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OPC Raku Club Day - Saturday 20th April

20/3/2024

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Registration is now open with the sign-up sheet on the whiteboard in the kitchen.

Most clays are suitable, particularly those containing some grog. The Atelier clays and terracotta
work well. Note that fine clays such as PW20 may sometimes crack due to the thermal shock.
No flat plates and nothing too big - 300mm maximum height.
​
Any queries to Shona Sherriff.

Join us for a day filled with creativity and camaraderie at the OPC Raku Club Day. Here's what you can expect:


- Explore a new method of glazing and firing your bisque pottery.
- Try your hand at various techniques with the guidance of experienced members.
- Connect with fellow pottery enthusiasts and expand your network within the club.
- Immerse yourself in the joyous atmosphere of our club's activities.

What is Raku?
Raku pottery, originating from traditional Japanese ceramics, offers a captivating journey into artistic expression. Here's a brief overview:

- Definition: Raku involves a low-firing process inspired by Japanese tradition. Pottery is removed from the kiln at a vibrant red heat and placed into containers filled with combustible materials. Upon ignition, the containers are sealed, creating an intense reduction atmosphere that influences glaze and clay colours. The deliberate thermal shock induces crackling, adding to the aesthetic appeal.

- Origins and History: Rooted in Buddhist practices, particularly the tea ceremony, raku embodies simplicity and naturalness. It harmonises with nature's elements, symbolising a union of earth, fire, air, and water. Intriguingly, "raku" translates to "happiness in the accident," reflecting its organic and spontaneous nature.

- Clay and Glazes: While various clays can be used, specific raku clay yields optimal results due to its thermal shock resistance. We recommend consulting our Clay Team for advice on clay selection. Additionally, choosing suitable glazes is essential, with our club offering a range of raku glazes for experimentation.

- Functional vs. Decorative: Despite its historical significance in tea ceremonies, raku pieces are primarily decorative due to their porous nature and susceptibility to glaze flaking. It's important to note that raku ware is not food-safe. Consider sealing your end product with liquid wax to enhance its durability and aesthetic appeal, adding an extra layer of protection.

Safety Measures
Ensuring safety during the Raku pottery process is paramount. Here are some essential precautions to consider:

- Attire: Wear protective clothing such as long trousers, closed-toe shoes, and long-sleeved shirts or arm protectors to shield against heat and potential hazards. Avoid loose clothing and tie back long hair or wear a hat to prevent accidents.Wear long leather gloves to protect your hands from heat and potential burns. It's crucial to keep these gloves dry, as wet leather can conduct heat and compromise protection.

- Kiln Safety: When opening the kiln, avoid leaning over it as hot air escapes, posing a risk of burns. Maintain a safe distance from the kiln and use specialised equipment like long tongs to handle red-hot pottery with care. Prior to the actual firing, practice handling the pottery with the long metal tongs to familiarise yourself with the process. Since we operate outdoors, be mindful of wind direction to avoid inhaling fumes when opening kilns. Position yourself upwind whenever possible to minimise exposure to fumes.
​

By adhering to these safety protocols, you can fully enjoy the enriching experience of Raku pottery while prioritising your well-being and that of others.

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Kwak Kyungtae and Marco Minetti – Touring Potter come to Otaki pottery club -

8/3/2024

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Ceramics New Zealand is proud to present our 2024 Touring Potter programme featuring Kwak Kyungtae and Marco Minetti.

Otaki Pottery Club - half day onggi / half day Korean wheel-throwing -
10 Aug


​Registration fees
  • Half-day demonstration workshop $100 per person

Important info
  • Registrations open Monday 11 March at midday.

To register and for more information go here:
https://ceramicsnz.org/news-and-events/touring-potter-programme/kwak-kyungtae/

Onggi
Learn the lost art of the Onggi technique, a method unique in the world for coil building large pots and forms. Traditionally born out of necessity in Korea, Onggi pots were and still are used today for food fermentation and storage. A quintessential example of how form follows function, both the forms and building techniques are a living art in and of themselves. You will be taught how to make coils, flatten the base of the pot, and coil the clay using the “Taryeom” method. Master Kwak will demonstrate how to paddle the form and shape it, giving you a newfound sense of volume and proportion on a large scale. There are only a handful of Onggi masters left in Korea, and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from one of them in New Zealand.

