Kia ora koutou
We’ve got a bumper issue newsletter this week, so without further ado, let’s dive in…
Inaugural WSP Matariki Celebration
Nau mai e hoa mā!
Join us for this Matariki shin-dig, with optional pit firing and catered hāngī
Saturday 28th June 2025
2pm for the loading of the pit fire
5.30pm onwards for the karakia, hāngī and hooley
On Caroline Hamilton's Property, 988 Tuhikaramea Road, Ngāhinapōuri
We're getting together to celebrate Matariki at Caroline Hamilton's property in Tuhikaramea, where we can share a kai, good company and convo, and a pit firing. We'd love for all our WSP friends to join us. Partners and children welcome too.
Kai
For the feast, we're organising a catered hāngī, provided by Heavenly Hāngī in Ngāruawāhia. If you're keen to get some of this kai in your belly, you can purchase a ticket using the options on this event listing. Each plate is $25 and includes 3 meats, potato, kumara, pumpkin, stuffing, and fried bread. There's also a vegetarian option, which omits the meat and loads up on the veges and stuffing. We'll need to confirm numbers by the 20th of June, so make sure to buy your hāngī tickets before then. Purchasing a hāngī plate is entirely optional, so if you're not feeling it, bring along your own kai and join in the feast and festivities.
Pit Firing
We're also keen to set up a pit-firing for everyone to take part in. It's optional as well, but this type of alternative firing isn't something we've had the opportunity to organise for a good while, so jump in and grab a ticket if you're keen! The $5 cost of tickets for this firing will help cover the cost of consumables like copper carbonate, cobalt carbonate and tinfoil etc. Bring a bunch of pots and let's see how many we can fit into the pit!
AGM
Tuesday 13th May, 6.30pm
This important hui is taking place this Tuesday!
Please come along and join in the korero about our club. We need a certain number of members present to form a quorum and make it all official and such, so if you’re a member attending Play with Clay, please consider spending 30 minutes attending the meeting to help pass motions, minutes, and financial accounts. We share a kai as well, so bring a wee plate to share, if you can.
You might also like to think about joining the committee. It’s a voluntary position, but having enough committee members is essential to keep our society up and running. Committee members meet once a month via Zoom to keep us on track, pay the bills, and just make sure you have a place to come and pot.
Term 2B Classes
The second round of these 4-week classes are starting soon and enrolments are up online for you to get into…
Term 2B Introduction to Pottery with David Kenny
Fridays, 6pm - 9pm for 4-weeks, starting 4th July
Suitable for beginners. An introduction to making hand-built pottery, wheel-thrown pottery, glazing and firing in our raku kiln.
Find more info and enrol here.
Term 2B Wheel Throwing Taster with Sarah Steed
Sundays, 10am-1pm for 4-weeks, starting 6th July
The Throwing Taster Sessions are tutored by Sarah Steed, in a 4-week course that will work on your throwing and trimming skills and teach you how to glaze your pieces.
Find more info and enrol here.
Website Update – Andy’s Handy Dandy Firing Fees Calculator
We’ve done a bit more zhooshing on the website and have added a page about all the Firing Services you can utilise at WSP.
Included on this page is an awesome little firing fees calculator that Andrew Carnell has developed, hosted and made available for all of us to use. You’ll find the calculator and all the other info you need to know on the Pottery Firing Services page.
Thanks so much Andrew!
Making a Maker's Mark with Yasmin Davis
Sunday 18th May, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
In this workshop, you will learn to carve into plaster with a specialised tool to create small and intricate stamps. Once your design is finalised, you will use porcelain clay to make a negative impression. The porcelain clay then gets bisque fired and becomes your Maker's Mark stamp!
Exhibition Opportunity – Ceramics New Zealand 61st National Exhibition
Entries close 12pm, Saturday 26th of April.
Ceramics NZ is proud to announce the open call for The 61st Ceramics NZ National Exhibition. This exhibition will be held at The Arts House Trust at Pah Homestead, 72 Hillsborough Road, Auckland from the 24th of October 2025 - 18th of January 2026.
The opening event will be held on the 23rd of October, 5:30pm - 7:30pm.
Works for The 61st will be selected and judged by our esteemed panel of judges; Moyra Elliot, Peata Larkin and Peter Lange.
