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We have Emma Densey @edceramics.nz and Susannah Kyle @kereru.pottery as our guest artists. They make a stunning team. Opening night is this Thursday 5.30-7 at the Tote Modern Gallery, 47 Te Roto Rd, Otaki.
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The GREEN kiln was fired on Monday and unloaded on Wednesday. It was another good firing with some really nice work; but also some carnage which was so disappointing.
There was a lot more work on the shelves for firing than we could fit into the kiln. Some of this work is left over from last year. My intention is to load all the outstanding work in the next couple of weeks so the shelves are empty, and then to top up the kiln with new work as it arrives. I will set the next firing day as soon as the kiln is full and expect to fire in about 3-4 weeks. Special thanks to my ‘Cooking with Gas’ team who helped with the loading, firing and, along with some other club members, the unloading and cleaning up. I specifically mention the cleaning up as there are a few issues to bring to members attention. Glaze selection: some of the club glazes are proving unsatisfactory in the gas kiln. Rob will be revising the list of OK glazes in the glaze room. Particular glazes being removed from the list are Van Guilder’s Ash and Matt White. Please be careful to select only glazes from the downdraft green kiln list. These 2 glazes in particular are melting excessively leaving work stuck to the shelves. The work then has to be removed with a hammer and cold chisel, breaking the base from the pot and leaving a lot of grinding to be done to remove the shards from the shelf. Glaze thickness: the thicker the application the more likely the glaze is to run. Be careful when double dipping or pouring. Excessive thickness of glaze is causing some of the melting on to the shelves. Footrings: I prefer to see a footring of 6mm minimum that is fully waxed. If you trim to a definite footring it gives a clean line to wax up to and makes sure there is no residue on the base that in the cone 10 environment can melt just enough to stick a little to the shelf. Sponging the foot of the work clean runs the risk of some residue remaining in the base to bond with the shelf and usually results in a very narrow margin, often not wide enough to accommodate even a small glaze run. Setters: it is pleasing to see some work being supplied on setters. If you have a new glaze, a test or have concerns about the glaze melt this is a great way to protect your work. In event of a run the setter and excess glaze can easily be ground off the bottom of the pot and the shelf is unaffected. Identifying your work: We need to know to whom each work belongs as it needs to be weighed and charged to your account after firing. Your potters mark is ok though relying on this potentially requires us to recognise the mark of every club member. That is a lot of marks. SO if you chose to use your member number that is very convenient for the kiln room team. A little dab of wax on your mark or number will save it being filled with glaze and becoming illegible. It is really disappointing for those involved with the kilns to see work irreparably broken when unloading so the notes above are just a few observations to keep in mind so we can make a great job of each firing. Does anyone have a bath (or two) that could be used for our clay recycling. We need two of these and they need to be pretty sturdy to hold the weight of the clay. Please contact Jojo Hare at jhare67@yahoo.com.
A reminder that your subs are due by 30 April please. These are $220 reduced to $200 if paid by 30 April or you can pay $110 by 30 April and then another $110 by 31 October. Please ensure that, if you are paying by internet, you include your Name and Club number. If you are paying by eftpos or cash at the clubrooms, please fill in a Payment Slip.
This workshop will be held at one table in the glaze room on Monday afternoon. We apologise for any inconvenience to members.
As you are aware, Kaye Stead has stepped down from being the Rooms Manager. To make the role that Kaye filled a much more manageable one, we will be splitting the workload up. These are the jobs that we would like some of you to take on, on a regular basis:
Laundry: Taking the towels, tea towels and occasionally the canvases to the Laundromat. 1 person - this should be done, as required. Classrooms: It is up to the Tutors to clean up after each class and return everything to its rightful place. This job is just a follow up to make sure that everything is as it should be and the classrooms are clean and tidy. 2 people, 1 for each classroom - this should be done, at least, weekly during term time and after each workshop. Workroom: Making sure the member's workroom is kept clean and tidy. 2 people - this should be done on a weekly basis. Kitchen: Mary Begbie (thank you Mary) has taken on this role of keeping the kitchen clean and tidy and buying the milk each week. Glaze Room: Vicki Russell has taken this role on but another pair of hands to help her will spread the load. This should be done on a weekly basis. Please, please, please put the moulds back where they are supposed to go. The cupboards and draws are clearly marked. DO NOT stack the large moulds on top of each other, it damages the rims. Turn the moulds upside down onto each other. Also please DO NOT use metal knives when trimming clay from the moulds. We also ask the Tutors to remind their students to clean and return the moulds to their rightful place when they have finished with them.
Decopots are recalling a couple of batches of PW20 because of slumping and cracking. The batch numbers are #789 to #798. Please check to see if you have any bags with these batch numbers and we will exchange them. Please contact Rod Graham to exchange rodgraham1948@gmail.com.
 The Taradale Pottery Club has had a presence at the Waiohiki Arts Village since 2008. On Monday 13 February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive damage to the Arts Village, including the club's premises. The clubrooms were flooded with silt, debris and water, causing significant damage to the pottery wheels, electric kilns and other key equipment. Even the community woodfire kiln was badly affected.
As the clean-up operation gets underway, the members of the Taradale Pottery Club are determined to rebuild their premises, which is an integral part of the Waiohiki Arts Village, home to several artists from Hawkes Bay. While the club has some insurance, it is not enough to replace everything that has been lost. Therefore, the club is in need of a new kiln, either gas or electric, and would appreciate any leads on where to purchase one. If you are able to donate to help the club rebuild there is a Givealittle page set up: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-taradale-pottery-club-recover-from-cyclone |
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