February 2021
ISSUE #005
Hello Potters
Welcome to the February Newsletter – hold onto your pottery wheels, there’s lots of interesting news this month.
To start with, there is a Kiln God or Goddess Challenge, then coffee mug handles are thoroughly scrutinised, we have solutions to help save that cracked pottery creation and if that’s not enough we have workshops coming.
Also don’t forget, the SAS Easter Show is on at the beginning of April (yikes, that’s only 2 months away) and you can’t start work early enough for Expressions 2021 – it’s on in October.
We really want to see our talented members’ work, so upload your pics to our instagram or facebook page, or email them to us for inclusion on our social media sites.
Ed Trost - newsletter editor
shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com
Hi Everyone and welcome to our February edition!
So members, how often were you able to play with clay during January? Were you able to carve out sufficient dedicated ‘clay time’? I hope so! Although, do you find that sometimes you’d prefer to work in the Club’s shed but we’re not open? Well if you would like to volunteer to be a supervisor you could open the shed on any day/time that suits your availability. Please see the section below, Volunteer help needed, under Club News for more information!
Did you see our recent email blast about our Kiln God Creative Challenge? This is an exciting challenge we are putting out to our members and I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with! If you missed the email blast you can find more information about the challenge below.
We also have some exciting news to share with you below about our first lot of Workshop offerings for 2021! It feels good to be locking in dates with our presenters and we hope you are interested in what is being offered.
And finally, we are still in need of a Treasurer! Are there any members out there who would like to assist the committee, and the Club, and volunteer? The role is not onerous and we have a very simple system in place to track our finances. Training can be provided on how to use Excel and the Square system (the app we use to conduct the majority of our sales). We would LOVE to welcome someone into the role ASAP. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions about the role please email the committee at shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com or pop into the shed when we’re open and talk to one of the committee members.
I will leave it there for this month, Cheers and happy reading!
Tamara Vitale – President, SPC Inc.
Thursday + Saturday mornings
9.00am—1.00pm
Thursday evening
6.00pm—9.00pm
SESSION FEE — $7.00 per visit, payable either by EFT to the club’s bank account, or via the Square system using your debit or credit card.
Please let us know via email if you are intending to come to the club so we can maintain Covid-19 regulations on numbers working at the club.
Clay to Glaze to Kiln
From all of us in the kiln room…
Well this year has started off with full flow of holiday bisqueware, you have all been busy. The next step is glazing, and we are in a catch 22 with that. We have test tiles for the batches of new glaze to go through a firing before the glaze can come out on to the floor, but can’t fire until we fill a kiln. As we get enough to put Earthenware, midfire and stoneware through with the test tiles, we will get the glazes out.
On the clay front we are unable to get supplies of Walkers White hand building and will get notified when it is available again. If there is a request for specific clay we will try to source it for you, with some notice.
Although not confirmed with COVID restrictions the SAS Easter Show would be a perfect place to display some of your work, so get working on that special piece early to avoid getting caught in a kiln backup close to the show. Let’s hope no more hurdles to let the show go on, we can all do our bit with our masterpieces to help SAS Easter Show and Expressions come back better than ever this year.
Don’t forget to put your maker’s mark on your piece before bisque firing, otherwise it is impossible for the kiln firers to know who belongs to the piece. If you forget and your piece has air dried – you can use underglaze to put your mark on it.
Kiln team Gus, Linda, Tamara, Clare and Roz
Volunteer Help Urgently Needed
The club would like to offer more opening times for members. Currently the opening times rely on the availability of Gus Saunders and Linda Rosenthal. To expand the opening times or simply share the workload, the club requires that some more members become volunteer supervisors. The role is simple and straightforward, no expertise required, just a willingness to give a helping hand. The volunteer supervisor will be trained if necessary.
The requirements are that the volunteer supervisor:
is willing to become involved
opens and closes the club
makes sure all members sign in and out
ensures members comply with all COVID requirements
encourages members to leave their areas clean after use
manages any transactions for workshop entry and the purchase of clay using the club’s square account (this requires use of your phone)
has knowledge of rules and procedures
has knowledge of basic equipment provided
places a notice on the club’s facebook page to notify members that the club will be open at that particular time
special attributes of willingness to share, encourage and support, listen and communicate
assists with the load and unload of the kilns
has basic first aid skills (the club is researching courses)
An additional advantage for the volunteer supervisor is that they will have the opportunity and flexibility to visit the club more often and at times that suit them.
