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Brenda ran a class for children over the school holidays; here are some photographs of the class. Hello All, best wishes again for the year ahead and all your pottery endeavours. As the current scribe for the club I thought we might send out a newsletter after each month's committee meeting in an attempt to keep you all informed of the subjects being discussed and decisions made. On that basis we hope that you will want to make contributions / suggestions on our club, facilities, classes, library, etc. I look forward to the full mail box.
From our January committee meeting:The response was that perhaps the Hub Board could take over the financial running of the facilities including receiving no funding from them. We have received a letter stating that this will increase our annual rent, in fact, more than double it. We are awaiting the final discussion between the Hub board and Dept of Education. There is to be a gala day at the hub on the 23/30 March a meeting to discuss this is on Friday, the 8th Feb at 5.30. None of our committee members can attend so will ask to be informed of any relevant details. There has been an enquiry from a visiting potter, John Summerfield, from UK, asking about presentation / demonstration opportunities in NZ pottery groups. He might be available for possible inclusion in our club night program. We had an invitation from Mt Pleasant community Centre for us to participate in their Saturday market late last year. We will approach the and request some more details. Class numbers are good and we may get another beginners class on Wednesday night: details to be confirmed by Leigh-Ann, soon. Leigh-Ann is going to split the large bags of clay into smaller weights, especially for beginners who may not get to use all the clay in a large bag. Details at your first class. Tuesday club days: Graham will open in the morning (it might be a little after 10.00am); pop over to the office and ask Vivianna for the key if I'm late. Ken will open in the evening. If you're the last one in the room, please make sure that the lights are off, windows are closed and the place is tidy before you close the door. Go to the office and ask Vivianna or Mary Ann to set the alarm code. Subscriptions were due after the AGM, so, if you've put off paying them until now, please do so. $65.00. Renata is running an intensive wheel throwing class which is nearly full on a Friday and Saturday once a month. Details are on the web site; one place, Saturday and two places on Friday are still available. Be quick as this is a wonderful opportunity to develop better skills in a small class environment; practising what you've learnt between monthly lessons. We are planning to approach Halswell club again to have a wood firing this year and we've been in touch with Rangiora regarding a salt firing; see the club program on the web site. The Hub has advised that we can have free WIFI in our room; we will get a router and set it up soon. Brenda said that Wifi and youtube were an asset for tutoring the children during her holiday program. Good potting - Graham (Secretary) Hi Potters,
It’s time to dust off ya pots and Raku…. Hope you have had a great break Raku firing is planned for Saturday 2nd February - 10am start. Bring along; 1. Any bisque pots you want to Raku 2. Any combustible material you want to use – paper (especially the junk mail coloured leaflets), saw dust Glazes will be available to use – both crackles and our new Raku glazes I do have a number of metal containers to use – but bring some along if you can Shared morning tea $5 for the day – this covers the glazes and gas Any issues or enquiries – please contact me leighanno@gib.co.nz No firing in March as I am away Looking forward to catching up with everyone – even if its only for a coffee. Cheers - Leigh-Ann MP Pottery Club Programme for 2019 CLUB DAYS & CLUB NIGHTS Club Days are on Tuesdays, 10am to 3.30pm and 7 to 9pm. Club Demonstration Nights are on the second Tuesday of every month. We are hosting guest speakers and demonstrators who will be sharing their knowledge and expertise on a wide range of topics relating to pottery and ceramics. A $5.00 donation, please. To get the most from our Demonstration Club Nights please get in contact and let me know which topics you would like to know more about. I will try and make it happen! Renate 021-1336620, rgaletzka@gmail.com Saturday Club Day, 1st Saturday of the month, 10.00am till noon Saturday Raku Club Day with