May 2022
ISSUE #020
Hello Potters
I hope you got to attend the SAS Easter Show last month. It was a really big event for the area and there were lots of art and ceramic works to view and purchase. If you couldn’t make it, further down in the newsletter there is an exhibition review. Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding work.
It’s not too far away to the 4017 Bayside Open Studios and our own Expressions exhibition, so put your head down and get creative. It will be upon us before you know.
Also there are more useful pottery tips further down that may make your creative pottery life much easier – so read on.
We really want to see our talented members’ work, so upload your pics to our instagram or facebook page, or email them for inclusion on our social media.
Ed Trost - newsletter editor
club email: shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com
Hi Everyone and welcome to our May 2022 edition.
Firstly I’d like to thank our members:
Ken and Celia for successfully applying to the Brisbane City Council Community Facility Disaster Relief Fund to financially assist the Club in the clean up, repairs and replacing items that were destroyed by the February flooding.
Gus, Jason, Kath, Linda, Robyn (and her son Dallas) and Roz, who volunteered their time at our second working bee on Saturday 9 April to help us repair and paint water damaged plinths and have them ready for the SAS Easter Art Show, and cleaning up around the outside of the shed (mowing and pressure cleaning).
My next thank you is to all the members who completed our SPC Inc Questionnaire 2022. We had a great response and will call a Member’s General Meeting towards the end of May / start of June to discuss the survey results, provide a general update and a chance for members to ask questions of the committee.
The Einbunpin Festival is celebrating it’s 30th anniversary on Sunday 31 July and the Club will have a stall there again! So if you are a member who wants to sell their wares then get busy creating and join us for a fun day in the park.
Finally, a few members have told us that they have found our emails going straight into their ‘Junk’ folder recently. I’m not sure why this happens but if it happens to you please ensure you mark us as a ‘Safe Sender’ so our emails go into your inbox and you don’t miss any Club news!
Cheers and happy potting!
Tamara Vitale – President, SPC Inc.
Tuesday + Thursday + Saturday Mornings
9:00am—1:00pm
Thursday Evenings
6:00pm—9:00pm
SESSION FEE
$7.00 per visit, payable at the time by debit or credit card at the shed.
From the Kiln Corner
By the time the newsletter comes out we will have fired our 24th load of the year. Covid, floods and life issues have not interfered with our potters producing their pots and other creations. Gus and I vie to see who gets to open kilns as it is so much fun to see the finished products come out of the kiln. Unless of course the kiln Gods have taken a day off.
Please help us out by putting your initials or sign on pots so we can find your shelf or safe spot to put your creations. It adds on a considerable amount of time if we have to review paperwork to figure out who’s is who’s. Plus the description of bowl or pinch pot etc. usually covers more then one pot in a load.
Remember if pots are not claimed within two months they are disposed of !!!!
Shelves are at a premium. We are assigning bottom shelves but they aren’t real convenient. SORRY. We are hoping to come up with more spaces but haven’t solved that issue yet.
There are a number of markets and exhibitions coming up so it is time to plan ahead so you don’t have to worry about not having pots ready to go.
Einbunpin is July 31st,
Expressions is September 30th to October 2nd,
4017 Bayside Open Studios over weekends of October 16th and 22nd,
Jingle on the Bay is December 3rd.
Hoping these are right dates :) We will be looking for volunteers to organise and help set up for these.
Our glaze makers have regained their mixing area but the glaze room still hasn’t regained its organisation after the floods. Some chemicals got wet and had to be discarded. So organisation and resupply is in process. Hopefully they will be back in business soon.
Yes BUTTERMILK will return.
Gus, Linda, Catharine and Gabriel
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!
Community Facility Disaster
Relief Payment
A BIG shout out to Ken and Caecelia for recently securing a relief payment from the Brisbane City Council to help pay for the issues caused by the flooding back in February. The money will definitely come in handy to repair the wheels that were damaged and the loss of stock materials etc.