Korean Wheel-throwing
The throwing-focused program is all about building confidence on the wheel. Ancient Korean throwing techniques are taught step by step through theory, demonstration, and guided practice. You will learn how to throw off the hump, and master basic but fundamental shapes from the “Sabal” or tea bowl, to plates, cylinders, larger forms, and vases . We believe it is essential that students develop an honest relationship with clay, know its limits, and understand that each time we touch the clay, there must be a reason and a method to our movements. By breaking down each step students can sharpen their skills and aspire to a higher level of craftsmanship in their own practice. Imagine all the lessons one would learn as an apprentice, condensed into 3 days. of intense practice. Students from all backgrounds and skill levels are welcome. Instruction and demos will be catered to each individual student’s goals and/or abilities. Learn how to practice and follow the path to mastery on the wheel.


  • Demonstrations run for 3 hours with each morning or afternoon session requiring a separate booking.
  • Registrations are non-refundable but CANZ will try to help find a replacement where possible.
  • We encourage all people registering to apply for Creative New Zealand Professional Development funding. 
    ​
This tour is made possible through the support of the Asia New Zealand Foundation and our partners Mac’s Mud.
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Driveway Work to Commence

8/3/2024

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We are pleased to announce that work on the driveway is commencing once again. The contractors, who were previously tied up with commitments to council work, are now able to redirect their focus and resources back to our project.

We understand that the delay may have caused some inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this period. 

We will continue to keep you informed of the progress and any developments. Should you have any concerns or require further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with [email protected].
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No Newsletter this month - Presidents report

1/3/2024

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Lyndele is away so we won't have one of her fantastic newsletters this month.
Instead here is my report with information from the recent committee meeting, a note from the Festival convenors and more. 
C. 

We are well into the year now and what a great start.
The Festival of Pots was a huge success as is reflected by the amount of positive feedback we have received. Our sales were also up by 25% on the 2023 festival. Thank you to all of you who are right behind this. We cannot do this without members input and in particular the core group of people who make this work so well. The reason we can provide the facilities we have without having to run raffles or whatever else clubs do to raise funds is because of this Festival and our members.
This year we will be looking at painting the building- including doing the fantastic Moller design that you will see on the red notice board. We are in the process of fixing up the drive with a more permanent solution this time! We have attended to many drainage issues (thanks to Kaleb) and we have bought a new Shimpo kiln.
 
Thank you to those who came along or contributed via email to the Members meeting on the 18th . It was a well attended and very positive meeting with lots of valuable feedback.


Points raised that have been recorded are -



  • Establish a Social committee - including reintroducing club days with consideration to those who have weekday commitments:
  • Look at more casual workshops - run these evenings or weekends.
  • Consider offering a scholarship to members.
  • Concern was raised about the pressure on the kiln team. For now, they are happy, but they will continue to monitor the work coming through.
  • Members felt there was pressure on the glazing area when classes are in session and also glazing and asked that classes use only one of the tables in the glaze room. The education team and committee will consider this at the next meeting.
  • Data collection and analysis - Megan Fitzpatrick has offered to collate data relating to member club use (establish if there are choke points – in relation to membership capping).
  • Communication - Members felt they needed to be better informed - Suggestion that a club information page be built - has all information in one place for members to access. This can include dates of events – workshops etc, minutes, accounts, goings on ie: roadworks, building painting, maintenance etc. 
  • Do we look at employing an administrator?
  • Members will be asked to take part in a survey to enable the committee/club to understand better the needs of members. We are hoping to have the information collated for the AGM.
  • Membership cap – do we? - (to be included in the members survey for the AGM)
  • It was suggested that we digitise our entry system. This will be further investigated.

 
* Some of the topics above will be brought to the AGM on the 19 th May so please put this date in your diary.

HOUSEKEEPING: -

Classes started back early February and are now in full swing. These run through to the last week of March and first week of April.

Clare is now considering workshops for the next 6 months. Keep an eye on the website and notice board for these.

The club is offering a Pit firing and a Raku firing for members only– dates later in the newsletter. Thank you to Paula and Rod for running these. These are not workshops, but the managers have offered to hold a revision session a week before the date to go over the how to’s!           - Information on confirmation of enrollment.
 
As mentioned earlier we have had ongoing plumbing issues, and we are very grateful to Kaleb – (Bespoke plumbing – contact details below) who has come to our rescue. We need to get these issues fixed before we can complete the driveway and carpark upgrade. Thanks to Rob for overseeing this.
 
