September 2015 Upcoming Dates to Note in Your Diary Now! August 30 Anagama Receiving Day at the Rooms September 1 Anagama Kiln Loading September 20 Anagama Opening and BBQ at Te Haunui, Horokiwi October 4 WPA AGM, 2.30pm at the Rooms October 17 Ceramicus15 – WPA Annual Exhibition Receiving Day October 18 Ceramicus15 Selection [Note: Rooms closed while Selection is occurring] October 23 Ceramicus15 Opening, Portrait Gallery, Shed 11, 5.30-7.30pm Regular events: Tuesdays Shared lunch at the rooms - just come along and bring something to share! For the indicative WPA Programme for the year, see page 7, Pottery Classes page 8 From the President Elections for the WPA Committee The AGM is being held at 2:30 pm on Sunday 4 October at the rooms. The AGM is once-a-year meeting open to all club members. The president reviews the year, the treasurer presents the accounts, and then we elect a new committee. Interested in getting on the committee? The club runs on the goodwill of volunteers, and we are always looking to introduce new faces to the committee. Serving on the committee is not daunting or onerous. It involves attending a monthly evening meeting, sharing ideas and helping to plan the club’s various activities. The meetings can be stimulating and sociable. You do not have to be a top potter or a long-time member, and you don’t need special skills or experience. You just need to be willing. I am going to stand down as president, so we are looking for someone new to take on the role. In addition to the president, there are three other officers to elect at the AGM – vice-president, treasurer and secretary – plus six committee members. So please think about standing for the committee. If you are interested, get in touch with someone on the current committee and have a chat about it (contact details at end of newsletter). Then come along to the AGM, have your say, and put your name forward! Empty Bowls You’ll be able to read elsewhere in this newsletter about the Empty Bowls project. It was a wonderful success. At the launch at Moore Wilson’s, bowls were snapped up in no time. The entire Moore Wilson’s stock went within hours and we had to get more bowls in. Thanks to everyone who made bowls or helped out. And a special thank you to Rebecca Flowerday who was the inspiration and driving force behind it all. Well done Rebecca! Anagama The anagama firing is coming up soon! If you are new to pottery or new to the club, I highly recommend getting up to Horokiwi during the firing to check things out. It’s amazing! Gwyn Williams Outgoing President WPA Annual General Meeting Sunday 4 October All WPA members are invited to attend the club’s AGM at the rooms on Sunday 4 October 2015 at 2.30pm . 1 AGM Agenda 1. Apologies 2. Minutes of AGM held 12 October 2014 3. President’s Report 4. Treasurer’s Report 5. Elections of Officers: • President • Vice President • Secretary • Treasurer 6. Election of Six Committee Members. 7. Other Business Nominations If you want to stand for election, you have to be nominated. You can be nominated by someone at the AGM, but if you can’t make the meeting, you just need to give your consent in writing beforehand. Email [email protected] . Upstairs Space at the WPA Rooms Upstairs at the Rooms we have a couple of free spaces that can be used by members who wish to have a dedicated area for their work. It is available for rent for a 6-month period, when it will be reviewed. The charge is $20 a month. We offer: • a quarter share of the bench space on the window side • a quarter share of the bench space on the opposite side • a shelf at the end of the room, and a share of the shelves above the bench • space for hand building and storage, but not for a wheel. There is no running water. • There are some guidelines for good management – keeping the walk-through passageway clear, making sure the area is left clean & tidy, etc. Existing users – please reapply if you wish to be considered for the next period. If this interests you, please contact [email protected] by 4 September 2015. Deliveries at the Rooms We have been having some problems with deliveries at the rooms. Some of the carriers have not met the conditions of the contract. If you are at the rooms when a load of clay arrives, please don't sign for it unless you are authorised to. (This doesn't apply to small parcels, but to bulk deliveries). 