Leigh-Ann… February Tuesday, 12th, 7pm Club Night: Make your own stamps, tools and stuff A hands on evening with our very own Ken and Renate. We will have a number of work stations set up where you will be able to make your own stamps, sprigs, durable cutting wire, shaping and scoring tools, turning tools and more. Some materials will be supplied. Please bring ball point pens, spare old credit or supermarket cards, scissors, some of your own hand tools, towel.. If you would like to offer an additional station, please just get in touch with Renate, 021-1336620 March Tuesday, 12th, 7pm Club Night with Les Taylor on Salt Firing A must attend evening if you want to participate in the upcoming Salt Firing with the Rangiora pottery club. Les will introduce us to the unique process of salt firing, what clays, which shapes, which slips and décor, how does the glaze develop, all the do’s and don’ts in preparation of the firing itself. April Tuesday, 9th, 7pm Club Night with Yi-Ming Lin Demonstration evening with internationally exhibiting sculptor Yi-Ming Lin. Yi-Ming who is originally from Taiwan, trained ceramics at Otago Polytech, and now lives in rural Canterbury. Yi-Ming is an expert in large sculptural pieces, multi-piece construction and assembly. He effortlessly brings together technical know how and aesthetic style. Check out some of his work on ceramic.co.nz May Tuesday, 14th, 7.00pm Club Night with Andrew Carran on Glaze Project Sunday, 26th May, all day Glaze Project with Andrew Sunday, 2nd June, 2 to 3 hours The Glaze Project with Andrew is designed for us to learn about the materials that may be used in making a glaze; The club night talk will give an insight into the materials and processes, the all-day-Sunday event will enable us to mix glaze materials we have gathered with more traditional minerals to make glazes and the third session will be a round up and discussion on our endeavours. Project
Intensive Throwing Pottery Class By Renate Galetzka Monthly Wheel Work Intensive, Project based Time: third Saturday of the month, 9:30 to 12:30. 10 sessions per year, two x five class semesters Max number of students: 6 This has proven to be very popular and we now have nearly enough applicants for two classes; two places on Friday's class are available. The classes will run run on consecutive days, being the last Friday and Saturday of the month, beginning February 22nd & 23rd. Be in to win! The course price is $130.00 per semester, two semesters Target group: Beginner/intermediate to intermediate potter Prerequisite: Basic centering and throwing ability of small pots and basic form Course outline Understand vessels: what makes ie a good mug, bowl or plate (proportion, handle, foot-ring, weight, ease of glaze-ability, etc) Experiment with shape and form, find your own preferred shape of dish Learn and practice how to achieve repeatable form Intro to sketching and basic technical drawing Understanding shrinkage and how to work it Basic understanding of clays and their qualities Structure of the year We will work on approx. 3 projects this year. The group will decide which vessel shape they will all be working on for the next 3 months period. My vessel suggestions are:
Session outline
The AGM was held in our club room, at Phillipstown Hub, 13th November.
We had 16 members present and everyone got involved with the proceedings. The highlights of the meeting were: the election of our officers and committee and 'Farewells' to those leaving the committee. Chairperson: Anne Goddard Secretary: Graham Maguire Treasurer: Ken Doidge Minute secretary: Brenda Benge Class co-ordinator: Leigh-Ann Smith Club room: Lorraine Jansen Shona Clarkson, Genevieve, Allan Mauger and Bill Bromley have left our committee and special thanks were offered to both Shona and Genevieve without whose effort the club would not be in existence today. Allan Mauger proposed the club invest Shona with Life Membership; this was unanimously seconded by all. A fitting tribute to a wonderful stalwart of Mt Pleasant Pottery Group. The meeting closed with a reminder of our Christmas get-together on Tuesday 11th December at the pizza oven at the Hub; starting at 6.30pm. All members and partners welcome; bring your favourite pizza toppings. We are holding our AGM on Tuesday 13th November at our club rooms, Room 7, Phillipstown Hub, 39 Nursery Rd, Phillipstown. The following reports won't be read at the meeting but questions arising from the reports may be tabled. The agenda is at the bottom. Mt Pleasant Potters Secretary’s