Kia ora friends
The big news this week is that the countdown to our Annual Exhibition is on! Make a note in your diaries of these important dates and put those clay fingers to work š
Entries open 1st June
Entries close 1st August
Exhibition opens 15th August
Exhibition closes 14th September
And if youāre looking for inspiration or making opportunities, check out the workshops and events belowā¦
Workshop ā Unorthodox Pottery with Hawi Winter
Saturday 14th June 10am to 4pm
Hawi wowed the crowd at this year's Festival of Clay with his ingenious home-made pottery tools. So he's here by popular demand to lead a fabulous fun-filled day of invention, exploration and creativity. Haere mai!
This workshop caters to all levels from absolute beginners to experienced potters.
There will be multiple workstations and a variety of different modules that you can choose from. Hawi will combine demonstrations with hands-on activities.
Inaugural WSP Matariki Celebration
Nau mai e hoa mÄ!
Join us for this Matariki shin-dig, with optional pit firing and catered hÄngÄ«
Saturday 28th June 2025
2pm for the loading of the pit fire
5.30pm onwards for the karakia, hÄngÄ« and hooley
Caroline Hamilton's Property, 988 Tuhikaramea Road, NgÄhinapÅuri
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 hÄngÄ«, provided by Heavenly HÄngÄ« in NgÄruawÄhia. 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 hÄngÄ« tickets before then. Purchasing a hÄngÄ« 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!
Term 2B Classes
The second round of these 4-week classes are starting soon and enrolments are up online for you to get intoā¦
Term 2B Introduction to Pottery with David Kenny
Fridays, 6pm - 9pm for 4-weeks, starting 4th July
Find more info and enrol here
Term 2B Wheel Throwing Taster with Sarah Steed
Sundays, 10am-1pm for 4-weeks, starting 6th July
Find more info and enrol here.
Studio Schedule
Hereās how things are looking for the coming week, but as always, check the online calendar before you come in š
Friday 23rd May
9.30am ā 12.30pm, CLOSED for Private Workshop
1pm ā 4pm, Membersā Open Studio
6pm ā 9pm, Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 24th May
10am ā 1pm, Play with Clay ā Thanks Caitlin! xx
1pm ā 4pm, Membersā Open Studio ā thanks Andy! xx
Sunday 18th May
10am ā 1pm, Wheel Throwing Class
Monday 19th May
9.30am ā 12.30pm, Wheel Throwing Class
1pm ā 4pm, Membersā Open Studio
6pm ā 9pm, Hand Building Class
Tuesday 20th May
9.30am ā 12.30pm, Wheel Throwing Class
1pm ā 4pm, Membersā Open Studio
6pm ā 9pm, Play with Clay ā thanks Margaret, Trudie and John! xx
Wednesday 21st May
9.30am ā 12.30pm, Play with Clay - thanks Yasmin, Sade, Kristen, Silke and Mark! xx
1pm ā 4pm, Membersā Open Studio
4pm ā 5.30pm, Kidsā Play with Clay
6pm ā 9pm, Wheel Throwing Class
Thursday 22nd May
9.30am ā 12.30pm, Sculpture Skills Class
1pm ā 4pm, Membersā Open Studio
6pm ā 9pm, Wheel Throwing Class
Friday 23rd May
9.30am ā 4pm, CLOSED for Diploma
6pm ā 9pm, Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 24th May
10am ā 1pm, Play with Clay ā thanks Teresa! xx
1pm ā 4pm, Membersā Open Studio ā Lydia and Shelley! xx
Sunday 25th May
CLOSED for Kingās Birthday Weekend
