June 2026 Newsletter
Club Notes and Updates
A tribute to Kate Ford:
Life Member, Friend, and Quiet Heart of the Club
Kate Ford shares a laugh at the opening of Ceramicus 2023. Photo by melwaitephotography.com
14 November 1948 – 13 May 2026
WPA Life Member Kate Ford passed away peacefully on 13 May 2026 in Wellington. She joined Wellington Potters Association in February 2005 and, over the two decades that followed, became one of the most quietly indispensable people the club has known.
She served as club secretary for nine years (a remarkable contribution in itself) and gave up countless weekends to run orientation sessions for new members, welcoming each one into the community she loved.
But it was in the background where Kate's care was most felt. She checked and refilled the hand towels, soap, and toilet paper without being asked. She was our mystery Tea Towel Fairy. She helped set up rooms, prepare food, and organise events, and then quietly slipped away before anyone could thank her.
Kate believed deeply in the Wellington Potters' community and spoke often about what it meant for people's wellbeing. She checked in on her fellow members, and was always ready with a kind word, a listening ear, or a steady shoulder when one was needed. In recognition for her dedication to the club, she was made a Life Member in 2023.
WPA has lost an individual spark that can never be reignited. We are grateful for everything she gave, so much of it unseen.
A service to celebrate Kate's life was held at St Andrew's on the Terrace on 16 May, followed by burial at Makara Cemetery. We were glad to have members of the WPA community there to farewell her.
Haere, haere, haere atu ra, Kate. Rest well.
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*Your* health and safety
If the Sign Is Up, the Room Is Closed!
Cleaning the glaze and kiln rooms involves kicking up hazardous dust and chemicals. When the toxic sign is over the glaze/kiln room keypad, the room is closed. Do not enter, regardless of deadlines or how quickly you think you'll be. Understand that unless you are wearing a full respirator, walking in mid-clean is a genuine health risk to yourself.
The cleaning schedule has been posted on the HelloClub calendar (and HelloClub alerts) since January, as well as mentioned in the MMCU and previous newsletters. If this is news to you, it's a good reminder that checking those schedules is part of being an informed member.
Bella has had three separate incidents of members walking in on her mid-clean in the last fortnight alone. Monday mornings are a regular cleaning bracket — please make a note of it and plan accordingly. The sign will be removed when it is safe to enter. Ngā mihi.
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It’s time to get thinking about anagama
Julie Har. stokes the anagama kiln. Photo: melwaitephotography.co.nz
We're heading back to Horokiwi!
Thanks to the continued generosity of Graeme and June Houston, WPA has been welcomed back for another anagama firing. We're so grateful to them for making it happen.
What is an anagama? Anagama (meaning "cave kiln" in Japanese) are among the oldest kiln forms in the world, with roots in East Asia going back over 1,500 years. A single-chambered wood-fired tunnel kiln, the anagama produces results you cannot get in a conventional electric kiln. Wood ash settles on the work as it fires, melting into natural ash glazes that range from glassy and fluid to rough and blasted. Flame paths leave flashing and carbon markings across the surface of each piece. No two firings (and no two pieces) are ever the same.
Late nights and early mornings are part of the magic of firing the anagama kiln. Photo: melwaitephotography.co.nz
Every anagama firing is a serious undertaking. Months of preparation, a small army of volunteers, and 5 days of continuous stoking go into bringing the kiln up to temperature and keeping it there. The effort is a big part of what makes the results feel so special.
Anagama Information Evening | Sunday 7 June, 6 - 8PM
Whether you've never heard of anagama or you're an old hand, come along to our Information Evening. Mal S and Julie H will walk you through everything: suitable clay bodies, forms that suit the firing, when WPA's anagama-specific glazes will be available, how to get involved, and what to expect. There'll also be pots from previous firings on hand to get your creative ideas going.
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Walking into Ceramicus 2025. Photo: melwaitephotography.co.nz
No Ceramicus for 2026 :(
Sadly, no one has put their hand up to convene Ceramicus this year, so there will be no exhibition in 2026. The Begonia House being out of commission doesn't help, but that's not the real obstacle. What we need most is motivated members ready to make Ceramicus happen again.