report for 2018. It has been a busy year for our club, Our three classes have been full thanks to tutors Allan Mauger and Shona Clarkson. Michael Michaels did a Wednesday stint, Amy Michaels ran the children’s holiday classes with Brenda filling in the last school holidays. These classes are very important to us as they help with the growth of our club. School holiday classes were aimed at 12 to 16 years old we had a reasonable response for that group. Membership is getting stronger: with about 100 members, this will fluctuate a little each year, but most continue to use club days and night. Kiln usage is high, they are well used by the members with just a few rules to understand the process and bookings which we are updating to keep it simple. Kiln repairs: with the EMC programmers being sent to be repaired, fixing the probes, the kiln work is ongoing as the kilns are in constant use, we all need to monitor and write down any changes in the firings, anything that goes wrong power cut off etc. Maintenance has been work in progress during the year with the library now at the end by the outside door displaying our collection, shelving is around the west side giving us more space. The glazing area is tidier, as the chemical shelving and moulds are all now on the east side. The kiln shed has been strengthened, new locks on the kiln doors, gravel for Raku kiln, a pathway for the winter wanders to the kiln shed and the red table lifted up; this all makes the rooms much more usable, thanks to Rudi Jensen and the maintenance team for their smart thinking and hard work. Phillipstown Hub The potters have a representative meeting with the hub once a month to discuss the running of the hub with the other eight to 10 groups, who are tenants of the hub; we are all involved. We are working through an insurance plan with the hub for our group; this will be in action soon. The potters take part in hub activities when we can; we are working through collaboration and working together to make it a permanent place. Tiles for the pizza oven were made and plate decorating for the communal loaf held in Labour weekend are two recent activities, the plates were decorated with some of the holiday club children and used in the evening bread making meal. On gala days we have open pottery day where people can play with clay. Weekend workshops we have had several of those, a slip workshop, making your own glazes, The raku club is ongoing with Leigh-Ann. 1st Sat of the month club days with Anne, all these activities are worth attending to gain a more little knowledge. Wood firing with Halswell potters group was very successful; we will continue to run these workshops and other days with your ideas. Clay buying: this is a privilege for members to buy; please check that your clay numbers correspond with the book and follow the guidelines in buying. Web site is constantly being hit with class and club enquiries, this web site will grow as we utilise it fully as a club We had a successful constitution change in May this now has been updated to the year 2018. We have had donations of glaze materials & books from Genevieve Forrester & Barbara O’Donnell. These will be used in the making up of glazes etc. The books will be stamped with our logo and incorporated into the library. The books are to be reference only just until we get them all catalogued. It has been a good year for our growth as a pottery club in the east side of town we have the full support of the Phillipstown hub and the Linwood, Woolston, Phillipstown community council. Shona Clarkson 2018 Raku Club Report A small gathering of Raku enthusiasts, supported by Mt Pleasant Pottery meet around the first Saturday of the month. This was a new initiative that started in July, with our final firing for the year on November 10th, so we have embraced five months of fire and smoke. We now have a great collection of Raku glazes – white crackle, an update blue crackle (Mt Pleasant special), copper penny and a naked Raku slip. In October we tried the Obvara method (Baltic Raku) and this will be further explored in 2019. Some great results were achieved, and thank you to all the members who came along and participated, helped, laughed, and revelled in the flame. I am happy to continue to facilitate this event in 2019 and reiterate that it is open to all. Even if you have nothing to fire it is a great morning and good coffee and cake is always welcome! Have a safe and happy Christmas Leigh-Ann FACEBOOK Report As for end of October 2018 - 132 followers - 50 more than in January 2018 with an average 100 interactions per month. I am keen to get as many pictures as I can to post on the Facebook page - Classes, club day, club night, works of students (with their agreement). Members can send the picture to the MPPG Group on Messenger with informations about it and I will publish them. SATURDAY Morning Since we started to open the Studio on the first saturday of the month, we have had a few potters turning up which is great. We are now having rake firing most of the saturdays that we are open which is great. Would be good to reach more members if they want to practice their skills during the weekend. Anne Goddard MPPG 2018 Website Report We had to resurrect our website about 12 months ago and with the help of QPM Design we have a platform that is easy to use and a helpful provider when a little over-the-phone training is required. We have had a number of good comments from other pottery clubs and no complaints from members. Our total hits for October was 218, with 29 hits for ‘Club News’; it is gratifying to know members are using the site. Our Gallery page is a work-in-progress; the plan is to use the page to illustrate some of the significant pieces and potters we have in our cabinets. This will means some changes over time. I would also like to see some of our own member’s work go into the Gallery - don’t be shy! I’m also happy to receive articles from members, with or without photographs. If you have photo’s in your article, please send them as a separate file as it’s the only way I can get them into the page. Have a merry festive season. Graham Maguire Club Day Report Duty Person Bill Bromley Club Days every Tuesday from 10am to 2.30pm Between four and eight members use the rooms and their abilities range from beginners to intermediate, working mainly on the wheel and some handwork. At least four small bowls are made on the wheel by each potter. Shelves are available for storage and pots can be left in rooms for drying before trimming. The members are learning to load, fire and unload the kilns under supervision of an approved operator. Also members are attending courses to learn how to fire the kilns. Some members are buying their own chemical materials and mixing their glaze recipes sourced from our library or computer. Members are encouraged to read pottery books from our new library. Club glazes and brushwork are used to decorate these and some pots have been sold at Lyttelton market. The room cleanup and wet floor wash, with our new vacuum cleaner, is shared with members after each session. All the potters are making some very good pots and having a fun time. Agenda for AGM November 13th, time 7pm, at room 7 Phillipstown hub
Apologies: Jackie Foulkes, Megan Salole, Minutes from 2017 AGM and the special meeting in may 2018. Matters arising from the minutes of 2017 AGM. Matters arising from the special meeting in May, 2018. Correspondence: Secretaries report: Shona Clarkson Financial report: with Subs discussion. Election of officers: Chairman Anne Goddard nominated by Shona Clarkson 2nd Lorraine Jansen Secretary Graham Maguire nominated by Leigh-Anne Obrien 2nd Treasurer Ken Doidge nominated by Shona Clarkson 2n These are the committee members who are standing for 2019 collectively nominated by Shona Clarkson 2nd Brenda Benge, Leigh-Anne Obrien, Loraine Jansen Three more to join the Mt Pleasant committee; these can be co-opted during the year. General business Constitution was discussed at our special meeting 8th May and has been approved; this has been circulated during the year to members and will be resent again. Web site report: Graham Maguire. Face book report: Anne Goddard. Classes report: Shona Clarkson. Room club day: Bill Bromley. Kiln usage report: Shona Clarkson. Maintenance report: Club activities 2019: Renate Galetzka Phillipstown hub report: Club, end of year, Christmas: pizza oven at the hub, Tuesday 11th December 6.30 start. Members to bring pizza toppings, bases supplied. Members standing down from the committee: Bill Bromley, Shona Clarkson and Allan Mauger The committee would like to thank these members who have contributed their time whilst on the committee and wish them good potting for the future. Our Monday class and one from Wednesday... families there too, but food all gone! Some of the 35 plates decorated by some of our local children. Some happy children and some of their work at the recent holiday program. Hi potters, we have had a request from some members to do some glaze days.
