Hi lovelies 😊
Spring is really springing, bringing it’s typical four seasons in one day vibes and we’ve been alternating between having the heaters on and having the doors and windows open. Here’s hoping for some sunny weather this weekend.
Speaking of weekends, we’re absolutely pumped for the Fiona Tunnicliffe workshop this weekend! If you’re one of the lucky 12 who got a place in the workshop (it sold out overnight!), we’ll see you there. If you missed out, then we have another workshop with Fiona planned for April next year, so keep an eye out for that enrolment announcement.
In the meantime, check out all the other news below…
Volunteers for exhibition pack down
Our glorious members’ exhibition closes this weekend and we will be demounting and collecting any unsold artworks this Monday the 12th September from 9am, at ArtsPost. If you’re able to lend a hand with this task, please email Josephine who is organising the pack-down crew.
Any unsold items can then be collected from WSP from Tuesday the 13th September onwards.
Congrats to all who exhibited, won awards and sold artworks. We received so many comments on how fabulous the exhibition was, and all who entered should be very proud!
Waiclay – exhibition entries open until the 24th September
Since 2001, the Waiclay National Ceramic Award has partnered with Waikato Museum, Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, to celebrate Aotearoa’s finest ceramic art. Held biennially, each exhibition highlights innovation, craftsmanship, and the dynamic expression of New Zealand clay artists. A guest judge from the international ceramics community ensures each event brings fresh perspectives. Waiclay fosters artistic growth, inspires visitors, and champions New Zealand’s evolving ceramic narrative.
Waiclay are thrilled to announce that one of South Africa’s foremost ceramic artists Andile Dyalvane will serve as selector/ judge for the 2025 Waiclay National Ceramic Award. Renowned for his spiritually infused, large-scale works honouring Xhosa traditions, Dyalvane brings profound cultural insight and international acclaim to this year’s exhibition.
They are now calling for entries for the always-excellent bi-annual WaiClay exhibition! Find more information and enter here.
September-October School Holiday Workshops
We’re running these fun and creative workshops for kids again this school holidays. They’re always a great time, and last term 5 out of the 6 workshops sold out, so get in quick to reserve a spot for your young ones. Here’s what’s on offer this term:
Full Day workshops
Tuesday 23rd September, 9am - 3pm Enrol here
OR
Tuesday 30th September, 9am - 3pm Enrol here
In this full-day programme, the kids rotate around four different activity stations, learning a new technique and creating something different at each of them. The activities are:
Pinch Pot Creature
Make-a-Mug
Adventures on the Wheel
Coiled Pencil Cup
2-hour Make-a-Mug workshops
Thursday 25th September, 10am - 12noon Enrol here
OR
Thursday 2nd October, 10am - 12noon Enrol here
In this session children will use the slab building method to build their own mug, and then they can decorate it in any way they please.
2-hour Adventures on the Wheel workshops
Thursday 25th September, 1.30pm - 3.30pm Enrol here
OR
Thursday 2nd October, 1.30pm - 3.30pm Enrol here
Children love trying the wheel and in this session, they will get to have a go at throwing their own pots and then decorating them.
Pit firing process online…
And another firing is in the planning stages!
Libby has (finally) documented the process we followed for the Matariki Pit Firing in June. It’s loaded up on the website now, with reference pics, and pics of some of the finished pots, so we can all refer back for the next firing. Take a look here.
And speaking of the next firing, we’re in the planning stages of getting another pit firing organised for November this year. Keep an eye out for that, we’ll announce it in the newsletter as soon as we have the date nailed down.
