters. In 1977 she and then-husband, Owen Mapp, left in 1977 for an extended time travelling in the Americas and Europe. They returned in February 1981, and Anneke rejoined WPA at this time.

The 80s decade was very full and very rich with Anneke’s two kids and exhibitions. When she and Owen divorced in 1993, she took the opportunity to study clay for three months in the East/West University of Hawaii.

In 1995, Anneke started work as the community and education officer at the Dowse Art Museum and again rejoined WPA. She also moved to Paremata and established Chez Moi Ceramics, until 2018.

Thank you, Anneke, for your contributions to both WPA and New Zealand ceramics.

Vivian Rodrìguez (right) and Ashleigh M compete in the Two-Headed Potter event at this year’s WPA Pottery Throwdown.

Vivian Rodrìguez

Vivian Rodiguez is nominated for life membership in recognition of the contribution she has made to Wellington Potters during almost 30 years of membership.

Vivian joined the Association in 1995 after meeting Gwyn Williams at a BBQ and receiving an invite to the Club. This was when the rooms were downstairs only, she recalls it being a very family friendly space where the kids would run around in the hills, and later put on shows on the stage when the Club moved into the upstairs space. 

A big motivation for Vivian to take up pottery was a desire to upgrade her mismatched op shop domestic ware and create her own beautiful things for using in the home. She learned to centre from a library book!

Vivian has held many volunteer roles over the last 30 years, including rooms manager, Potter in Residence, Kiln Room Manager, Glaze Room Manager, Cubbies Manager, Vice President, Education Portfolio holder… the list goes on! She has also shared her skills with hundreds of people: she was an Onslow College and CEC tutor from 2012-2020, as well as a WPA tutor since 2012. 

We asked Vivian about what motivated her to volunteer her time. She said she thought it was fair - she was using the Club facilities a lot and so she felt she should contribute a lot. Her volunteer highlight was making glazes for the Club with Ivan Vostinar. This is how she learnt how to make her own glazes.

Vivian has had pieces exhibited in the Ceramicus exhibition every year since 2008. She has won 3 People’s Choice awards and the hand builders award in 2021. She has been a finalist in Portage Ceramic Awards 3 times and the Waiclay National Ceramic Awards twice.

When asked about her highlight of being a club member, Vivian responded quickly and enthusiastically - anagama! She has participated in 16 firings and has very fond memories of the hours spent up at the kiln in Horokiwi.

Ngā mihi for everything that you’ve done for the club, Vivian!

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Meet your WPA Committee

Hover over the image to learn more about each member.

Ngā mihi nui to the resigning members of last year’s committee: Sammy Chou, Sarah Drake, and Kate Macdonald!

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Glaze Room Disasters

We’ve had a WHOLE BUNCH of complaints about the state of the glaze room/spray booth lately. It’s gotten so bad, in fact, that it’s time to start drawing attention to the matter. Whomever used the spray booth on the afternoon of Wednesday, 30 October, left it in the following unacceptable state:

Note that there has been similar struggles with the extruder upstairs as well.

If you use anything in the rooms, please be sure clean it (and return it) to the condition that you found it. And if you found it a mess, TAKE PHOTOS and post it on the Facebook Member’s page. We need to re-set the standard/expectations for cleaning and this is the first line of attack. (And if you found it a mess, and then cleaned it up after you used it yourself, gold star to you for doing twice the work.)

If you are uncomfortable noting things not left as they should be on the Member’s page, email your photos to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com and ‘Bernard Leach’ (Admin) can post them for you.

Lastly, if you are flying under the radar because you do such an incredible job cleaning up after yourself and no one can tell that you were there, THANK YOU. You are doing a great job and everyone loves you for it. :)

Welcome new members!

Alyssa B |

Amelia C |

Ariq F |

Brandie S |

Emma S |

Enzo L |

Jessica N |

Julia K |

Natalie S |

Ryan G |

Veronica M |

Alexis W |

Andrea T |

Becca B |

Chloe M |

Doug V |

Hana O |

Harriet R |

Jessica E |

Kaia T |

Masae I |

Nicky B |

Abi B |

Diana T |

Geraldine S |

Gina D |

Harry J |

Heather T |

Iain E |

Kelsey M |

Mark M |

Yasmeen S |

Alyssa B | Amelia C | Ariq F | Brandie S | Emma S | Enzo L | Jessica N | Julia K | Natalie S | Ryan G | Veronica M | Alexis W | Andrea T | Becca B | Chloe M | Doug V | Hana O | Harriet R | Jessica E | Kaia T | Masae I | Nicky B | Abi B | Diana T | Geraldine S | Gina D | Harry J | Heather T | Iain E | Kelsey M | Mark M | Yasmeen S |

DID YOU KNOW…?

