With the Art Trail behind us we can now contemplate Christmas and then the Festival of Pots.

We are scheduling the next kiln firing as follows:

• all work on shelves by 5pm Tuesday 13 th Dec.
• loading commencing 9am Wednesday 14 th Dec.
• firing from 8.30am Thursday 15 th Dec.
• unloading 2pm Saturday 17 th Dec.

There is a lot of preparatory work needed for the Festival so with the intervening holiday period as well, this will be the last firing before the Festival of Pots.

It is anticipated that the first firing in 2023 will be towards the end of February. Please remember the December firing will be subject to there being sufficient work so please crack into making mode again after the break for the Art Trail. As a guide to the quantity of work we need, the pre-art trail firing included over 200 pieces.

We are hoping that all those with work in the firing will be at the opening, though everyone is always welcome to come to see the exciting work that is passing through the kiln.

You're invited to view the students studying the NZ Diploma of Arts and Design in Ceramics end of year work.

16th November at Otaki Pottery Club Class Rooms from 3 - 6pm

Nibbles and drinks provided. All welcome.

The Tote Modern Gallery closes on 18 December for the year and Club members are asked to have their work removed by 8 Jan 2023. 

If you haven't yet managed to sign up for a cleaning bee please check the roster in the rooms and register to help. 

 150mm $3. 200mm $5.50. Please contact Sandra - hello@potterybats.co.nz or 
ph: 0274888204. 

For those of you who don't know, the Otaki Pottery Club has run this community event each year for many many years.  COVID stopped us from doing this for a couple of years and we are excited that we can now welcome back the public to this event and of course to our new venue.   

The event is where members of the public buy a piece of bisqueware, decorate it with Raku glazes and we fire it on the spot and they can walk away with a lovely piece of pottery.   

This is a particular favourite event of the local children.  Sue Wilson is organising this and would like to get together a team of volunteers to make this happen. Please contact Sue if you are interested in being involved.

We have created the new role of "Classroom Booking Manager" which Derryn Robson is taking on.  This role will begin at the beginning of next year.   If you are looking to use one of our classrooms for anything, please contact Derryn.

The club is looking for someone who will take on the role of Promotions/Publicity Manager for our events.  This will involve arranging newspaper ads, radio coverage, TV coverage (if you have connections although not necessary if you don't) and generally in getting the news out there to advertise our upcoming events etc.  Our Social Media coverage is already covered by Wendi Lindsay.

​Organizers of our OPC Art's Trail would appreciate it if those members who have signed up to participate, would please give some time, either in set up, pack down or sales over the two weekends - even making some snacks for the workers is a great help!   There is a roster on the sign in desk for you to check out.   The more people we have the less we all have to do and it's always a fun time.   People potting in the rooms is also a good way to show off our club to the public.

Timelines for the Arts Trail:

• 30 October  - it would be great if your priced goods and stock sheets are dropped off to the glaze room collection area by the 30th so we can start setting up.   If you can't make the 30th October then we will still be receiving goods up to and including the 3rd November.
• Members who have work in Gallery and have their own Arts Trail venue can leave their pots if they wish. 
• Thursday 3 November, 5.30pm - Gallery Opening
• 10 November bus of 40 arriving in the afternoon for a look around and afternoon tea.   It would be good to have people working in the rooms.
• 13 November after 4pm potters pick up work unless leaving in the Gallery area. 
• Gallery display to stay until 17 Dec if potters wish.

​Wendi Lindsay, our Social Media guru, will be spreading the news about the Art's Trail over the internet, Facebook, Instagram etc.   It would be great if you would all share these posts to your friends so we can promote this event to as many people as possible.

The next gas firing of the green downdraft kiln is scheduled as follows:

1.  All work to be in kiln room by 5pm, Wednesday 26th October
2. Loading from 9am Thursday 27th October
3. Firing Friday 28th October, commencing 8.30am
4. Unloading Sunday 30th October at 2pm

There are a limited number of pots currently waiting to be fired. Many more are needed to fill the kiln, typically we need about 140 pieces, the alternatives we may need to consider are rescheduling or possibly firing the smaller blue kiln. 

It would be helpful if members who have work ready for firing could deliver their pots by the end of Labour Day so that an assessment of how we should proceed can be made on Tuesday 25th.

This firing was scheduled so the work could be fired for the Art Trail. 
Good luck everyone with sales from the Arts Trail.
Any queries, please contact me at artandceramics@xtra.co.nz