Term 4 classes
We’ve still got spaces in these classes…
Intermediate Wheel Throwing
Mondays, 9.30am – 12.30pm, for 8-weeks, starting 6th October
More info here
Hand Building
Mondays, 6pm – 9pm, for 8-weeks, starting 6th October
More info here
Beginner Wheel Throwing
Tuesdays, 9.30am – 12.30pm, for 8-weeks, starting 7th October
More info here
Sculpture Skills
Thursdays, 9.30am – 12.30pm, for 8-weeks, starting 9th October
More info here
Introduction to Pottery
Fridays, 6pm – 9pm, for 4-weeks, starting 10th October
More info here
Wheel Throwing Taster
Sundays, 10am – 1pm, for 4-weeks, starting 12th October
More info here
Arts Centre mural
Images, motifs, ideas please
WSP, Artmakers, The Men’s Shed and Arts for Health are working together to design and produce a mural for the entrance wall for the Ward Park Arts Centre. Thanks to Sylvie Bolstad of Artmakers who is leading the project.
Currently it’s a bland and blank wall with a couple of windows. The idea is to create a series of panels with the existing windows as the starting point determining the size and spacing. Each organization will get two large (rectangular) and two square panels to decorate.
The panel sizes are nominally 900mm W x 1500mm H, and 900mm W x 900mm H.
If you have images / motifs / ideas for how we might represent WSP on our panels we’d love to hear from you. Please email Josephine with your ideas by end of day Monday 15 September.
It’ll be fab!
Glazing and cookies
Sadly we’re not talking about edible delights here – we’ve had a few pottery pieces stuck to kiln shelves lately 😢
If you’re layering glazes, applying them thickly, and/or using any glazes that are not WSP glazes, please use a cookie under your pot in case there are glaze drips. If you don’t have your own cookies, just sing out and we’ll find one for you. Cookies will save our kiln shelves - and save you a lot of money!
Waiclay – workshop and social evening
A Rare Opportunity for Ceramic Artists!
We’re thrilled to announce that Andile Dyalvane, world-renowned South African ceramic artist and guest selector/judge for the 2025 Waiclay National Ceramic Award, will lead an exclusive 2-day handbuilding Vessel Making Workshop in conjunction with Waiclay 2025.
About Andile Dyalvane
Celebrated globally for his powerful sculptural vessels, Andile’s work draws deeply on his Xhosa heritage, combining traditional African motifs with contemporary design. His pieces are exhibited in major galleries and collections worldwide, making this a unique chance to learn from a true master of clay.
Dates: 13 &14 December
Location: Janet Smith Pottery, Roto-o-Rangi, Cambridge
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: $350 - includes clay, lunch, tea and coffee and $50 non-refundable cancellation fee. Full payment required by 1 November
Camping options available $25 powered site - limited spaces
An additional Saturday evening meal, artist talk and performance by Andile at $40 per person will be being held as well. Come to both the workshop and social evening, or to either.
Spaces are limited - don’t miss out!
Register now for workshop and/or evening meal by emailing Fiona Tunnicliffe at fionatunnicliffepottery@gmail.com. Full details when you register.
Studio Schedule
Here’s how things are looking for the coming week, but as always, check the online calendar before you come in 😊
Friday 12th September
9.30 – 4pm: CLOSED for Diploma
6pm – 9pm: Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 13th September
All day: CLOSED for Fiona Tunnicliffe workshop
Sunday 14th September
All day: CLOSED for Fiona Tunnicliffe workshop
Monday 15th September
9.30am –4pm: Wheel Throwing Class
1pm – 3.30pm: CLOSED for Private Class
6pm – 9pm: Hand Building Class
Tuesday 16th September
9.30am – 12.30pm: Wheel Throwing Class
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Play with Clay – thanks Margaret and David C! xx
Wednesday 17th September
9.30am – 12.30pm: Play with Clay – thanks Yasmin, Kristen and Sade! xx
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Wheel Throwing Class
Thursday 18th September
9.30am – 12.30pm: Sculpture Class
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Wheel Throwing Class
Friday 19th September
9.30am – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 20th September
10am – 1pm: Play with Clay – thanks Tim! xx
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
Sunday 21st September
10am – 1pm: Wheel Throwing Class