For those who are starting on their own glazing programme and not sure what to do, where to go,🤔 we might be able to help. We would like responses from you if you would like to take part in making your own glazes. There would be two Saturdays: October the 6 and 20, 10am to 12pm. Sorry this is short notice but if you get cranked up there is plenty of time; you can have your materials here in three days. Requirements from you would be: You buy your own materials, the glaze recipe is supplied below, materials may be bought from: BotPots, Nelson Pottery Supplies, Wellington potters, etc. Google pottery supplies and many suppliers will pop up. With these ingredients you will make up 4 glazes, half a bucket of each, with enough material left over to make up a small supply of coloured over-glazes. Ingredients to buy, for a clear or white or colored glaze firing to cone 6 to 8+. Kaolin (china clay) 2 kg Silica. 2 kg Wollastonite 2 kg Frit 4108 2 kg Potash feldspar 2 kg If these come in 2.5 kg packs that is ok as this might be a standard size; this is your base ingredients for a glaze. You may add these ingredients to make up a blue, green, white, or variegated glaze. If you have some strange colorants bring them along and we will discuss them. Zirconium 500 gm Cobalt carbonate 50gm Copper carbonate 50gm Rutile 50gm Iron oxide 500gm If you like you might like to buy any coloured stains like yellow, red, orange etc for your small over glazes. Containers and other stuff needed: Four 10 litre buckets with lids Kitchen scales Paper mask Note book (glaze book). Glass jars with lids at least 8 Felt tip pen Apron & towel If you have a glaze sieve bring that. Enrolments: please email to mtpleasantpottery@gmail.com The cost for two Saturdays $20.00, you can bring it on the first day but please book in to secure your place. CLUB NIGHT Tuesday, October 9th, will be glazing with Renate, splash, pour and dip. Ken will be demonstrating how to spray glazes on your work. Time: 7pm. This will be interesting to those who are planning their own glaze programme. Our September 11th soup and bowl exchange was very interesting. It was a fun night; the soups were excellent (recipes to come), the pizza oven got very hot, we tested it 500deg C, a bit too hot for bread, so we left it to cool???, Graham put his loaves at the front of the oven to raise with a tea towel on it, 10 minutes later the bread had that very dark brown look with no tea towel just the remaining fluff on the bread. We did bake a great pear cake which had a delightfully crispy base with a nice taste. A good pizza oven but like all potters that are pyromaniacs we are not patient 😄. hub garage sale 6 october 10 to 12pm bring along your stuff if you would like to take part email Viviana@phillipstown.org.nz to book a space. Raku day with Leigh-Anne October 6th contact her if interested leigh_ann.obrien@gib.org.nz Allan has interesting news about white clay; details to come. We have nearly completed the re-arrangement of our pottery room. When all the class work has been fired and the shelves are empty, we will increase the shelf space. The books and magazines in the "library" are for reference only; they are not to be taken from the room. If you want some details, photograph the pages and print them out at home. We had a little drama with our temperature controllers on the kilns; all is now in order and there should be no delays getting work fired. Those members not in a class, make sure you use the book to reserve a kiln (and follow the instructions, please). Happy potting, Your Committee Hi Potters,
Raku firing is planned for Saturday October 6th 10am start. Bring along; Any bisque pots you want to Raku Any combustible material you want to use – paper, saw dust – I do have a supply but it may run out Glazes will be available to use – both crackles and naked slip I do have a number of metal containers to use – but bring some along if you can Shared lunch $5 for the day – this covers the glazes and gas Any issues or enquiries – please contact me leighanno@gib.co.nz I will be doing another round of trials for the naked raku slip and my first round of lustre trials – hopefully with some great results.... Cheers Leigh-Ann Hi Potters, We had a great day on Saturday 14th July. Some fantastic looking pots and a lot of fun. Some trials were done on the new naked Raku slip – I have another round of trials on the next firing and will hopefully have a better cracking effect. Another Raku firing is planned for Saturday September 8th 10am start – so plenty of time to get your pots ready. There will be a box on the bench marked “Raku ready to Bisque” – put your pots in here by / on Tuesday 21st August – this will give us time to bisque your pots ready for Saturday 8th September. If you already have some pots and you want to give it a go – come along. If you are in a class and would like me to come along and show you some of our results / questions - just give me an email and I will pop in. leighanno@gib.co.nz Please give me an email if you are planning to come along on Sat 8th Sept so I can plan. Cheers Leigh-Ann Raku Ready – pots Making your pot / vessel - The number one key that Averill advised to get the best result was – Ensure your pot is smooth – burnishing your pot when it is bone dry. If you want a textured look for your Raku then disregard making it smooth. Burnishing Tools - Any very smooth object can potentially be used as a burnishing stone. Many potters use rubber or plastic ribs for burnishing, particularly on leather hard pots. The back of a spoon is a popular tool, though it may leave greyish marks on the clay. Make sure you do not sand your pots, even prior to burnishing. Apply Terra Sigillata - When your pot is bone dry and dust free – apply 4-5 layers of Terra sigillata. Terra sigillata gives it a glazed, shinny look, obviously disregard if you do not want this look. This will be available at the pottery rooms for you to use. Terra sigillata is an ultra refined clay slip that can give a soft sheen when applied to bone-dry wares and, if polished or burnished while still damp, may give a high gloss.