If you are interested in volunteering – email the Committee here
or come in for a chat with the supervisor
Do you know anyone that shows an interest in your pottery?
If you do, why not invite them to come and try pottery for themselves. The first session is free and you know that once you have made something with clay – you’re hooked!
If you haven’t already – don’t forget to join the club!
Remember you need to be a member of our club to use the facilities and have first access to join the workshops.
Being Respectful, Feeling Safe
The club’s Code of Conduct was written to guide the safety and respect of members. Developing friendships, being co-operative, sharing ideas and skills and being respectful to each other in words and actions is something in which the club takes great pride. When members are working in the SPC Inc shed or interacting with other members via an electronic means, everyone has a right to feel safe and not harrassed.
Kiln Gods and Goddesses
A Kiln God or Goddess is a ceramic or mostly ceramic character created by a potter to be placed near the kiln opening. A Kiln God serves as a charm or talisman and is meant to guard against any kind of bad luck that may possibly happen during the firing process.
According to the Greek author Homer (not Simpson), there were 5 demons who existed solely to torment potters: Suntribos (the Shatterer), Smaragos (the Smasher), Asbetos (the Charrer), Sabaktes (the Destroyer) and Omodamos (the Crudebaker). These 5 malevolent spirits were collectively called the Daimones Keramikoi (Pottery Demons).
In ancient Chinese and Egyptian cultures, Kiln Gods were thought to be safe keepers of the pots, as the craftspeople of the time did not know what caused crazing, cracking, pinholes and explosions etc.
Western Kiln Gods are most often placed on the roof of a kiln just over the kiln door where they can “watch” over the firing. The Kiln Gods of China are generally positioned in their own dedicated Taoist shrine, located near the kiln. In Thailand, they usually offer incense sticks or a flower garland.
If you have an affinity for a Shinto style belief system, you can offer Sake as well. The Kiln Gods do not like to drink alone, so after loading and before ignition have a toast or two to the success and happiness of the kiln and its ware – it couldn’t hurt to try!
Below are examples of Kiln Gods and Goddesses. Click an image to enlarge.
Kiln God
Creative Challenge
SPCI is in dire need of 2 Kiln Gods to oversee and protect the firings. To resolve this situation the Committee has extended a formidable challenge to all members – to make a Kiln God.
The best 2 Kiln Gods, judged by the Committee, will be positioned on top of the kilns. Apart from the kudos of protecting all of the work in the kilns, the winners will each receive a bag of clay.
Place your entry on the table in the shed under the ‘Kiln God or Goddess Challenge’ poster.
Entries close 13 March 2021
To all our valued members who are having a birthday this month, we hope you have an exciting day and are spoilt rotten by your loved ones:
Cheryl Ryan, Alice Vosten, Rochelle Wolff, Carmela Anile, Simone Mackie, Amanda Francis and Carolyn Campbell.
And for the January babies, we didn’t forget you (really – it was a tech issue):
Clare Houston, Camela Vosten, Jessica Hurst, Fiona Morgan, Monja Martin, Jessica Barbaro, Gayle Bishop, Rose Kelly and Kathy Dawney
If we have missed anybody, our sincere apologies and drop us an email so that we can include you next time!
Club Tuition for Members
by Members
Remember the time when you began with clay. Lots of questions, new skills to learn, not knowing where to start?
The club is inviting members with skills to tutor/mentor new and beginning members as they make a start with clay. We regularly get requests from new members for some tuition to get them started. If you would like to be available to tutor a new member, the committee would like to hear from you.
How it will work
Depending on availability the new member will be introduced to the tutor. Times can be flexible and convenient to both members.
Tuition could be in wheel throwing, handbuilding and glaze making. The rate will be $35 per session, up to three hours but could be less. From this, the club will take 20% commission. All payments will go through the club.
