Kia ora e te whaanau
As usual there's all sorts of ways to get down and dirty here at the pottery. Check out all the activities below, and get thee to the studio without delay. Muddy up Buttercup!
Recent events . . .
Diploma assessment day
Rob Cloughley, Ceramics Coordinator, Senior Lecturer Dunedin School of Art (standing, left) comes up from Otago every year for the Diploma students' final assessment. The students and tutors showed him the usual outstanding hospitality (rude not to, eh). A fitting end to a great year.
We are so proud of our students' achievements this year. We have a steady influx of new enrolments for next year and we can't wait to welcome them to the programme and watch their growth and development. If you're thinking about it you can find out more here or come in for a chat with Josephine.
Wheel to Mold with Liz Heller
Twelve lucky people got to attend this mold-making workshop last weekend. By all accounts it was fantastic and we have a whole cohort of slip-casting converts. Liz said she had an amazing weekend too and that "the students here are absolutely incredible". We hope to have her back next year but you'd have to be quick to get a place - everyone who went is champing at the bit for the next one.
Coming up soon . . .
Xmas Decorations with Yasmin
Sunday 16 November 1.30 to 4.30pm.
Fun for all the family.
In this workshop you will be shown a variety of techniques to make your own unique Christmas decorations. Your creations will then be bisque fired on your behalf to collect and decorate however you choose. Let loose and have fun! Find out more here.
Lustre and Decal workshop with Yasmin
Sunday 23 November, 1.30 to 4.30pm.
In this workshop you will learn how to apply decals and lustres to already glaze-fired pieces to add those finishing touches.
You will need to bring pieces that you have made and that you know can be fired to 750 degrees celcius and above. They will need to have a shiny glaze as lustres don't work on matte glazes. White or light colours will work best for the decals.
The workshop fee covers the decals and lustres you will use in the workshop and the lustre firing. Find out more here.
Pit firing: 29th - 30th November
Saturday 29th November, 10am - loading and firing the pit
Sunday 30th November, 2pm - unloading the pit
Are you keen to try out pit firing? We're running another WSP pit firing at Caroline Hamilton's, so here's your chance!
All you need is some bisque fired pots to bring along and pop into the pit. If you're keen to get involved in the firing too, there's plenty of chance for that. And of course we'll share a kai on firing day, so please bring a plate to share.
Find all the info you need and sign up online. If you have any questions, have a chat to Libby in the studio :)
Last classes for 2025
Introduction to Pottery
Fridays, 6pm – 9pm, for 4-weeks, starting 7th November
Find out more here.
Wheel Throwing Taster
Sundays, 10am – 1pm, for 4-weeks, starting 16th November
Find out more here.
End of year dates
Sunday 30th November - Last date for private kiln bookings
Book in early to make sure you can hire a kiln before this cut-off date.
Monday 8th December - Bisque firing deadline
We recommend dropping off your pieces for bisque firing by this date, to make sure you get them back in time to glaze them and fire again before we close. You will still be welcome to leave work for bisque or glaze firing after this date, and we will do our best to process it, but we can’t guarantee that it will make it through before we close for the holidays.
Monday 15th December - Glaze firing deadline
We recommend dropping off your pieces for glaze firing by this date, to make sure you get them back before we close. You will still be welcome to leave work for bisque or glaze firing after this date, and we will do our best to process it, but we can’t guarantee that it will make it through before we close for the holidays.
Monday 15th December, 10am - 4pm - Working Bee
Annual working bee - we'll get sign-up sheets sorted for this soon, but please save the date in the mean time.
Tuesday 16th December, 5.30pm - Christmas Party
No Play with Clay, come along to the xmas party, share a kai and take part in the Secret Santa thievery instead.
Friday 19th December, 4pm - Studio Closes
This is your last chance to get into the studio for 2025, and last day for pick-ups. The studio will close at 4pm, and will reopen again on Monday the 12th of January.
Studio schedule
Here’s how things are looking for the coming week, but as always, check the online calendar before you come in 😊
Friday 7 November
10am – 4pm: Members' Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 8 November
9am - 5pm: Wood kiln loading day
10am – 1pm: Play With Clay - thanks Teresa!
1 - 4pm: Members’ Open Studio - thanks Kelly!
4.30 - 7.30: Private lesson
Sunday 9 November
8am - 6pm: Wood kiln firing
10am – 1pm: Wheel Throwing Class
Monday 10 November
9.30am –4pm: Wheel Throwing Class
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Hand Building Class
Tuesday 11 November
9.30am – 12.30pm: Wheel Throwing Class
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Play with Clay – thanks Margaret and Sue!
Wednesday 12 November
9.30am – 12.30pm: Play with Clay - thanks Yasmin and Kristen!
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
4pm – 5.30pm: Kids’ Play with Clay
6pm – 9pm: Wheel Throwing Class
Thursday 13 November
9.30am – 12.30pm: Sculpture Class
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Wheel Throwing Class
Friday 14 November
9.30am – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm: Intro to Pottery Class
Saturday 15 November
9am - 4pm: Wood kiln unloading
10am – 1pm: Play with Clay – thanks again Teresa!
1pm – 4pm: Members’ Open Studio - thanks Shelley!
Sunday 16 November
10am – 1pm: Wheel Throwing Class
1.30 - 4.30pm: Xmas Decorations workshop
That's it for this week folks. Enjoy the sunshine and have a great week.