Bisque your pot – your pot is now ready for Raku and/or Naked Raku. An Obvara Pot for Christmas? I am really keen to give this a go – if we can get a few people we can do this one Raku Saturday. Looks like great fun The obvara firing process, which originated in Eastern Europe around the 12th Century, involves scalding the finish on the pottery to seal the porous surface. Similar to the raku pottery process, a bisqued pot is heated, (899°C) and removed from the heat. The difference is that the pot is then dipped into a specific obvara yeast mixture before being dunked in water to rapidly cool the piece. The effects are quite stunning.   Hi potters, We had a great saturday Raku last week with Leigh-Anne as our leader; we will be having another one soon (probably the 10th Aug) so keep a look out for this information. Saturday 4th, first of the month club morning with Anne,come and pot in the rooms. August demonstration sprig club night is cancelled but those of us who had pots in the wood firing at Halswell will be bringing their pots to show and discuss; all welcome for a catch-up. So, not the usual club night but you might have some ideas for bowl making for our September 11th 'swap a bowl' night and fill it with Delicious soup and bread all made by our pottery 🍜chef's . I think we have at least three bread bakers, but the more the merrier! Some of the members took part in a wood firing at Halswell potters group this week end, Saturday, all day, it’s great fun with lots of smoke and flames and general excitement. Some photo's below; come and see the results of the firing on Tuesday 14th club night. Bisque pots on the shelf: there are a few of the members bisqued pots on the shelf by the windows. These are the first names or marks of the works: Nic, EB,Chris, Sam, mm, wa, LL. We would appreciate that they be paid for and taken away asap as our new term has started and we need the space. If they are still there in a week we will dispose of them. It is a good idea to keep and eye on your work as you have put in the hard work not for them to be disposed of. The usual club days and nights; continue please support these nights as you can always learn from someone else who might have a good idea or a great way of throwing. Cheers, your Committee     Leigh-Anne's first Saturday, Club Day, Raku firing was held on 14th July in beautifully fine weather. There were seven hearty souls participating and gaining experience from more practised potters (Thanks, Shona). The report is that the crackle glaze worked well, but the slip "needs a little work". An action shot and the results: There were seven of us who attended Renate's workshop, last weekend, discovering the delights and magic of putting engobe and slips onto clay. We had each been asked to bring some leather-hard tiles and bowls to practice the techniques of engobe application. Renate had some simple rules for us to consider as we embarked on our discovery; importantly, consider the viewer and don't limit oneself in how to apply the engobe and work the surface of the pot. To get the best result for the colour of engobe one wants, use the whitest clay possible. The array of colours Renate uses is clear from the samples of her standard range she brought in to show us. Renate also uses a small range of colours from which she blends to achieve the colour she wants. We then mixed up a colour each, using the white slip Renate had brought and shared these amongst us. We then attacked the tiles and bowls we had brought in with some hesitancy as some of us hadn't attempted this before. A sample of the results is shown below. Being involved in learning something new generated wonderful discussion and debate. Renate has great skill and knowledge in the application of engobes and to watch her demonstrate and see her range of test tiles was wonderful. I think the range of colours and designs of engobe decorations is only limited by our imaginations. Thank you, Renate.  |
Our Pottery Group is based in Christchurch and our potters range from those that are nationally recognised through to total beginners. Everyone is welcome to join our classes as well as casual potters and new members are always welcome.
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LOCATION & CONTACT |
USEFUL LINKSNew Zealand Potters www.nzpotters.com
Mount Pleasant Community Centre www.mpcc.org.nz Phillips Town Community Hub www.phillipstown.org.nz |