Annual Exhibiton

Its that time of the year again and New Plymouth Potters are holding their 40th Annual Exhibition at Real TArt Gallery from Saturday 3 August to Sunday 1 September 2013. 

Guest selector and exhibitor is Bruce Walford. 

Bruce will also be holding a workshop over the weekend of Saturday 3 and 4 August.

The image is of a piece that Bruce is currently working on.

Sculpture Workshop

SCULPTURE WORKSHOP WITH DONNA WILLAR-MOORE - 6 April 2013

Donna Willard-Moore, Fine Arts Tutor at WITT, ran a workshop to introduce club members to the art of sculpture.  Donna outlined some key principles of portraiture and slab construction over an armature whilst modelling a sculpture portrait from a photo of Martin Luther King.  The photographs below show the transformation from muddy snowman through alien to humanoid!  In under two hours the club members were inspired.  Our thanks to Donna for sharing her skill and passion for portraiture and sculpture with us and for inspiring us to step outside our comfort zones and try something new.

CLUB RAKU FIRING - March 2013
Due to the rain falling heavily during the week, the club did not have to cancel their raku firing due to a possible fire risk.  The day was well attended with a few new faces joining the regulars.  Some wonderful pieces emerged from the burnt sawdust.

(Thanks to Lynda for the photo)

 

Congratualtions to Maria Brockhill on having her pot selected for the NZP National Exhibition 2013.

 

 



This exhibition is being held at Expressions Gallery, Upper Hut, from 23 March to 12 May 2013, so if you are visiting Wellington,why not take time to check it out.  If you want to see the full exhibition go www.nzpotters.com


Comments from the NZP President:
While potters get great pleasure from making a fine piece, from having it selected for a national exhibition and from seeing it displayed along side the work of others whom they respect, that pleasure is heightened when someone admires their work sufficiently to buy it.

 

New Plymouth Potters 39th Annual Exhibition

New Plymouth Potters 39th Annual Exhibition was opened at The Real TArt Gallery by guest selector and exhibitor Duncan Shearer from Hamilton. 
From the work selective Duncan awarded the Supreme Award to Barbara Nicholls, a Copper Red Bowl.  The merit Award went to Louise McFetridge, "The Wizard"  and the Novice Award went to Katherine Christian, a hand built coiled pot.

Thanks must go to Anthea Stayt for getting the plinths painted in time for the exhibition.  The plinths look very smart having had 3 coats of white paint.  The exhibition is our once a year event that show cases the work of the New Plymouth Potters, it is our opportunity to lift our public profile, so presentation is everything.
 New Plymouth Potters Inc. wishes to acknowledge Creative NZ for their grant towards the exhibition and workshop.

Louise McFetridge : Katherine Christian : Barbara Nicholls with guest selector Duncan Shearer

Anthea Stayt

I began my clay journey with learning the techniques of ceramic decoration almost 30 years ago, however once children came along that interest was put aside. When time for creativity became available again, I was living in the South Island but had found that the ceramic studios no longer exiisted. I then had to change direction and learn to make my own clay forms to decorate.


Handbuilding sculptural pieces was my chosen method but ironically I discovered that I preferred my work to remain in the natural, unglazed finish which relied on the play of shadow and light to attract interest.


There was a definite connection between the various pots and koru items I made, each having a fluent and feminine form. I have created a series of busts that are representative of the fashion of today, noting that these are not as disposable!


I am now beginning to experiment with colour by using glazes and overglazes to enhance my claywork, probably due to the influence of my new interest in oil painting.


At present I am working towards my first solo exhibition to be held in Real Tart Gallery during October this year. I have exhibited previously in the Aigantighe Gallery (South Canterbury), Fishers Fine Arts (Christchurch), guest artist at the Percy Thomson Gallery (Stratford) and most recently at the Museum of Waikato as my piece was selected for the Waiclay National Ceramic exhibition.


I am fortunate to be the recipient of the South Canterbury Potters Premier Award 2003 and 2004 and the New Plymouth Potters Supreme Award 2005.


The wonderful facilities at the Vicarage, the opportunities to exhibit and learn, the sharing of knowledge and companionship through the New Plymouth Potters club are a necessary and valuable support to my continuing development. Thank you.

Member's profile- Cecily Bull

Although I was first bitten by the pottery bug in South Africa in the late 1980's, it wasn't until I joined New Plymouth Potters in 2008 that I started to take pottery seriously. There is a steep learning curve between 'taking lessons' and becoming an independent potter and joining a club makes all the difference. The welcome and generous guidance of the 'Thursday group' really helped me find my way.
I've always been attracted by the earthy colours of fuel fired pottery and so learning to fire the club's gas kiln, under the patient guidance of Barbara Nicholls, Kathy Gates and Bev Rea, has been loads of fun. I recently acquired Trish Kane's gas kiln so now I'm enjoying getting to know the idiosyncrasies of my own little 'fire breather'.
Wheel work has long been my favourite and I think that there's little to top the satisfaction of throwing a beautiful bowl. However, when it comes to exhibitions like the Real Tart Challenges, hand-building with it's many different techniques more easily allows one to speak to a theme. The first exhibition that I entered was the 'Flora and Fauna' challenge in February 2010 when I was lucky to win the people's choice award for my Arum Lillies.
Over the course of 2011, I attended 4 workshops which taught me the skills that I'm using to make my current pieces-carved black fired tui. I learned carving skills from Manos Nathan during a workshop in Raglan, burnishing and black firing from Robyn Lloyd during our annual exhibition workshop in August, potting intuitively allowing the clay to be the guide from Mike O'Donnell in October and bird making from Suzanne Bloch-Jorgensen in November. It's amazing how so many apparently isolated learning experiences blended together to produce something completely unexpected.
My love of pottery continues to grow as there always seems to be more to learn. Potters are always such supportive people-keen to share techniques and hard learned skills. My thanks to all who have so generously shared their skills with me.