Key dates:
15 April 2025 Entries Open
15 August 2025, 10pm Digital Entries close, no late entries accepted
1 September 2025 Finalists announced
1-10 October 2025 Works arrive at Auckland
23 October 2025, 6pm Awards evening, The Arts House Trust at Pah Homestead
24 October 2025 Exhibition opens
18 January 2026 Exhibition closes
Workshops offered from further afield
Carla Ruka: 3 Day Coiling Workshop
Monday 26th May, Monday 2nd June (Kings Birthday), and Monday 9th June
9am - 3pm each day.
Location: The Arts Village, Rotorua
Transform your concepts into sculptural form using Carlas’ coiling technique uniquely developed from a Māori perspective. Ruka is known for her large-scale hand-built forms made using a unique coiling technique that she has developed during her 22-year practice. Her series Hineukurangi and Māori Angels Series are among her most recognised works. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to receive hands on instruction from Carla Ruka.
Glaze Technology – Intermediate at Rahu Road Pottery
Date: 7 June, 9am to 4pm
Bookings open: 9am, 14 May (please note that this date is earlier than originally listed)
This course is focussed on understanding the materials that are used in making up a glaze, how to formulate a recipe and test it. We look at how to take an existing glaze and make it your own by adapting it to your clay and style. You will have a go at glaze test trials and learn tips of the trade about material selection. There will also be time to answer your specific glaze issue. Maximum 6 students.
Kiln for sale
Please contact the seller directly: xinyu.fu@waikato.ac.nz
“It is brand new, never used, but the only caveat is that it is in Chinese, including the control panel and the menu. This can be easily translated if needed. We are hoping to sell it at the cost price of $1500 NZD, including costs for shipping it and importing it from China to NZ.”
Specifications
Brand: Lilai Li (利莱利)
Product Type: Top-loading intelligent ceramic kiln
Model: KLL-SYL-D02A
Working Voltage: AC220V (16A socket)
Recommended Cable Size: 2P/32A
Control Wire: 4-square copper core wire
Recommended Temp: ≤1240°C
Max Temp Limit: ≤1300°C
Power: 3KW
Current: 18A
Internal Volume: 0.02 m³
Outer Kiln Dimensions: Length: 690 mm (with handles: 735 mm); Width: 620 mm; Height: 730 mm (including chimney: 750 mm)
Chamber Dimensions: Internal length: 230 mm; Internal width: 230 mm; Internal height: 287 mm
Total chamber size: 320 mm
Suitable Shelf Dimensions: Width: 260 mm; Height: 170 mm
Product Weight: ≈110 KG
Packing Size: Length × Width × Height = 81 × 77 × 91 cm
Gross Weight (with packaging): ≈145 KG
Total Installation Weight: ≈165 KG
Firing Time: 4–10 hours
Studio Schedule
Here’s how things are looking for the coming week, but as always, check the online calendar before you come in 😊
Friday 9th May
9.30am – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 10th May
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay – Thanks Lydia x
1.30pm – 4.30pm, CLOSED for Workshop – Chucks, Chuns & Lids
Sunday 11th May
10am – 1pm, Wheel Throwing Class
1.30pm – 4.30pm, CLOSED for Workshop – Chucks, Chuns & Lids
Monday 12th May
9.30am – 12.30pm, Wheel Throwing Class
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Hand Building Class
Tuesday 13th May
9.30am – 12.30pm, Wheel Throwing Class
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Play with Clay – thanks Margaret, Trudie & John! Xx
6.30pm, AGM & followed by a shared kai
Wednesday 14th May
9.30am – 12.30pm, Play with Clay - thanks Yasmin, Sade, Kristen, Silke and Mark! xx
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
4pm – 5.30pm, Kids’ Play with Clay
6pm – 9pm, Wheel Throwing Class
Thursday 15th May
9.30am – 12.30pm, Sculpture Skills Class
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Wheel Throwing Class
Friday 16th May
9.30am –4pm, CLOSED for Diploma
6pm – 9pm, Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 17th May
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay – thanks Lydia! xx
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio – thanks Lydia and Kelly! xx
Sunday 18th May
10am – 1pm, Wheel Throwing Class