Flood Clean Up – Take 2
Sending a huge thanks to the members and former members who came along for the second working bee to finish the clean up from the flooding, re-organise the shed and to repair the plinths that were damaged. Everything is sparkly clean now so it is up to every member to keep it that way. This club relies on the strength of its volunteers and the effort of the community spirit to survive, so well done all.
Great to see lots of fresh faces for Thursday night clay action. The shed was almost at full capacity and there was a lot of amazing pottery created.
Gift Certificates Now Available
The SPCI Gift Certificate is now available for purchase from the Membership Officer. If you would like to purchase this wonderful gift contact Ann Gillespie here at: shorncliffepotteryclubincmembership@hotmail.com
Club Clay Options and Details
These are the current clay bodies that we generally have in our store. If you have another clay that you prefer, speak to Gus or Linda to see if they can get it in for you.
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 as well as being respectful to each other in words and actions is something in which the club takes great pride. When members are working in the studio or interacting with other members via electronic means, everyone has a right to feel safe and not harrassed.
The Code of Conduct can be found in your membership document or you can request a copy from the Membership Officer here or you can read it here.
Don’t Forget To Do The Club Survey
You should have received an email with a link to a survey questionnaire from the Club Committee recently. If you haven’t completed it yet don’t forget, as it is your chance to have a say in the workings of the Club and how it can be improved.
You can use this link to access the Club’s 2022 Member's Survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YR8YJR2
Don’t delay the link closes soon.
Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc. has signed up with Containers for Change - a simple recycling system for cans and bottles. It’s easy to do. Take your recyclables to a Containers for Change site and use our unique Scheme ID number for the money from the recycling to go directly into the Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc. bank account.
Club’s Scheme ID Number: C10465553
If the Scheme ID isn't working (argh technology!) and you get cash instead from the recycling machine, just pop the money in the tea jar in the club’s kitchenette.
$137.71
thank you!
Workshop Update
The six week hand building workshop lead by Gabriel finished last month and by all accounts was thoroughly enjoyed with participants learning loads of new skills. The new potters can now be unleashed into the pottery community to create to their hearts content.
Decorative Techniques on Clay Workshop
Keep the date in your diary open for Sunday 5th June. On this day we have a workshop ‘Decorative techniques on clay’ with Helen Davey. Helen is inspiring and will show us some really interesting techniques. There will be some hands-on for this workshop. This will be a full day workshop and will suit both hand builders and wheel throwers alike.
About Helen
Potter, Ceramic Artist, Artist and Pottery Teacher
Clay intrigues me in its entirety – its qualities and the processes by which it can be formed and fired to a near-permanent state. The act of creating something out of virtually nothing is mysteriously enthralling and this medium constantly offers unseen potential. These qualities about clay art have taken me on a 37 year journey.
My passion motivates me to continue pursuing new and innovative ideas for my own work, enjoying a creative environment at my home based studio, gallery and meditative space in my garden, in Brisbane, Australia.
Decorative techniques are enthralling, consuming and never ending given the nature of ceramics and all the wonderful materials available to us. This intrigues me the most and I continue to be absorbed by decorative techniques and the “what if” factor.
See more about Helen: www.creativeclay.com.au
About the workshop
Discovering the ultimate personality of your ceramic surface
This workshop will comprise of discussion, demonstration and hands on segments. The workshop will allow you to create decorative techniques using glazes which will be unique to you.
We will explore creating your own individual palette of colours using glazes at your disposal and formulating a unique glaze grid for future use, reference and pleasure.
The main themes of the day will be using an infinite number of resist techniques, glaze on glaze, application and use of oxides to enhance your work and palette.
Notes will be provided.
You will need
3 x bisqued tiles approximately 20cm x 20cm made from your favourite clay.
I trust that our journey, discovering the ceramic surface, will add a little experience and knowledge to your palette. The workshop is about options, ideas and the use of “tools”. From the start of my ceramic journey, learning about the ceramic surface, and the myriad ways of embellishing it, have been a particular passion. The approach to the ceramic surface determines the ultimate personality of the creative form.
