May 2025 Newsletter
Club Notes and Updates
Volunteers keep it all going: From working bees and clay deliveries to anagama events, Clay Club, Glaze Club, and Ceramicus – it's all made possible because of you. Your dedication and hard work are the heartbeat of our community.
Your Efforts Matter: Help Us Track and Celebrate Volunteer Time
Exciting news! WPA is transitioning to a data-driven system for recording “formal” volunteer hours. This new approach will allow us to more accurately track the time and effort our members dedicate to the club.
Why does this matter? First, it ensures fairness—everyone’s contributions, big or small, will be recognised. It also helps shine a light on those who consistently give their time but might may fly under the radar. With better records, we’ll be able to celebrate the dedication of our most active members and highlight the incredible support that makes WPA thrive.
You can help us keep things accurate by signing up and signing in for volunteer events, and by encouraging your fellow members to take part. If you’ve participated in an event but are concerned it didn’t get recorded for whatever reason, don’t worry—just speak up! It’s easy to update your attendance in HelloClub to make sure your time and effort are counted. (Note: it is an unfortunate HelloClub quirk that Admins can see your attendance at past events but you cannot. We’ll notify you if they make this change to the system!)
Let’s work together to make sure every contribution gets the recognition it deserves.
And With This in Mind, Special Thanks
Thank you to the phantom planters of the garage area retaining wall! Once the herbs are established (likely around mid-June), members will be welcome to take culinary snippets.
Thank you to Elise W for lending her time and expertise to automate the kiln photos project! If you're not a kiln license holder, the behind-the-scenes effort of organising private firing photos might not be on your radar—but trust us, this automation will save Admin a lot of time and effort.
Thank you to Kate Mac for her time as the Cubby Wrangler. Her crunch time is just around the corner, and she'll be hard at work processing all of your renewals as quickly as possible! (See below.)
And finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone quietly doing those “plusONE”s around the studio — your extra efforts don’t go unnoticed!
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Reminder: Cubby renewal
The current cubby rental period will end on 31 May. Invoices for next year’s rental will be issued through Hello Club during the week of 12 May.
To keep your cubby please pay your fees before Saturday 31 May. If your invoice is unpaid and we haven’t heard from you by Sunday 8 June, your cubby will be emptied.
Members on the waitlist will be contacted as cubbies become available – be sure to keep an eye on your inbox and spam folders!
May is cubby renewal time.
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More new recycled glazes!
Denim Recycled
Glacier Recycled
Bella has been hard at work reclaiming glazes! Alongside the originals of Spring Forest, Misty Morning, and Obsidian, she’s introducing two new additions: Denim and Glacier.
Test tiles are available on the board and the shelf in the glaze room. Remember, these are one-off glazes that can’t be replicated—so enjoy them while they last!
DID YOU KNOW…?
How much clay do you need?
HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? TOO MUCH?
There’s a laminated article from Pottery Making Illustrated (November/December 2019) posted on the bulletin board that lists the clay weights needed for a range of “standard-sized” forms.
While it assumes a fairly efficient throwing technique, it can still serve as a helpful benchmark for setting goals and tracking progress in your own practice.
It’s too detailed to post here, but you can check it out online or find the copy in the studio rooms next time you’re in!
Member’s Gallery: CEC
This month, we celebrate the journey of some of our CEC students through Term 1. Chris Dunn’s ‘Beginners Throwing’ class has made incredible strides, going from first-time wheel users to confidently hosting their own end-of-term critique. These photos capture their growth, creativity, and the milestones they’ve achieved together.
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Thanks to Chris D. for his class’ photos!
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.
PSAs from the Club Admin
If the EFTPOS machine goes down again…
If you go to pay for your bisque/glaze pieces and find the EFTPOS machine is down, proceed as usual with weighing and entering your details into the transaction record. Be sure to include your first and last name so that Admin can invoice you for your firing fees. (And if you beat me to invoicing you, just pay later when it's functional!)
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Glaze Room Closed 9AM - 4PM, Wednesday 7 May
The Glaze Room will be CLOSED from 9am - 4pm for Bella to make the next batch of club glazes. Ngā mihi!
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Club Recycled Clay Update
Prices for recycled clay are going up to $25/bag, and for now, we’re removing limits on how many bags can be purchased as we have quite a backstock.