A members profile-Jan Pidwell

'It is about sixty years since I made my first piece of pottery. The clay was classic 'sticky Yellow Wellington', the kiln was the Wellington sun and the glaze all the yellow from my paint box. I proudly gave the resulting Easter chicken to my Mum.
I joined New Plymouth Potters around 2000 and with lots of help and advice from other members, browsing dozens of books and attending workshops, I began a journey that has and is still stretching my muscle, my brain, my imagination, my time and my patience. I love it.
I also love treasure-hunting, for textures, colours and forms at the beach, in the bush and in the junk shop finds I can use in my pottery. Animals fascinate me. I have always HAD to make things, out of whatever is at hand. Pottery uses and satisfies these obsessions. Every time I open the kiln there is the excitement of Christmas morning. Very occasionally I find within treasures, sometimes disasters and many surprises...some happy but more that I try to throw away and put down to experience. Its all about the learning and with pottery there is no end to it.
I admire the pottery and the sculpture of many others, would like to collect far more than I have room or money. It is great now to begin to understand what is behind their work. I also enjoy the people pottery brings me into contact with both for their personalities, their variety, skills and creativity and the companionship gained from working together.
I believe that to get the most out of an endeavour you must be prepared to put something into it and recommend that all members become involved in the care and organization of our club.
In our Annual exhibition I have been lucky to be awarded a Supreme Award in 2007 and a merit in 2006. I also was the 'people's choice' in the Real Tart challenge in 2009 which resulted in having a personal exhibition with Cecily Bull at Real Tart...a nerve racking but satisfying experience.
I will always lean toward hand work but my next challenge will be to master the wheel so that I can combine these techniques.' -Jan

Linda Barbour

Above is Linda, Margaret Foley and Maureen Warren at a recent workshop. Linda's work is pictured below.  I admire her dedication to learning ceramics/pottery.  I admire her willingness to experiment and practice technique until it is how she wants it.

More about Maureen Warren.

                                                                                                                                                       Last time I posted a saggar fired work by Maureen Warren. Maureen won the Supreme Award in our annual member's exhibition. Here is her work and a bit more about her.


'I have many creative interests but find working with clay inspires me the most. In the late 1980's I enrolled at Taranaki Polytechnic (now WITT) with part time pottery classes and became amazed with so many types of clay, methods of decoration and techniques to try. I joined New Plymouth potters several years later using stoneware clay and firing their electric and natural gas kilns. After a break of ten to twelve years I joined the Thursday group making mainly wheel work and enjoyed the company of other potters. Moving to Mokau in 2005 I started firing with L.P.G making earthenware and Raku. Mostly hand built, using slabs and coils. I received a New Plymouth Potters Merit Award in 2004 and the Supreme Award this year. Recently I have been experimenting with Saggar firing of which most pots have been carved/stamped and slip trailed with adapted Celtic designs. Each firing is producing unique different results.'

The supreme winner-Maureen Warren

Coiled Saggar fired pot with lid. This pot won the Supreme Award at our annual exhibition.  The judge, Robyn Lloyd from Raglan, said she was jealous and wished she could make something like this. I agree.

Pat Close

Such cool little beasts by Pat Close.

Helen Armstrong-Brown-Roaming the Savannah

Helen won the 'Novice Exhibitor' award at our annual exhibition with her hand built elephants. Amazing detail.

Margaret Foley-Garden Water bowl.

High fired dry glaze and Glass.

Joyce Young-Fungi garden pots

Joyce is full of enthusiasm for life!  Her work has an earthy feel and shows an understanding and affinity with forms from nature. 

Maureen Warren- Coiled Raku pot with lid

Maureen exhibited this at our annual exhibition. I really admire her work. I haven't tried Raku firing yet but it seems very exciting!

Beautiful work by Carolyn Walsh and Greg Hepworth.

I really admire the delicate work of Carolyn and Greg.  I would love to know how they manage to work together to produce their work. Such pretty and strong work visually.

'Angel' by Margaret Foley

Recent work by Margaret Foley. 'Angel' was in our annual potters exhibition.

High fired dry glaze

Dogs by Jan Pidwell

These images are of dogs by Jan Pidwell from our annual exhibition. Very cute. 

Robyn Lloyd workshop

The weekend workshop with Robyn Lloyd was intense and outstanding.  Her attention to detail was incredible.  Her work was delicate and detailed.  I personally found it very challenging and learnt alot that challenged me. Here is Louise watching Robyn with intense concentration!

The 2011 annual exhibition!

The annual exhibition and workshop is on in a few weeks.  The guest exhibitor and judge is Robyn Lloyd from Raglan.  Very exciting!

The News

The News
Click on this link to read an article about Kathy Gates.

'Raspberry swirl'-Barbara Nicholls

The bowl 'Raspberry swirl' was wheel thrown and altered using a porcelain clay body, it was glazed with a traditional copper red glaze then reduction fired in a gas kiln to cone 9.

"I am interested in anything to do with clay but its the energy and thought process involved in wheel throwing that I enjoy the most.  I am interested in the form of the pot and have recently been inspired to look at a more contemporary approach using the bowl form as sculptural expression."

Green celadon bowl-Kathy Gates

"My bowl was reduction fired to cone 10 in a gas kiln.  I have been exploring new techniques throwing porcelain and enjoy the smooth quality that it gives my work. The patterning expresses the fluid movement of the clay which is enhanced by the green celadon glaze".