If you’ve enjoyed being part of Ceramicus, please consider putting your hand up to convene it. Support is available from Admin and it doesn't have to be a solo effort — a sub-committee sharing the load makes it very manageable. But we do need someone(s) to take on the convenor role and maintain oversight of planning and progress.
Key workstreams include:
Venue: scouting and liaison (Begonia House is scheduled to open in May 2027, but not guaranteed)
Guest Artist & Selector: shortlisting and liaison
Sponsorship: engagement and liaison
Graphic design
Marketing and promotion
Communication to members
Receiving day
Installation
Opening night
Volunteer coordination of gallery minders
Pack down
A call will go out for volunteers in the new year. Please think about how you can contribute and, even better, talk to your fellow members about forming a sub-committee!
Want more information about the role now? Email Admin at wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
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Upcoming members workshops for July
Slab-Building Bootcamp with Peter | Wednesday 8 & 15 July
The Meticulous Mr Rumble is back with a slab-building bootcamp! This workshop isn't about making "A thing", it's about teaching you the skills you need (slab preparation, cutting, and joining) to successfully make "ANY thing".
If you're keen to progress your hand-building or have an idea mulling around but you're not quite sure where to start, this is the class for you!
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Tagines (and Casseroles) with Vivian | Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 July (+ glazing session Thursday 30 July)
In this workshop Vivian will guide participants through the process of throwing, trimming, decorating (using the sgraffito technique), and glazing a tagine or casserole. By the end of the series, you'll have a unique vessel ready for warming your winter meals.
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Learn how to make your work look good in photographs. Photo by melwaitephotography.co.nz
Photographing Your Pots with Mel | Saturday 18 July, 10:00AM - 12:00PM
You know her work, and now she’s sharing her secrets! The talented Mel Waite makes photographing pots look easy, but many of us struggle with taking photos that do our pieces justice. We've roped her in to share the fundamentals of photography and tips for taking consistently great photos of your creations.
Welcome New Members!
Adam C. | Ainslie W. | Clare M. | Dawn B. | Emma G. | Kenzie P. | May M. | Maya M. | Molly M. Nao U. | Rewa G. |
Adam C. | Ainslie W. | Clare M. | Dawn B. | Emma G. | Kenzie P. | May M. | Maya M. | Molly M. Nao U. | Rewa G. |
Member’s Gallery: Looking back at the PIR
Wrapping up our Potter-in-Residence program
In 2023, we relaunched our Potter-in-Residence programme with the aim of bringing potters from Aotearoa and beyond into our community. We offered experienced potters use of our PIR studio for three months and paid teaching gigs in return for sharing their skills and being an active club member.
However, without accommodation on offer, bringing in visiting national and international potters proved to be tricky. We're pleased to see the Kilns at Te Horo launch a residency programme with onsite accommodation, and happy to support that programme as we wrap up our own.
Thank you to all the potters who have joined us! Over the last three years, we have hosted six potters who have run a variety of workshops while working towards their own exhibitions, events or other ceramic developments. We appreciate the contributions you made to our club during your time as Potter-in-Residence.
Chris Dunn (May - August 2023):
A familiar face to many, Chris Dunn used his residency as a welcome base while moving houses. He spent the time developing slip cast and hand-built work, and shared his skills with members through a workshop series on plaster mould making, casting slip preparation, and slip casting.
Photos: oragallery.co.nz
Marama Mayrick (August - November 2023):
Marama joined us from Ōhope, bringing with her a background in the Nelson pottery community and time spent at Driving Creek. During her residency she focused on throwing large forms and preparing work for summer markets. She also shared her knowledge with members through workshops on gathering and processing wild clay, and on making lidded vessels.
Photos courtesy of Marama Mayrick; @maramahannahceramics
Tanaya Shirsikar (May - August 2024):
Our very own Tanaya spent her residency developing new hand-painted lotus and koi designs for her porcelain work. She also shared her throwing skills with members, teaching a class on lidded vessels and teapots.
Photos: @tanaya_s_ceramics
Gaspar Huala (September - November 2024):
Spring 2024 PIR Gaspar Huala fires a workshop-built kiln in the WPA car park.
Gaspar joined us from Argentina while on a working holiday in New Zealand, spending his residency developing a series of hand-built pieces for his exhibition Hornero — a bird away from home.