The kiln room shuts down over the holidays.

The kiln room closes from mid-December through mid-January for an annual deep clean. Plan your gifts accordingly!

LAST CLUB FIRING FOR 2024: Monday 16 December
FIRST CLUB FIRING FOR 2025: Monday 20 January

Private firings may be booked up until Saturday 28 December. First 2025 dates for private bookings will be advertised in January. (All licensed kiln operators will receive an email.)

In the meantime, the Kiln Team will be reassessing the booking calendar to explore possible efficiencies and also be testing new firing programmes.

Cone 5 firing schedule

Related to the December kiln room closure, our apologies to those who have been waiting so long for their pots to be fired. Initially there weren’t enough to warrant even a small kiln, then suddenly there were too many. The pots that were waiting up until October 25 have now been fired and will be ready to pick up on Thursday evening, October 31. Another Cone 5 firing – the last for 2024 – has been booked for Saturday 7 December. Note that Cone 5 firings are recommended for pots using some Amaco and Mayco glazes, particularly the ‘metallic’ types. Also, some clays rated maximum 1200 will give more attractive raw (i.e. unglazed) colour at Cone 5.

Member’s Gallery: Mel Waite

With all of the work that Mel does for the studio, it’s hard to believe that she asks nothing of her time besides a bit of recognition on social media. From taking photos of our big-ticket events, to doing the studio-style shots of our collective work, she makes us look goooooood.

We thought we’d take this opportunity to name Mel our “Volunteer of the Month” and show off more of the work she’s photographed for us over the past three years.

PSAs from the Club Admin

Admin on holiday

Your trusty Admin will be on holiday from 19 November - 3 December for the US Thanksgiving holiday. She won’t be physically in the rooms, but will be on emails with reduced hours. While she is away, remember that if you need any slips/forms, they can be found in the orange folder next to the library desk—make extra copies for the task at hand!

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Door code is changing 16 November

Now that the dust has settled from the new membership year rollover, we’ll be changing the door codes on 16 November. We’ll send you an email with the new code on the 14th, with a separate reminder in the MMCU on the 15th that the code will be changing the next day. Keep your eyes peeled for these notifications!

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Thank you Jenny Shearer!

Jenny Shearer has dontated ‘Glazes for the Craft Potter’ by Harry Fraser to the library. Thanks, Jenny!

And a note about the library: if you are simply looking at books/magazines while in the club rooms, please put the book back on the shelf from which you found it. Only if you can’t remember where it goes should you leave it in the “returns” box.

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Parking

Despite three notices this year, members continue to park inconsistently and inconsiderately. Yes, we know it would be easier if we could, but we are not permitted to mark spaces on the asphalt. There is now a map (copies on the social tables noticeboard and one on the kiln room whiteboard) of the lower parking area illustrating the spaces available. If you find a yellow laminated notice on your windscreen, don’t panic…there is no fine BUT...please take note that you have transgressed, immediately return the notice to the kiln room and consult the map on the whiteboard. You really don’t want to be one of those members who caused our parking privileges to be withdrawn by the Wellington City Council.

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New test tiles in the works!

The Glaze Team has been hard at work and developing different test tiles. Over the coming weeks we will be shifting to a new system. Keep your eyes peeled for updates when they are done!

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Cubby availability

There are cubbies available! Put yourself on the waitlist here and then be sure to check your inbox/junk folders occasionally for the notification that one has been assigned. You can also check the list again to see if you’ve been emailed.

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Clay for sale

From Monday 11 November, part of the clay table, main studio, will be stacked with damaged stock, withdrawn lines, part bags, rejuvenated leftovers, etc. etc. “Attractive” prices. Pay by eftpos. No IOUs.

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New recycling area for lids!

We’ve got a new recycling area for those pesky lids! When you walk into the kitchen, look left. Admin will get a more permanent sign up ASAP.

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Ngā mihi!

Suggestion Box

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 September’s meeting (click the “+” to expand).

  • Unfortunately, no. However, you can plan around the CEC work by checking the booking sheet for the shelves and/or looking at the HelloClub calendar. The week between the last two classes will be the glazing week for CEC.