We are still desperately seeking someone to take on the Rooms manager role. This does not mean you do the work but manage the people who have been allocated areas.
Our cleaner Teri is doing a fantastic job, however she is having to do more and more hours cleaning up after you all. Please think about this. This is a cost to the club. The kitchen is one area that we all need to be onto. If you make a mess - in the microwave, on the bench, table, oven etc clean it up please. Please remember to wipe down the area in the workroom you have used and dry off with a towel. Too often I see benches that may have been wiped with a damp cloth, but this has not removed the clay that ends up as dry clay dust smeared over the top. When you are wiping your bench area remember to wipe down your cupboard front too (if you have one) . We are trying to eliminate (as much as possible) clay dust as this is the cause of many illnesses. And if you see anything that needs doing please don’t just walk on by.
 
Social Events manager. Those who attended the members meeting indicated they would like more club social activity, so we are looking for someone to take on the role of organising social times/events.
The gallery has an opening on the first Thursday of each month 5.30pm - 7pm. (with the exception of this month being a leap year!). This is a great time to get-together and to also support the exhibiting artist.

Kylie continues to update and improve our website. Under the resources tab you can now find the clay ordering details and links to useful videos. 
 
Cubbies! – Rob and Brent, with a team,  have been busy organising the clearing out of the storeroom off the kitchen. We have relocated the cleaning cupboard and once the room has had a lick of paint it will be lined with new cupboards for members. Stephanie is managing this so please let her know if you would like a cubby. Please note these need to be used and not used as dead storage. We cannot accommodate everyone so if you have a cupboard that you are not using, please vacate it and let Stephanie know.
 
Kaleb is fabricating 2 more clay traps for the sinks in the wheel classroom. It has been a problem with large amounts of clay going down the sinks – this contributing to our drainage issues. The twin tubs outside the glazing room are an area that is also of concern as there is not a trap here so please do not wash clay down these tubs.

Raku storage shed – Many thanks to Anne for erecting this shed for our Raku equipment.  This will free up room in the storerooms making it easier to access our events equipment in future.
 
And a big thankyou to our new member, Mark Keown who has taken on Equipment maintenance. He has been kept busy with the slab rollers which needed a bit of serious attention!
 
Health and Safety – Dean identified a faulty wire on one of the wheels and asked had the electrician (Dale) in to check all of our electrical equipment.
 
Bench fridge/ damp cupboard – Thanks to Paula and Ralph for acquiring and collecting the bench fridge. – now located in the wheel room. We do need damp cupboards for the main room so please let Rob know if you know of any large fridges or cupboards..
 
Gas Kiln - Neil Hey and his team welcome new members to the gas firing team. If you are interested in learning and upskilling here, please contact Neil.
All Teams and Team leaders are listed on the red notice board.
 
That’s it from me.
 I will be away from the 7th until the 25th March.  Sue and the Committee are here to help, or I am only an email away if you have a specific concern.
 
All the best everyone and thank you again for all your effort with the Festival.
– Caitlin


FESTIVAL OF POTS AND GARDEN ART 2024
 
The weather was kind. People came, sometimes in great numbers. Friday was a bit overwhelming with over a thousand through before lunch. Artist’s sales were outstanding $308,938.97. The café did a      roaring trade. With 116 exhibitors, 35 were new, and over 5544 paying adults it became the biggest and best festival the club has run. A big thank you to all the members and friends of the club who worked hard to make it a great success. We can’t run an event like this without all hands on board, so well done!
The demonstrations and giving people a hands-on experience was very popular this year. Moving them to a new location worked well. A request for also having them on the Friday will be considered for 2025. Having a separate member’s car park and creating more space for disabled parking proved very worthwhile.
A de-brief of this year’s festival is being planned for later this month. If you would like to provide specific feedback to be considered please email Wendi Lindsay (Festival Administrator) [email protected] and thank you to those who have already submitted their thoughts.
- from the Festival convenors.                      
        
This month we Welcome our new member:  Angela Francis


Calendar dates
  Pit firing - 23rd March $15 pp (this covers wood and materials used). Rod G and Paula A.
 Club Raku -  20th April (with 27th being the fallback should it rain).     Rod G. 
 AGM 19th May 3.30pm

For those who may need a great plumber, here is Kalebs contact information.
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Tote Modern Gallery - New Work Welcome

16/2/2024

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Thank you to all members who are helping doing a shift in the Tote Modern Gallery.