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Do You Have Clay in the Members’ Clay Recycle/Reclaim Area?
Buckets in the reclaim area must be cleared or updated within four months of placement. Unnamed or out-of-date buckets will be recycled on Monday, 12 May.
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Mac’s Mud Clay Supply
Due to supplier delays, WPA’s bulk order of Mac’s Mud clay won't be restocked for a few weeks. In the meantime, sales are limited to two bags per member (across all types) to ensure fair access.
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Buy, Sell, Swap – Call for Signups
The Buy, Sell, Swap Event will only go ahead if at least 15 members sign up for tables by Monday 5 May. This is non-negotiable—it’s too disruptive to the club and other members (closing the rooms for the swap) without a firm commitment of enough people to make it worthwhile. Consider this your call to immediate action! You can sign up for a table (or find out more) here.
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Ngā mihi!
Suggestion Box Updates
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 April’s meeting (click the “+” to expand).
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We’ll ask and see if she is interested! However, she did recently do a demo at Cake Club.
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Glazing is a very comprehensive subject and we’re looking into digestible topics for future workshops. In the meantime, WPA has a glaze club where members can learn more about glaze making. And for more in-depth learning, check out Ronald Boersson and Driving Creek intensive courses.
Soup for May
Recipe and images from cookieandkate.com
It’s definitely soup season! Enjoy this favourite from Bella F, our Studio Technician.
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INGREDIENTS
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 cups chopped seasonal vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, green beans, butternut squash, potatoes, bell pepper, zucchini or yellow squash
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided, to taste
• 6 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• ½ teaspoon curry powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups (32 ounces) vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, reduce or omit if sensitive to spice
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 cups chopped kale or collard greens or chard (thick ribs removed), or spinach
• 1 tablespoon lemon juiceDIRECTIONS
1) Warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, seasonal vegetables and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 6 to 8 minutes.
2) Add the garlic, curry powder and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring frequently, about 1 minute. Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often.
3) Pour in the broth and water. Add ½ teaspoon more salt, 2 bay leaves and the red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot and reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
4) Cook for 25 minutes, then remove the lid and add the chopped greens. Continue simmering for 5 minutes or more, until the greens have softened to your liking.
5) Remove the pot from heat and remove the bay leaves. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and/or red pepper flakes. (You might need up to ½ teaspoon more salt, depending on your vegetable broth and your personal preferences.) Divide into bowls and enjoy.
Upcoming WPA Classes & Events
Friday Demo Nights
The WPA welcomes you to Friday DEMO Nights, a FREE Friday evening demo at 6:30PM where you can BYO [optional] and watch another member demonstrate one of their ‘Ways Of Working’. The 20-minute to1-hour long demo starts at 6:30 sharp.
MAY SCHEDULE*:
2 May (NOTE CHANGE): ‘Sharpen Your Tools with Heidi Ankers’ (Be sure to bring your personal tools!)
9 May: ‘Throw and Clean with Only 1 Ice Cream Container of Water’ with Bella Florence
16 May: FRIENDS AND FAMILY NIGHT (no demo)
23 May: ‘Cutting Edge Angles for Slab Building’ with Peter Rumble
30 May: ‘Throwing in the Round and Going Square’ with Mal Sole
*Demonstrations are subject to change or cancellation at short notice. We’ll do our best to give you as much advance notice as possible!
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Buy, Sell, Swap!
SATURDAY, 10 MAY | 9:30AM - NOON
If you’d like to reserve a space to sell or swap pottery-related items (tools, glazes, chemicals, and other studio paraphernalia), please register using the link below. Only registered participants will be allocated table space.
If you’re just planning to attend and browse, please mark yourself as INTERESTED so you’ll receive reminder emails and updates.
This is a members-only event. Open to all Associate, Full, and Life members. This is not a venue for selling finished pottery.
Event Schedule
NOTE: The rooms will be closed for personal projects during the times below.
8:30 - 9:30 AM – Seller setup
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM – Buying, selling, swapping
12:00 - 12:30 PM – Pack down and clean up
REMINDER: Buy, Sell, Swap will only go ahead if at least 15 members sign up for tables by Monday 5 May.