He also ran a memorable workshop series in which participants hand-built, carved, and burnished traditional pre-Columbian ceremonial vessels, then constructed a basic kiln in the carpark, fired the pieces, and finished them in reduction. As Gaspar put it: hand + fire = soul.
Photos courtesy Gaspar Huala. Check out his work @hualagaspar.
Jenny Shearer (March - April 2025):
Jenny holds a special place in WPA history as the first ever Potter-in-Residence, back in 2005. It was a pleasure to welcome her back after twenty years. During her residency she worked on pieces for The 70s Dames exhibition with Anneke Borren and Pamela Annsouth at Pātaka, and ran a teapot workshop for members.
Photos: @jennyshearer78
Imogen Carter began a residency in January 2026 but unfortunately she was unable to complete it. Imogen is now a club member and we hope to run her surface decoration workshop in the future.
Photo courtesy Imogen Carter.
Where to from here?
The Committee are currently looking at options for how we might best utilise the mezzanine floor and PIR room for the benefit of all our club members. Watch this space!
The PIR room is available for private hire from mid-June through to 31 August. This private space is perfect for working on projects or exhibition works. Email wellingtonpotters.cubbies@gmail.com for more info.
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Is there something you’ve made that you are particularly proud of? If so, please email your photos (and descriptions, if you’d like) to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
Suggestion Box
Thanks for your suggestions in the suggestion box! Believe it or not, the suggestion box is NOT a black void of notes from you all. Suggestions get read, discussed, and logged at the Committee Meetings. Below are the suggestions and outcomes from last month’s meeting (click the “+” to expand).
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This is the plan. Cake Club will tidy up and box any leftovers into our new containers to keep things pest-free. Post-club snackers, the table is then yours — but be sure to leave the table clean and wash up any containers as the snacks are finished!
PSAs from the Club Admin
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Good news for people on the cubby waitlist - around 25 cubbies have become available. If you’re near the top of the waitlist please check your spam folder and reply at your earliest convenience to secure one!
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We have a mezzanine desk available from 1 July to 31 August. Rent is $60 p/month. Email wellingtonpotters.cubbies@gmail.com if you are interested.
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Thank you for your patience, we have a fresh 15 litres of Seafoam ready for members. Along with a new bucket of Tenmoku and Buttercup.
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Heather B.'s (Admin) bucket of reclaim clay has gone missing. It's a Meadow Fresh cream cheese bucket with a plastic handle — her name should still be visible on it — filled with a smooth but sandy, baby-poop coloured clay with not much water on top.
If you've accidentally taken it home thinking it was yours, please return it to the reclaim area. Ngā mihi!
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The clay store has been reorganised into three main categories of clay to make things easier to find: clay by brand, clay by texture (grogged, no grog, etc.), and clay by firing temperature. If you spot any inconsistencies, let Admin know — it's an easy fix.
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We’ve re-found an amethyst ring that turned up in early January this year and are still trying to find its owner. Is it yours? Email Admin with a description and we’ll get it back to you.
Ngā mihi nui!
Cake for June
If you were at Cake Club on 12 May, this was the feijoa cake Julie Har. brought to the table. Original recipe can be found here.
Photo and recipe from NZ Women’s Weekly.
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INGREDIENTS
• 300 gram feijoa flesh (about 8-10 medium feijoas), roughly chopped
• 1 cup walnut pieces
• 1 cup dried cranberries (or use sultanas)
• 3/4 cup caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 100 gram melted butter
• 1 cup plain flour
• 2 teaspoon mixed spice
• 2 teaspoon baking sodaDIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 20cm round springform tin.
In a large bowl, mix the feijoas, walnuts, cranberries and sugar.
With a beater, beat the egg and butter until well mixed. Add to the feijoa mixture.
Sift the flour, mixed spice and baking soda into the feijoa mixture, stirring lightly.Scrape into the prepared tin.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Run a knife around the edges of the tin and carefully remove the ring from the base. Serve warm as a dessert or leave to cool for 20 minutes before slicing.
ENJOY!
June WPA Classes & Events
Anagama Info Evening
Sunday 7 June, 6:00 - 8:00PM
Come and join us at our Anagama information evening to hear all about our annual firing. Whether you're a newbie to anagama or been there since the beginning, we’d love to have you at this information night.