  • Yes! Great idea! Our new WPA Education Portfolio will keep this in mind for classes next year.

  • That would be great! Please feel free to donate your favourite moisturiser for us to use.

  • You have no idea how much we would love to do this. With multiple scrapes, dings, and dents reported recently, we understand how stressful parking in the lot can be. UNFORTUNATELY, we are on WCC council property and the complications of putting a private camera on public land is very, very challenging. :(

  • Great idea and Admin has posted a sign at both the main entrance and the kiln room. She knows the sign in the kiln room needs addressing (it can’t handle the wind when the door is left open) and will find a better solution when time allows. Thanks for the suggestion!

Gumbo for Spring

Until someone sends me new recipes, Admin will simply keep using her favourites. :)

This one is one of my standards, although I only do it a few times a year. I add shrimp, chorizo (preferably cured), and okra (found at Indian grocery stores). Better than making a dark roux in the pot, however, I’ll toast flour way in advance* and keep it in an air tight container until I am ready to use it. (*Spread out a cup or two of flour on a baking tray and bake for 30 minutes [mixing once or twice] until evenly golden throughout.)

Serve over rice and enjoy!

Recipe from the ‘Joy of Cooking’, photos from tastesbetterfromscratch.com.

  • In a large plastic bag, combine:

    • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
    • 2 tsp. ground red pepper
    • 1 tssp black pepper
    • 1 tsp garlic powder

    Add and shake until completely coated:
    • 3 lbs. chicken parts

    Add and shake again:
    • 1/2 c. all purpose flour

    Heat oil in a Dutch pot over medium heat. Hover your hand over the oil to make sure it is hot. You will feel the heat rising.

    Brown the chicken on all sides. When you see a nice brown crust appearing, turn the chicken. You want this on all sides; if you can turn them on all 4 sides, this is best. It is easiest when the chicken is close together, so they can lean on each other when on sides that are difficult to stand on. It will take about 4 minutes for each side.

    While you are doing this, combine the following:
    • 1/2 c. chopped celery
    • 1/2 c. chopped onion
    • 1/2 c. chopped green bell peppers

    Remove the chicken to a platter, discard the remaining oil from the pan. Set the pan aside.

    In a medium saucepan, pour in:
    • 1/2 c. oil

    Whisk in:
    • 1/2 c. all-purpose flour (or toasted flour)

    Cook; stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. It is very important you do not leave the roux. The roux should turn a dark mahogany brown, and can take up to 30 minutes. If you use the toasted flour, cook for about five minutes then proceed.

    Remove the roux from the heat and stir until it stops bubbling, approximately 1-2 minutes. Very carefully, add the roux and vegetable mixture into the Dutch oven.

    Whisk in:
    • 6-8 c. stock or broth

    Bring to a boil, whisking every few minutes. Reduce the heat and add the chicken. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 30-45 minutes.

    Remove the chicken from the pot. Stir in the pot:
    • 12 oz. andouille sausage, cut into 1/2 inch chunks, larger if you prefer .
    • If using shrimp and okra, add this now.

    Simmer until the sausage (and shrimp) is cooked through, about 10 minutes. During this time, remove the chicken from the bone and cut into bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken to the pot.

    Top with:
    • 1/2 c. chopped scallions
    • Hot Sauce to taste
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

Upcoming Events/Community News

Clay Club - November

5 November | 10:00AM - noon

Join the Clay Club to learn about the recycling process for clay, the significance of using grog, types of clay and their purposes, appropriate firing temperatures, and how to effectively utilise a pug mill for creating recycled clay (which is available for purchase by members). No previous experience is necessary. Additionally, attending Clay Club can count towards volunteer hours.

With our new system of recycling clay, no need to wear gloves or a mask -- but wearing clothes that can get muddy is wise.

Sign up in HelloClub to attend individual sessions at your convenience - no regular attendance required. Attending four sessions earns a 10kg bag of the Club's recycled clay.

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Links to other clubs’ newsletters

  • Ceramics New Zealand national news can be found here, with the Wellington / regional news here.

  • Gear Homestead Woolshed Potters’ October 2024 Newsletter can be found here.

  • The Kilns at Te Horo August 2024 Newsletter can be found here.

  • Ōtaki Potter’s October 2024 Newsletter can be found here.

Have some content for the newsletter? Email it to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 25 November.

Keep doing your +1 to ensure WPA continues to be a thriving space for everyone. Nga mihi!

Wellington Potters Association Info
Next

October 2024 Newsletter