The details
Date: Sunday 5th June
Cost: Members price $170.00 payable in advance.
Non-members $190.00 (or become a member for the discounted price of $26 for the balance of our financial year – October). There will be no cancellations for this workshop, unless a replacement participant can be found.
Time: 9.00am to 4.00pm, with a lunch break.
This workshop is a mix of demonstration and hands on. Numbers are limited to 10.
Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc members will have first option to attend this workshop before it will be opened up to the broader pottery community.
Some samples of Helen’s work
Back By Popular Demand
Six Week Wheel Workshop
with Clare Houston
After positive feedback from Clare’s wheel throwing workshop in January. The club has received more enquiries for those wishing to participate in this workshop. This workshop will run in a block of 6 weeks, with up to 5 participants.
These will be conducted on a Wednesday evening, so that participants and tutor have the shed to themselves. If there is continued demand for these sessions, more will be offered in the future.
Clay experience:
Clare completed an internship of three months duration at Windmill Pottery in 2019. This involved participating in all processes of a working pottery, including making clay, assisting with classes as well as throwing on the wheel, trimming and finishing to create objects from bowls, mugs, lidded vessels and teapots.
Clare also completed a three month internship at the ceramic production company Made OF Australia.
Clare has completed ceramics classes at the Brisbane Institute of Art and is currently taking classes with Bill Powell at Ceramx, School of Clay and Glass and tuition with Jackie Gasson and the Sunshine Coast Clayworkers.
She was recently awarded First Prize in Wheel throwing at Shorncliffe Pottery Club’s “Expressions” exhibition, 2021.
Teaching Experience:
Clare has experience in tutoring one on one and in small groups in her previous career as a Chef for 28 years and Chef Trainer at the Edgwarebury Hotel as part of the Regal Hotel group in North London, UK. She also holds a Graduate Teaching Diploma from Griffith University, Brisbane.
Clare says “I'm really enjoying my journey learning ceramics and pottery, and I'm looking forward to passing on skills and knowledge to other club members.”
The program will include clay preparation, throwing a cylinder, a bowl, an altered cylinder (eg. vase or similar shape), trimming, turning and preparing pieces for firing.
Start date: Wednesday 11th May, 2022
Time: 6.00pm to 9.00pm
Cost: $200 for the 6 week block, payable in advance. (The usual $7 club entry fee is included in the price.)
Please notify the club of your intention to be part of this workshop series on this email shorncliffepotteryclubincmembership@hotmail.com Payment instructions and confirmation will be emailed to you.
Examples of workshop #1 attendees work
Club Tuition for Members
by Members
Tuition could be in wheel throwing, handbuilding or glaze making. The rate is $35 per session for up to 3 hours, but could be less dependent upon session length. From this, the club will take 20% commission. All payments must go via the club.
The club entry fee of $7 will apply for the learner 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 : shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com
SAS ART Easter Exhibition Review
Well, what an exhibition! Congratulations goes to SAS Art and the local arts community for serving up a brilliant selection of art, ceramics and sculpture.
A big shout out also goes to the volunteers from our Club who helped with the exhibition organisation and provided the wonderful ceramic pieces. There were some fantastic pieces with Karen Roberts winning Best in Show, Grace Cross 3D first prize, Elizabeth Hardcastle receiving second prize and Ken Bull taking third prize with his large green moggie. Below are photos of some of the art that was on display.
Blackwattle Paper Raku Clay Review
Ken B. was told by one of his many instagram friends about a paper raku clay in Scotland that was proving very interesting. It is a mix of raku clay and flax paper. So Gus, in his indeterminable way somehow located an Australian version and got it into the club store. Our version uses bamboo instead of flax. I was the guinea pig for the experiment, as I had been using both Keane’s and Feeney’s White Raku for quite a while now.
Surprisingly the paper raku clay has been very enjoyable to use. It is smoother than the Keane’s or Feeney’s white raku and much more pliable to work with. It still has a fair bit of (sand) grog in it but the overall consistency is more like a JB103. Being a paper clay it can be re-moistened to continue being worked upon even after the leather hard stage. I have had success in earthenware firing using the regular construction process so far, but it does fire up to stoneware and you can throw with it as well.