The Anagama Team will guide you through everything you need to know about the wood firing process, with samples on display to show how flame, ash, and high heat interact with different clays and glazes.
Because the anagama kiln reaches temperatures of 1300°C, it’s essential to use clay and glazes that can withstand such intense heat. We’ll cover exactly what materials are suitable and what to avoid during the session.
You'll also learn how to get involved in one of the best parts of the process—volunteering to fire the kiln. It’s a hands-on, elemental experience you won’t want to miss.
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Clay Club
Tuesday 9 June, 10AM - 1PM
Join the Clay Club and dive into the world of clay recycling!
Discover how clay can be reused again and again — you’ll get hands-on experience with the recycling process, learn about grog and its benefits, explore different clay types and firing temperatures, and even operate a pug mill to make your own recycled clay (available for members to purchase).
No experience needed, and your time can count toward volunteer hours!
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Kiln Biscuit Making Workshop | Volunteer Event
Friday 12 June, 6:00 - 8:00PM
Help stock the studio with a fresh set of kiln biscuits! WPA tutors Ingrid Peek and Peter Rumble will be on hand to teach both thrown and hand-built techniques, with the goal of building up a club collection that can be used multiple times across firings.
A good kiln biscuit needs to hold up to repeated firings and suit the specific needs of your work — so you'll come away with some genuinely useful technical knowledge alongside your volunteer hours. The finished biscuits will be put in the 'biscuit box' for use when firing, with the collection topped up every few months as needed.Clay will be provided for club biscuits, and all biscuits will be fired for the use of all members.
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Slips and Underglaze: Production, Use and Applications with Richard Stratton | 2-Day Masterclass
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 June, 9:30AM - 5:30PM
(NOTE: Registration closes 3 June @ 5PM)
During this weekend workshop you will learn how to make your own underglazes, base slip and coloured slips to apply to your raw pottery, variants will also be explained such as engobes washes etc.
Once the slip and underglazes are made, explanations into the application techniques such as (marbling, mono printing, trailing) will be discussed and demonstrated then the participants can practise these various techniques demonstrated with their own slips and underglazes.
This workshop is open to WPA members, Ōtaki Pottery Club members, and invited guests. Non- members can register by emailing wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com. Non-member price is $395.
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Friends and Family Night
Friday, 19 June, 5 - 9PM
Come Join Us for Our Fun Friends and Family Evening!
This is your chance to bring ONE friend or family member and dive into the world of ceramics and pottery! Hosted by Christine Winbush, you and your guest get to explore your creative sides while having fun together. You’ll need to bring your own clay, keep an eye on your person, and make sure everything is tidied up before you leave. Snacks and drinks are welcome, so feel free to bring along something to enjoy while you work on your masterpieces.
If you're planning to work on the wheel, please share it with your person so everyone has space to join in the fun!
Friends & Family WILL fill up quickly, so if you get shut out be sure to sign up as “interested!” Spots often open up at the last minute, and the “interested” list becomes our notification list when spaces become available — stay flexible and you might get lucky!
If you’re already booked and your plans change, please cancel as soon as possible so another member can take your spot.
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Tealight Candle Houses with Peter Rumble | Weekend Workshop
Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June, 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Brighten your life (and maybe someone else’s, too) by making one or two little tealight houses over the solstice.
Peter Rumble, handbuilding maestro, will guide, jolly, and gently cajole you into delving the depths of your building and decorating creativity, helping you make the most of this two-day workshop.
This is a “no handbuilding experience necessary” course. You’ll learn the basics of working with slabs as you go, constructing two small houses: a rectangular form with a separate base and roof, and a cylindrical form that can be turned into whatever takes your fancy. You will make up to two houses during the workshop and you’re welcome to work from a standard former (provided – recommended for first-timers) or adapt the plans into your own unique design.
Bring your creativity, along with food and drink to keep you going. Clay is provided, along with a small set of hobby craft knives that you can keep. (Participants will need to arrange and pay for their own glazing and firing.)
Community News & Events
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Potters wanted
Two Todman in Brooklyn is looking for potters to sell their wares in the shop. Check them out at twotodman.co.nz, or their Instagram at @twotodman. Reach out to Tamsin Woolf directly (two.todman@gmail.com) with any questions you may have.
Have some content for the newsletter? Email it to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 22 July.
