Kia ora e te whaanau
The results of the glazing portion of the Liz Sharek workshop came out of the kiln earlier in the week – much oooing and aaaahing and patting of pots took place in the kiln room. Some gorgeous results!
We also had another fab workshop on the weekend just passed, with Yasmin teaching lino-cut clay imprinting. So we had yet more cool creations coming through the kilns. At the request of those students, Yasmin will also be taking a Water-colour on Clay workshop on the 9th of June. Check out the details below if this looks like your cup of tea, and read about all the other goings-on and future goings-on in this week’s newsletter!
Annual General Meeting
The AGM went ahead on Tuesday evening, with a good number of members attending and the successful election of our Committee for 2024-25. Thanks very much for attending and helping to keep the wheels turning.
Our Committee members for the year ahead are:
Tess May – President
Suzy Dunser – Secretary
Sarah Lee – Treasurer
Bronwyn Wright
Caroline Hamilton
Josef Thompson-Smith
Please join us in thanking them for their contribution. These roles are performed on a volunteer basis and we are so grateful to have people in our club who are passionate and willing to guide our society in all its endeavours. We extend a warm welcome and thanks to Josef, who is a new committee member and also new to WSP this year. And a massive thanks to our re-elected Committee members who have chosen to lead WSP again. Ka mau te wehi!
Life Members
At the AGM, two of our clay-whaanau were invested as WSP Life Members. This is an honour we give to long-serving members with an acknowledged voluntary contribution to WSP. This year, Life Memberships were bestowed on David Kenny and Yasmin Davis.
David Kenny
David has given an outstanding contribution (added much) to WSP through volunteer hours and commitment to the club. He has Ceramic expertise that has benefitted WSP members by generously sharing his engineering expertise and knowledge, in particular with the electric and raku kilns.
Yasmin Davis
Overall, Yasmin’s contributions have clearly set her apart from other WSP members with her support of members in sharing her knowledge of clay, hand building and surface decoration. Yasmin is a long-serving member acknowledged for her voluntary contribution to WSP as committee member, curator and educator.
Term 2B Taster Classes
The second round of these 4-week taster classes will be starting soon. It’s a great opportunity to get that little boost in your technique, or to sign-up to learn something new.
Both these short-format classes will be on wheel-throwing, as we’ve had a large amount of people on the waitlist and missing out for our 8-week wheel classes. Find more info and enrol on our class bookings page.
Friday Night Wheel Throwing Taster Class with David Kenny
31 May - 21 June 2024, 6pm – 9pm
Sunday Morning Wheel Throwing Taster Class with Sarah Steed
9 June – 7 July, 10am – 1pm
Please note that there will be no class on the 30th of June, due to Matariki weekend. The last class will be on the 7th of July.
Upcoming workshops and events
Raku Club
Saturday 25th of May, 10am – 1pm
The monthly Raku firing schedule continues. We had a whole lot of fun at the last firing and some fantastic results. Come and join us! Sign up here.
Phoenix Wood Firing with Duncan Shearer
Saturday 8 June: Prep day: organize wood, prep shelves and kiln
Saturday 15 June: packing kiln
Sunday 16 June: firing kiln
Saturday 22 June: unloading kiln
The wood will need to be collected, prep'd and stacked a month earlier (mid May) to ensure it is dry on the day.
A limited number of spaces are available to share the use of the kiln on this upcoming wood firing. Get online to put your name down.
Watercolour Decorating with Yasmin
Sunday 9th June 2024 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Learn watercolour painting on ceramics. Yasmin will bring the watercolours, palettes, and a variety of brushes. Glaze firing is included in the ticket price. Yasmin will also bring some watercolours you can buy from her on the day. $5 each, cash or bank transfer on the day. Sign-up for this workshop here.
Personal Pou
A Matariki themed workshop with Dave Austin
Saturday 22nd of June, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Nau mai, tauti mai for this Matariki-themed workshop with local artist and WSP member, Dave Austin. Everyone is welcome, Māori and non-Māori, experienced clay workers and complete beginners, WSP-members and non-members.
In this workshop Dave will share the story of Matariki with us and talk about its significance to himself and what it is to feel Matariki as a Māori. He will then guide us in creating our own slab-built and sgraffito’d Pou that you will get to decorate in a way that holds personal significance to you. Find more information and sign-up here.
Phoenix Wood Firing with Greg Barron
Saturday 3 August: Prep day: organize wood, prep props, shelves, wadding etc
Saturday 10 August: wadding and loading pots into kiln
Sunday 11 August: firing kiln
Saturday 17 August: unloading kiln
We are thrilled to have Greg Barron as firemaster for this event. Participants must glaze their pieces prior to 10th August so that they're ready to load. Find more info and enrol here.
Annual Exhibition Countdown
14 Days until entries open on the 1st of June
88 Days until entries close on the 13th of August
97 Days until the exhibition opens on the 22nd of August
Studio Schedule
Here’s what’s happening next week… Check the online calendar though in case anything changes.
Saturday 18th of May
10am – 1pm – Play with Clay, thanks – thanks Tim, Teresa and team!
Sunday 19th of May
10am – 1pm, Class – Throwing Taster
Monday 20th of May
9.30am – 12.30pm, Class – Wheel Throwing
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Class – Wheel Throwing
Tuesday 21st of May
9.30am – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Play with Clay – Thank you Margaret and Alicia!
Wednesday 22nd of May
9.30am – 12.30pm, Play with Clay
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Class – Wheel Throwing and Decorating
Thursday 23rd of May
9.30am – 12.30pm, Class – Sculpture Skills
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Class – Hand Building
Friday 24th of May
9.30am – 4pm, CLOSED for Diploma
6pm – 9pm, Class – Intro to Pottery
Saturday 25th of May
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay - thanks Tim, Teresa and team!
10am – 1pm, Raku Club Firing
Sunday 26th of May
10am – 1pm, Class – Wheel Throwing Taster
Exhibitions and workshops happening further afield
Whanganui Potters Studio - Annual Exhibition
17 May – 26 May, 10am to 4pm
Whanganui Community Arts Centre, 19 Taupo Quay, Whanganui
Rotorua Potters – Mystery Creek Coloured Clay workshops
Alex only runs two public workshops a year and Rotorua Potters are very lucky to be hosting them both. There are two sessions available:
8 – 9 June OR 6 – 7 July
Cost: $210.00 per person, Includes stains, clay and firings.
Studio 2, The Arts Village, Rotorua
Email Rotorua Potters to sign-up rotoruapottersnewsletter@gmail.com