The club entry fee of $7 will apply for the beginning member, but the tutor will be admitted as a volunteer for that session.
If this is something that you would like as a tutor or a learner please contact the committee using the club email.
Living up to our motto…
Come Play with Clay!
The Workshop Committee has been busy behind the scenes making contact with presenters who may be available to come to the Shorncliffe Pottery Inc. this year. We are exploring people who can offer ‘hands on’ workshops in a variety of modes to cater for the many and various interests of our members. The workshops will cater for beginners and more experienced potters looking to expand their skills.
We look to offer affordable workshops spaced regularly throughout the year.
As a result the committee is pleased to advise that the first of a series of workshops available to club members will be announced in the next few days. The workshops will be conducted by an accomplished and well acknowledged ceramic artist, with more than 45 years working with clay. The series will be titled ‘Pushing the Boundaries’ and relates to handbuilding, sculpture and wheel work.
Keep an eye on your email for details regarding the workshops as the workshops are limited numbers and fill up very quickly.
Mug Handles Exposed
Here is a collection of mug handles to help you select which works best, or which you like best, to decorate your tea or coffee mug. The pull process for the handle is the same but as you can see there are subtle differences in how they are attached, their thickness and overall shape.
If you have a favourite mug at home which you really like the handle shape – bring it with you to the club and have a go at copying the shape.
This image is a link to a youtube video. When you click the link a new window or tab will open and display the video in your browser.
SAS Easter Art Show
The annual exhibition of Sandgate Art Society is held in the Callan Centre at St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe each Easter in conjunction with the Brisbane – Gladstone yacht race. With help from our friends at Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc. the Easter Art Show runs from Good Friday to Easter Saturday with opening night on the Thursday evening.
5 Ways You Can Help Stop
Your Pottery Cracking
(tip – don’t panic and watch the video below)
1.
Make sure when you start that the clay you use is the same degree of wetness. One of the major causes of cracks is different degrees of wetness when constructing the piece. If you are making a large piece, try wrapping your clay and even your piece, in a moist towel or plastic so that it doesn’t dry out while you work.
2.
Joins in the clay are the main location for cracks. To avoid them, make sure you use a slurry (a mixture made from the clay you are using and water or vinegar – mixed to a toothpaste consistency), roughly score your two edges and apply the slurry to both edges of your join. Give the join a good wiggle using a little pressure to help fuse the two pieces, until it doesn’t wiggle anymore and then smooth or finish the edge in your preferred style.
3.
Try to avoid too much contrast in the thickness of your piece. This can be difficult, so wrap your piece well with plastic to allow for even drying to occur. Pay particular attention to the thinner elements of your piece.
4.
Support your piece with sponges, moist towels or newspaper as you create, so that there is no excessive weight during the construction – which can put undue pressure on the drying clay.
5.
Make sure to wrap your finished piece in plastic so that it dries slowly. This will help in reducing any cracks that may appear if the piece dries too quickly. The speed of drying is one of the most common causes for pieces cracking.
Oh No, I’ve Got a CRACK!
If you do get a minor crack in your leather hard piece, clean out the crack with a tool like the one shown below, so that there are no shards or burrs remaining in the crack. Then make up a slurry of white vinegar and clay (the same clay as you used in your construction), and push it into the crack. Use the tool to help get it right into the crack so that there are no cavities left that can trap air. Then use a brush with vinegar or water to smooth out the repair excess. Wrap your piece well so that it dries slowly and evenly.
Wooden modelling tool
‘How To Stop Cracking’ Video
By The Clay Teacher Cindy Clarke
This image is a link to a youtube video. When you click the link a new window or tab will open and display the video in your browser. If you find it useful, a good tip is to bookmark the video, so that you can find it again easily.
Maybe you have a pottery tip to share or want to ask a pottery question.
Send to the editor here
President: Tamara Vitale
Vice President: Ken Bull
Secretary: Caroline Schleimer
Acting Treasurer: Tamara Vitale
Committee Members: Gus Saunders, Linda Rosenthal,
Clare Houston & Ann Gillespie
Newsletter Editor: Ed Trost
Email: shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com
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