Top L-R: Unknown, Alicia Baker, Ed McAvoy.
Bottom L-R: Sema Morris, Nina DiMaio, Ginni Davey.
Check out more beauties and cuties at the end of the newsletter...
Kia ora e hoa mā
Sorry there was no newsletter last week — it was a bit of a week here at the studio! We're back now with plenty to catch you up on.
Just a heads up that we're closed all day this Saturday for the Making for Wood Firing workshop with Suzy Dunser, which means we won't be able to take any pick ups or drop offs, or process clay sales either, sorry.
A huge thank you to our volunteers from this week and last, who keep Play with Clay and Members' Open Studio running so smoothly: Margaret Raine, Trudie & John Mackintosh, Yasmin Davis, Kristen Almond, Caitlin Fowler, Margaret De Freitas, Shadae Owen and Teresa Gibbison — you're all absolute legends and we love you very much 🤗xx
Read on for all the latest news...
L-R: 2025, Sarah Lee, Trap;
2024, Janet Smith, Roto-o-rangi Blue Ice;
2023 Diane Parker, Pit Vase.
Shared Earth - 2026 Members' Exhibition
Beautiful potters, we're officially into the final stretch — entries for Shared Earth, our Annual Members' Exhibition, close 14 August at 11.59pm, so if you've been meaning to send yours in, now's the moment!
This is one of the biggest highlights on the WSP calendar, and every single one of you has a place in it. It doesn't matter if you've got decades of throwing behind you or you pulled your very first piece out of the kiln last month — Shared Earth is about our whole clay whānau showing up together. So have a dig through your shelves, finish off that piece you've been eyeing up, or get inspired to make something brand new — whatever you bring, we want to see it.
Entries close 14 August 2026
Physical works delivered to WSP studios 24–28 August
Opening Preview Evening & Awards Ceremony: Friday 4 September, 5.30pm at ArtsPost Gallery
You can enter up to four works: two open-category pieces (one can be a set of up to six), one mug, and one wall-hanging ("On the Hook") piece
We're honoured to have Aaron Scythe judging this year's show. Aaron spent 16 years living and working in Japan, held more than 60 solo exhibitions, and his work now sits in private collections across New Zealand, Japan, Europe and the US — a real privilege to have his eye on our community's work.
And there's a fantastic line-up of awards to be won, including the $1,000 WSP Premier Award, Merit Awards, Functional and Non-Functional Awards, Best Use of Underglaze, On the Hook, Mug Award, People's Choice, the Ngā Ringa Uku Māori Clay Practitioner Award, Emerging Artist Award, President's Award, and Young Artist Award. Whatever you make, there's a category where it belongs.
Ready to enter? Download the entry form here or pick up a paper copy in the studio, and send it through to Libby at manager@waikatopotters.co.nz.
We can't wait to see what you bring to Shared Earth — let's fill ArtsPost to the brim!
Term 3B classes — enrolments open
A couple more Term 3B classes are now open for enrolment!
Friday Introduction to Pottery
Starts Friday 21 August, 6pm–9pm, 4 weeks.
Ready to get your hands into clay? This welcoming 4-week course is perfect for complete beginners or anyone keen to reconnect with creativity. Guided by tutor David Kenny, you'll explore both hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques in a relaxed, supportive studio environment, learning the essentials of shaping, forming and finishing your pieces — and finishing up with an exciting raku firing experience to bring your creations to life.
Find more info and enrol here.
Sunday Wheel Throwing Taster
Starts Sunday 23 August, 10am–1pm, 4 weeks.
Ever wanted to sit down at the wheel and actually make something? Tutored by Sarah Steed, this taster course takes you from "what do I do with my hands" to centering, throwing and trimming your own pieces on the wheel, plus glazing them ready for the kiln. By the end of four weeks you'll have the confidence (and clay-covered enthusiasm) to dive into a longer wheel course next term, or bring your new skills along to Play with Clay. Spaces are limited, so get in quick!
Find more info and enrol here.
Studio calendar now displaying properly on mobile
Good news for anyone who's had trouble checking the studio calendar on their phone — it's now displaying properly on mobile devices! So next time you're heading in, it's easier than ever to double-check for classes or workshops before you go.
A small change to Friday's Open Studio sessions
Just a scheduling note for your diary: Diploma teaching will be running for an extra hour on Fridays, for the duration of the Diploma teaching term (to early-November), which means Members' Open Studio on Fridays will run from 2pm–4pm. Please plan your studio visits accordingly.
That's it for another week, folks. Noho ora mai x
Top L-R: F (?), Unknown, Caroline Hamilton.
Bottom L-R: Fraser Smith; Jess Summers; JN.