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Clay Club
Tuesday 13 May | 10AM - Noon
Join the Clay Club to explore the world of clay recycling! You'll learn about the process of reusing clay, the benefits of using grog, different types of clay and their uses, firing temperatures, and how to operate a pug mill to create recycled clay (available for purchase by members). No prior experience is needed, and attending can even count towards volunteer hours!
Clay Club meets once a month, alternating between a Tuesday and a weekend day. Plus, if you attend the Tuesday session, you can enjoy Cake Club as a bonus! Thanks to our new recycling system, you don't need to wear gloves or a mask, but be sure to dress in clothes that can handle a little mud.
You can sign up for individual sessions via HelloClub, with no commitment to attend regularly. After four sessions, you’ll earn a 10kg bag of the Club's recycled clay. We hope to see you there!
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Friends and Family Night*
Friday 16 May | 5 - 9PM
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. The event runs from 5 PM to 9 PM.
This event is free to attend, but please SIGN UP so we can prepare for the number of guests. We can’t wait to see you there and get creative together!
*this event is regularly scheduled for every third Friday of the month!
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Raku Club Observers
17 May and 24 May | 9:30AM - 3:30PM
Two more raku events before we’re done for the season!
Anyone is welcome to observe from behind the barrier. But if you'd like to submit a pot or join Raku Club for future firings, you must sign up for this event. This helps us track attendance and notify you of weather-related changes.
Sign-up includes one pot submission (small bowl, vase, etc.) that the Raku Club will glaze and fire for you. See the HelloClub FAQ for clay guidelines and more info.
Official observers should be there for around 3 hours to include firing start (9:30AM) so you understand the work required to be a part of Raku Club.
If weather is poor, we will rain check to the Sunday.
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Clay Lithography (2nd Session)
Saturday 24 May | Noon - 5PM
In this workshop, Vivian Rodriguez will teach the popular image transfer technique of ceramic lithography. You'll learn how to transfer black-and-white images onto clay with precision and clarity.
Vivian will share her tips and tricks for achieving sharp, stable images that hold up through both bisque and glaze firings. You’re encouraged to bring your own drawings or choose from a selection of illustrations to create original, personalized designs.
Check out HelloClub for details on required tools and materials needed for the class.
Only three spots left!
Community News
Amanda Ball – Midnight Honey
WPA member Amanda Ball (Amanda Panda Ceramics) has her first solo exhibition “Midnight Honey” at the Studio Space Gallery in Wanganui.
Opening: April 30 5:30 pm
Viewing: April 29 until May 10
Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10AM - 3PM
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Call for Entries: Star Glaze 2025 – Ōtaki Pottery Club’s Midwinter Ceramics Festival
Ōtaki Pottery Club invites members of WPA to take part in Star Glaze 2025, a celebration of ceramic art this winter.
Applications are now open! Register online: Star Glaze 2025 Registration Form
For more information, click here or contact Star Glaze Admin, Gemma Ball at starglazeotaki@gmail.com
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Ōtaki Pottery Club Events
There are several upcoming workshops at Ōtaki Potters that we have been invited to attend:
Cordage Workshop with Birgit Moffatt | 10 May, 9:30AM - 12:30PM
Looping Workshop with Birgit Moffatt | 10 May, 2PM - 5PM
Head Studies with Javier Murcia | 31 May and 1 June, 10AM - 4PM
Simplified Figures with Javier Murcia | 21 and 22 June, 10AM - 4PM
Go to their website for details on these workshops and more!
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Hand Building Sculptural Flower-Crowns with Jenn Leov
Paekākāriki-based Jenn Leov of Jenn Leov Ceramics (and the current resident at The Kilns at Te Horo), will be leading a one-day workshop on Sunday, 1 June from 10AM to 3PM.
Cost: $100. Clay provided. BYO lunch.
Capacity: 10 students only
Location: Held at Summerstone Gallery, Otaki
For more details or to book your spot, email: thekilnsattehoro@gmail.com.
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Links to other clubs’ current newsletters
Ceramics New Zealand national news can be found here, with the Wellington / regional news here.
The latest Gear Homestead Woolshed Potters’ Newsletter can be found here.
The latest The Kilns at Te Horo Newsletter can be found here.
The latest Ōtaki Potter’s Newsletter can be found here.
Have some content for the newsletter? Email it to wellingtonpotters.info@gmail.com.
The deadline for the next newsletter is 23 May.