New members, and existing members we love having new work in the gallery. The condition is that it's a 15% commission ( very good rate as most galleries are up to 30- 60%)

Plus a 2.5 hour shift Friday-Sunday. You can read , do work etc as long as you can see the entrance doors. We can run you through what's what etc.

It's about promoting you and fellow Potters, and being part of our wonderful club.
Please if your putting new work in email [email protected]

Paula Archibald
027 247 7488
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Members meeting - where to from here?

16/2/2024

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Members meeting - where to from here? - 18th February. 3.30pm

The club is growing - in numbers and classes - and the consequences are that we are having to make changes to keep up.

I would like to propose a members meeting - an informal get together where we can flesh out some ideas on where you would like to see us going.

I would love to see as many of you as possible come along but if you can't and would like to participate please let me know your thoughts via email .


Who are we, What are we about and Where to from here?
 
Club Ethos being  - community, education, accessibility. 
 
 Things to consider for discussion.
·       What is important?
·       Where are we headed?
·       What do we wish to achieve / accomplish?
·       What are our next steps?
·       Festival and Club Events – member involvement
·       Classes and what the club offers.
·       Community and what we offer.
·       How we best use our funds
·       Member responsibilities




Ngā mihi | Regards

Caitlin Taylor
President
Otaki Pottery Club 

E: [email protected]

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Club Raku - Scheduled

16/2/2024

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​Club Raku - 20th April (with 27th being the fallback should it rain). Firing is free
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AGM - SCHEDULED

16/2/2024

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AGM 19th May 3.30pm
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Club Pit Firing - New DAtes

16/2/2024

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Club Pit Firing: 23rd March. 180 Sims road TeHoro Beach. Casual - $15per participant. (covers wood
and other materials).

Number of places: 12 with 3 places on the waiting list. To register please put your name on the sheet on the whiteboard in the clubrooms or email Rod: [email protected] Please make payment to the club confirm your place.

SHORT WORKSHOP (1 hour) for those new to pit firing or those who need a refresher. Sunday March 3rd 1pm. At the clubrooms. Please indicate when registering if you will be attending.

Contact: Paula Archibald (0272477488) or Rod Graham (0274457545)
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Pit Firing postponed

27/10/2023

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The Pit firing scheduled for the 28 /29th October has been postponed to  2024 due to the many events filling the rest of the year. Please register your interest through the website for either a workshop - (run by Chris Dunn) or a club firing
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Committee
    • Photo Album
  • GALLERY
  • Membership
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • Club Calendar
  • CLASSES
    • CHILDREN
    • ADULTS >
      • Beginning Wheel (L1)
      • Continuing Wheel (L2)
      • Advanced Wheel (L3) with Jenny Turnbull
      • Beginning Hand Building (L1)
      • Continuing Hand Building (L2)
      • Hand Building and Surface Decoration
      • Slab building
      • Sculpting faces - Term 1
      • Sculpture - Clothes Hair and Skin - Term 2
      • Clay Creatures - Term 3
      • Diploma
    • Tutors >
      • Brent Craig
      • Frederick Church
      • Harriet Bright
      • Jenny Turnbull
      • Jo-Anne Hare
      • Lyuba Zhilkina
      • Monica McCormack
      • Paula Archibald
      • Rod Graham
      • Sarah Brock
      • Sarah Bromley
      • Storm Davenport
    • Enrolments
  • WORKSHOPS
    • Workshop Enrolments
    • BONSAI
    • GARDEN GODDESS
    • GARDEN ORBS
    • GLAZING TECHNOLOGY
    • HEAD STUDIES
    • KINTSUGI
    • LITHOGRAPHY
    • PIT FIRING
    • SIMPLIFIED FIGURES
    • Cordage
    • Looping
    • TOURING POTTERS
  • RESOURCES
    • Club Clay
    • Club Glazes
    • VIDEOS
  • News
  • Events
    • PUBLIC RAKU
    • FESTIVAL OF POTS >
      • GUEST ARTISTS 2025 >
        • Royce McGlashen
        • Brett Keno
        • Lisa Grennell
    • STAR GLAZE
  • Gift vouchers
  • CONTACT