Happy New Year beautiful clay friends!
We hope each and every one of you had a fabulous and relaxing holiday break!
We’re getting back into things this year with a beeeauuuutiful new kitchen floor and goooorgeous paint job. Much thanks to everyone who helped at the working bee last year to clear out all the kitchen paraphernalia, furniture and display cabinets. It made it possible to get this work done with no disruption to our normal studio hours, classes and Play With Clay sessions. To those who came in last week to help get everything reinstated as well – massive gratitude! Big love to Sue McConnochie, Chloe McConnochie, Toby Blackler, Sheena Harris, Eoghan Harris, Kelly Keelan, Nako Keelan, Ari Keelan, Piri Keelan, Helen Trigg, Rex Bushell, Sandra Lin, Tess May, Mei Lan Allen, Yasmin Davis, John McIntosh and Trudy McIntosh. If we’ve missed you, please let Libby know so she can add you to our volunteer register!
And a very special thank you to Craig Stephen who spent a huge chunk of the holiday period giving this whole area a very professional paint job. It looks superb 🙌
We've literally got allll the news this week - get into it below!
New kilns and old kilns
Word on the emails is that the new kilns are due in the country around the 5th of Feb! They then need to clear customs , get down here to us, and be installed. But hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we’ll have two big new beasties providing a reliable firing service for you. Hoorah!
That also means that we will be looking to sell one of our well-loved old beasties – the one affectionately known as “Kiln 2”😂 . Here’s her deets:
FE front-loader
3-phase, 230 volt, 15kW
Internal dimensions 750mm high x 450mm wide x 610mm deep
External dimensions 1650mm high x 950mm wide x 1200mm deep
No props or shelves
Any spare elements and alumina rods that we have on hand for her will be included
FE controller is included.
She will be available to take away once our new kilns are delivered, so hopefully in March-ish.
If Kiln 2 sounds like the kiln of your dreams, let’s talk! info@waikatopotters.co.nz
Term 1 classes
Almost all our classes for the first term are full now, but we do have places left in these three – get in quick if you’re looking to learn some new tricks in 2025.
Tuesday Morning Beginner Wheel Throwing Class, with Sarah Steed
9.30am – 12.30pm, starting Tuesday the 4th of February and running for 8 weeks
Find more info here.
Thursday Morning Sculpture Skills, with Emily Eales
9.30am – 12.30pm, starting Thursday 13th February and running for 8 weeks
Find more info here.
Friday Evening Introduction to Pottery, with David Kenny
6pm – 9pm, starting Friday the 7th of February and running for 4 weeks
Find more info here.
Kids’ Play With Clay
Our dedicated PWC session for kids and their parents will start up again on Wednesday the 5th of February. Come along and join us – here’s all the info you need:
Wednesdays, 4pm - 5.30pm during the WSP teaching terms:
5th February – 26th March
30th April – 18th June
16th July – 3rd September
8th October – 26th November
$15 per child, which includes 500g clay, firing and glazing
Aimed at children 7-14 years, but children as young as 5 can attend if their parent stays with them, and kids older than 14 are welcome to join if they think it would be their jam
Tutor available to help and lead clay projects
Casual, drop-in sessions, no need to book
Workshops on offer
We’ve got some workshops organised for your learning pleasure. These three are all tutored by Duncan Shearer, who has an unplumbable depth of knowledge in all things pottery – here’s your chance to pick his brain on these subjects!
Glaze Technology (Intermediate) with Duncan Shearer
Saturday 8th March, 9am - 4pm
More info here.
Surface Treatments for Wood Firing with Duncan Shearer
Saturday 29th March, 9am - 4pm
More info here.
Phoenix Wood Firing with Duncan Shearer
Sunday 27th April, plus additional dates for prep, loading and unloading
More info here.
Small Sculpture Awards – exhibition entry opportunity
The Waikato Society of Arts presents this awards exhibition opportunity for sculptors of all mediums – it might be right up your alley!
The bi-annual Small Sculpture Award is being held on 28 March 2025 and entries are now open. With a successful 2023 exhibition, we are excited to host these awards at the Artspost galleries in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. Small works in all mediums will be judged by Dr. Glen Hayward. The call is out for entries from ages 15+ to all artists throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Thank you to Longveld Ltd as the Main Prize sponsor of $5000 to the winning artist.
More information and the entry form can be found on the WSA website.
Ginny’s Wood Kiln Adobe Workshop brought to you by Rahu Road Pottery
2-day workshop on Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of March, 9am – 5pm
30B Taitua Rd, Hamilton
Tutored by Duncan Shearer
$400, lunch and refreshments will be provided
Book directly with Rahu Road Pottery
Have you had a hankering for a small wood fired kiln, have a bit of space but no idea about how to go about it? This workshop will help with plans for a simple wood kiln, construction techniques and where to source materials.
We’ll be focussing on Ginny’s small wood fired kiln as it needs better insulation and draft proofing and adobe is the best solution.
Kiln adobes are various mixtures of materials that adhere to bricks and are built up in layers. Clays, sands, sawdust, hay and some cement are used and these layers then insulate, stabilise and draft proof the bricks.
During this workshop students will learn about the different formulations of the adobe layers and methods of application. It is a hands-on workshop for 6 students and you will also learn about how the kiln was built and its’ design. Students will also get the opportunity to fire the kiln once the adobe is dry – date to be set.
Free pottery wheel and old kiln
Ken Phillips is looking to give away a pottery wheel and an old, heavy kiln. The kiln isn’t working and he’s not sure what the issue is with it, but it might be suitable for someone with the nous to fix it, or for parts. If you’re interested, please get in touch with Ken directly to arrange viewing – 07 838 1106.
Studio Schedule
Here’s how the studio is looking next week but, as always, remember to check the online calendar before you come in.
Friday 24th January
9.30am – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
Saturday 25th January
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay – Thanks Tim and Caitlyn for opening up on Anniversary Weekend xx
Sunday 26th January
CLOSED
Monday 27th January
CLOSED for Anniversary Weekend
Tuesday 28th January
9.30am - 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Play With Clay – Thanks Margaret, you beauty! xx
Wednesday 29th January
9.30am – 12.30pm, Play With Clay
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
Thursday 30th January
9.30am –4pm, Members’ Open Studio
Friday 31st January
9.30am –4pm, Members’ Open Studio
Saturday 1st February
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay – Thanks Tim and Amy, you smashers! xx
Sunday 2nd February
10am – 1pm, Sunday Wheel Throwing Taster, re-scheduled from 2024