Kia ora friends in clay
We have the usual news this week, plus some sad news...
In memory of Burns Macaskill
Last Friday was a sad occasion for the Society, as our long-standing member and friend, Burns Macaskill, passed away.
Burns was an invaluable member of our club, with his vast knowledge of glazes and their chemistry. He took the time to mix, experiment and test many of our glaze formulas. And he would share his deep knowledge of their chemistry with anyone who asked. He was a keen potter and pottery collector, and was constantly testing his own glaze formulations, seeking that perfect combination of chemistry and artistry. His results could be stunning, but very rarely met with his own exacting and ever-humble standards.
He was also an expert at running the gas kiln and trained many of us to fire it and understand the transformations that were happening within, and developed a standard club firing schedule for us to follow – which, to this day, produces fantastic results.
Burns supported and mentored many members in their journey with clay, and today some of those whose lives he touched with his humour, knowledge, generosity and friendship attended his funeral and heard about the many other aspects of his life. We were surprised to learn that his first name was John, although it was never used; that he was an avid music-lover and a talented pianist and played in many bands over his lifetime; and that he held exactly one exhibition of his own pottery, which he was only convinced to do under considerable duress and with the proviso that he could use the pseudonym “Ann O’Dyne” – testament to his well-known, cheeky humour and humbleness. Upon attending the exhibition, he discovered that there was reference to his real name and, horrified, he promptly bought all his own pots and took them home.
We’re sad that we won’t have anymore of Burns’ surprise visits through the kiln-room doors, and that we wont’ see that fantastic, cheeky-grin again, but we’re grateful to Burns’ for spending the time with us that he did, and leaving us all a little better for it.
Thanks Burns. Go well, friend.
Meet the Crew Mondays… on a Thursday
This week through the medium of interpretive dance, just kidding – it’s a comic strip, we’re meeting Caroline “Awesome” Hamilton.
Members’ Xmas Market
Register your interest for the WSP Christmas Market!
Saturday 7th December
10am to 2pm
If you’re thinking about registering your interest for the WSP Christmas Market, now is the time to put your name down. Next week we’ll be deciding if we have enough sellers to go ahead – so let us know via this link!
Here's the plan...
We’d like to provide an opportunity for our fab members to sell their pottery and other artworks at a WSP Christmas Market. If you’re keen for us to run this event, we’d love for you to let us know. If we have enough interest, we’ll go ahead and organise and advertise the event.
Spaces will be reserved in the carpark, next to the WSP studios, to catch foot traffic from Play with Clay, Men's Shed, Art Makers and Arts for Health. Bring your own table and tent/gazebo or sell from your car boot.
The market will be well advertised through WSP social media channels, Facebook events, newsletters and several local What's On pages.
You would need to have the capacity to process your own cash sales, and a small registration fee of $10 will apply to reserve your stall space.
Let us know if you're interested, and we'll do the rest!
Reminders
Last Phoenix wood firing for 2024:
The last one for the year is on 9th and 10th November – sign up here.
End of Year deadlines
These are our closing, firing and kiln booking deadlines for the end of the year, please keep these in mind as you plan your making.
17 November – Last day for private kiln bookings
2 December – Last day for pre-holiday bisque firing drop offs
You will still be welcome to leave work for bisque firing after this date, and we will do our level best to process it, but we can’t guarantee that it will make it through before we close for the holidays.
9 December – Last day for pre-holiday glaze firing drop offs
As above, you are still welcome to leave work for glaze firing after this date but we can’t guarantee that it will make it through before we close for the holidays.
10 December – last Tuesday evening Play with Clay
17 December, 5.30pm – Christmas Party!
19 December – Last open studio for the year
20 December – End of year Working Bee and closing day
The studio won’t be in a state for any potting to take place, but you are still able to pop in and pick up your pieces. In fact, this will be your last chance to do so before we re-open on the 13th of January.
Studio Schedule
Here’s how the studio is looking next week but, as always, remember to check the online calendar before you come in.
Friday 25th of October
9.30am – 4pm, CLOSED for Diploma
6pm – 9pm, Class, Intro to Pottery
Saturday 26th of October
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay – Thanks Teresa, Lydia and team, we appreciate you opening up on a long weekend!
Sunday 27th of October
CLOSED for Labour Weekend
Monday 28th of October
CLOSED for Labour Weekend
Tuesday 29th of October
9.30am – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Play with Clay – thanks Margaret and Patsy!
Wednesday 30th of October
9.30am – 12.30pm, Play with Clay – Thanks Larissa, Mark and Yasmin!
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
4 – 5.30pm, Kids’ Play with Clay
6pm – 9pm, Class, Wheel Throwing
Thursday 31st of October
9.30am – 12.30pm, Class, Sculpture Skills
1pm – 4pm, Members’ Open Studio
6pm – 9pm, Class, Wheel Throwing
Friday 1st November
9.30am – 4pm, CLOSED for Diploma
6pm – 9pm, Class, Intro to Pottery
Saturday 2nd of November
10am – 1pm, Play with Clay – Thanks Tim and team!
All day – prep day for the wood firing
Sunday 3rd of November
10am – 1pm, Class, Wheel Throwing