2015 Empty Bowls Project Those Potters who made it to the Empty Bowls 2015 Launch at Moore Wilson's, Wellington City, were rewarded by the public enthusiasm for our bowls. Local Potters from around the region, including Wairarapa, Porirua and Otaki, made a great contribution with a total of 950 bowls finally being made and gratefully received! With 1.5 weeks to go, and more than 800 bowls being sold to date, over $16,000 has been raised so far for the Downtown Community Ministry. Moore Wilson have sold out of the bowls but there are still bowls in the Cafes of Wellington to be found. Please let all people you know to get in quick and purchase their bowls now. Those who have been involved with this project, from making, glazing and firing of the bowls to fettling and distribution of them should be very proud of what you've been able to contribute and achieve as a community. Not only has it raised money for the 2 charity organisation but also raised the profile of Potters and Pottery around the regions. There is a website for Empty Bowls - http://www.emptybowls.org.nz/ - that is up and running and has a list of those Potters who have contributed this year. To make sure that everyone is acknowledged and to get a handle on the size of the contribution around the regions, could you please send through your name, if you have contributed in any way. Rebecca will be updating the website at the end of the month, so please email your name to [email protected] . From the Wellington Potters Association Committee and the Downtown Community Ministry, a very big thank you. Bowls can still be purchased for $20 each at: • Thunderbird Cafe - Featherston Street • HAYA Cafe - Aro Valley • Strathmore Gipsy Kitchen – Strathmore • All Kapai Cafes • Karaka Cafe - on the Te Aro Lagoon • Little Peckish - Willis Street Arcade Anagama Ablaze Wednesday 9 September marks the beginning of the 11th Anagama firing. There has been a flurry of preparatory activity readying the kiln for its latest adventure. In the past month Maurice and Carolyn Bennett, Roger Pearce, Mal Sole, Peter Rumble, Shige Ohashi and Graeme Houston have all contributed. All is now in readiness for the firing: • The brick props used for supporting the kiln roof formers, used for repairing the roof, have been removed and stacked; • Silt from the flood that graced the floor of the kiln has been removed; • The wood is stacked; • The shelves have been cleaned; • Maurice & Carolyn Bennett on Stacking Additional rock buttressing is in place; Duties • The slip that contributed to the kiln being flooded has been partially removed; and • Anagama glazes prepared. Installing the additional rock buttressing was a challenging exercise with Mr Rumble exhibiting previously unseen physical prowess in lifting and manoeuvring the often heavy rocks into place under the direction of a demanding Mr Ohashi. The rocks were obtained by Graeme Rockers - Shige Ohashi & Peter Rumble from the Horokiwi Quarry. As access to the far side of the kiln was restricted because of the stacks of firewood, a bridge across the kiln’s firing pit was built. This comprised a stack of pallets atop of which was a sheet of plywood. A trolley was used to carry the larger rocks. For me trolley techniques learned in moving heavy bales of wool in wool stores came flooding back! Rock Providor - Graeme Houston There has been an excellent response to the invitation for people to 3 assist in loading and firing the kiln. At the time of writing a total of 40 people had volunteered to participate as firing shift leaders and members. Timetable: Steps Dates Receiving Day: Pots received at the rooms Sunday 30 August (Upstairs) from 10am - 3pm. Transport pots to kiln Sunday 30 August Load kiln Tuesday 1 – Sunday 6 September Fire kiln Wednesday 9 – Sunday 13 September Cool kiln Monday 14 – Saturday 19 September Unload kiln & BBQ: 11:30 am. All members are Sunday 20 September invited. Anagama glazes, prepared by Mal Sole assisted by Megumi Ogo, are now available at the rooms. For those who are new to Anagama firings, it is a matter of choice as to whether you use such glazes. Anagama purists often don’t as the process of firing the kiln generates its own natural ash glaze. It really is a matter of personal choice. As you will see from the timetable, the pots are unloaded on Sunday 20 September. This event is accompanied by a BYO barbeque to which all members are invited. The pots are generally available for collection at the kiln site (476 Horokiwi Road, signposted “Te Haunui”) about 2 – 2 ½ hours after the kiln has been opened. Those pots that are not collected will be transported to the rooms as soon as possible after the firing.