Please be aware that work that is not clearly identified will not be fired. If you are using a makers mark that is not in the kiln book please leave a note on the kiln book so we can add this to our list. 

If you are not wanting your work to be placed on top of the kilns prior to being fired please ensure that it is bone dry when placed into the kiln room. With the current season and slow drying times we need to ensure that all work is completely dry before going in the kiln to avoid any disasters. 

We are looking for some new members of the team to help us with pricing the members bisque once fired. 2 people are needed - if you are interested please contact Rod directly via [email protected] 

This Saturday and Sunday (8th and 9th July) all unclaimed work will be removed from the kiln room and will not be recoverable. Please ensure that you check to see if any of your work is here before then. The unclaimed work is located on the floor under the 1200 glaze shelves, immediately on your left when entering the kiln room. 

Quick reminder that any refires are charged to your kiln account, as these are still taking up room in the kiln and therefore have a charge associated with this. 

If you have any work that is being completed and needed for Stargaze please leave a note on this and it will be prioritised for firing. All kilns are now back up and running and the backlog is almost cleared :) Allow 2 - 3 weeks turn around for work being placed into kiln room. Starglaze is currently first priority followed by Member/Class work from last term, Workshop from last term and then holiday programme work. 

Following Stargaze there will be a clear out of all bisque in the kiln room. More information will be provided about this closer to the time, however we are looking to clear out bisqued work that has been sitting in the kiln room for months to make room for more work coming through. If you have any bisque that is not being glazed within the next 2 weeks if would be much appreciated if this could be removed from the shelves. 

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. 

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.

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. 

​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 [email protected]

We fired the green updraft kiln last week with the unloading on Saturday.   Lyuba helped with the loading and firing and more than a dozen members came and assisted with the unloading.   Great results again with the firing with just 2 exceptions where a lower temperature glaze was used and resulted in a serious bonding to the shelf.  It is disappointing to see this result as the new shelves are damaged and the work has to be chipped from the shelf with a hammer and chisel.  Remember this kiln is fired to an even temperature throughout the kiln, to cone 10, which is 1300C to 1320C.   Please check the list in the glaze room and Rod’s notes below on the glazes that SHOULD NOT be used.

If you do use any of these glazes, please label your pieces clearly and place them on the separately labelled shelf.

With the imminent Kapiti Coast Art Trail fast approaching, just a month to go, we are offering last minute gas firings subject to there being sufficient work on the shelves.   Proposed dates are work in kiln room before loading starts at 9am, Thursday 27th October, firing Friday 28th starting 8.30am, unloading Sunday 30th at 2pm.  That leaves just the week days to prepare and label your work before the first Art’s Trail Day on Saturday 5th November.

Neil Hey, Kilnmaster

​
NOTE FROM ROD

The following glazes are NOT suitable for the DOWNDRAUGHT kiln:
Van Guilders Ash, Purple Haze, Mamo and Silverton Blue

All the other gas fired glazes can be used in both kilns.  It is important to list the
glazes on your ticket for the UPDRAUGHT kiln as that will determine where they
are placed in the kiln.

The DOWNDRAUGHT kiln fires to 1300C.  Temperature is very consistent from top to bottom. There is a wider firing range in the UPDRAUGHT kiln, from 1280 at the
top to about 1315 at the bottom.

We hope to have firings in both kilns towards the end of October.

Alice from Tironui Sourdough has offered to make her lovely bread available to us on Fridays. Look out for the black-board advertising loaves for sale direct from the kitchen in the main building opposite our club rooms.

A recommendation has been made from the health and safety team to wear your mask for your own protection while in the rooms. A lesson was learnt when some of our members contracted the virus after a working bee.