If you would like to try some of this white paper raku clay talk to Gus to arrange for more blocks to come into the shed store.
Ed
PS: I have since discovered that Keane’s also has a White Paper Raku clay, so it will be interesting to try this as well. I will let you know.
Clay Gulgong
The biennial event takes place in a region of north-western New South Wales, that is globally recognised for its strong links with the field of ceramics. It is committed to bringing the best national and international artists to the beautiful town of Gulgong. The festival ran from April 9 – 15, 2022; and featured a jam-packed week long program of events that included something for everyone interested in ceramics. Keith Brymer-Jones wasn’t physically able to attend this year, but he did zoom in for a session from Margate, UK, and talked about his new book Boy in a China Shop.
Clay Gulgong Festival Experiences
By Clare Houston
The Clay Gulgong Festival ran for a whole week in April 2022 and involved many clay related events and experiences. The tagline for this year’s festival was #clay clan, #clay tribe, #clay fam. I was lucky enough to be chosen as an assistant to help with the running of the festival and as a result I had a great ‘insider’ view.
The main festival area was under large marquees that were set up on a grassy site at the top of the town, and there were also many events in all the significant buildings throughout the town.
They were Masters’ Demonstrations of their processes for four hours every day, where you could sit on chairs just feet away from the Master Potter, listen to their explanations and ask questions.
There were also more formal lectures/presentations by the Masters of their motivations, influences and bodies of work at the Memorial Hall.
They were screenings of films from restored Mingei film archives on most evenings at the Prince of Wales Opera House.
One evening there was a fancy dress pub crawl in honour of Chris Keane (from Keane Ceramics) who recently.
All delegates to the festival could bring some ceramic work for display and sale, and many pieces were purchased and sold throughout the week.
The last night of the festival week saw everyone partying with a banquet under the stars where there was food, music and dancing.
In venues around the town there were exhibitions that included the Masters exhibition, the K-12 School Students’ Exhibition, the World Stage Exhibition, the Emerging Artists’ Exhibition, and Embers, an exhibition of wood fired work. Each exhibition had an opening event with drinks and speeches.
One of the highlights for me was an event with Chester Nealie displaying his personal collection of his very best work, with speeches, champagne and doughnuts at 8am on the Monday morning.
Throughout the week many of the shop windows in the main streets were turned into exhibition spaces that was called the Shop Front Trail.
Alongside the clay festival, the organizers premiered a Readers and Writers Festival. There were writing workshops and coaching by the author Nikki Gemmel. There were also guest presentations discussing literary influences or books that they wrote.
Up at the main site there was a trade tent with suppliers stands by Keane Ceramics, Clayworks and Blackwattle offering products and advice. There were stands from a local bookstore and international ceramics publications.
There were also demonstrations of different ceramic techniques by Bill Powell, Dianne Peach, Johanna De Maine and Tatsuya Tsutsui.
This year the Master Ceramicists were from Australia and New Zealand and they covered a wide range of ceramic expertise in a broad range of ceramic areas, and had an extensive experience.
There was a strong wood firing contingent that included Jann Kesby, Robert Barron, Steve Williams, Ben Richardson, Rowley Drysdale and Matt McLean who makes large sculptural forms as well.
Also demonstrating were Fleur Schell from WA who does delicate hand building in porcelain, Ebony Russell who works with porcelain and lustre. Steven Bowers and Geoff Mitchell were demonstrating their delicate decorative techniques. Andrea De Chatenier and Caroline Earley both from NZ covered a more fine art approach. Andrea makes sculptures using very thick glazes that melt lusciously and Caroline Earley who uses thrown forms and combines them with hand building techniques and beautiful matte glazes. It is possible to google these artist’s names and find out more about their bodies of work and awards.
One of the truly great aspects of Clay Gulgong was how friendly everyone was. It was so easy to start a conversation when everyone around was so keen on clay. I feel that I made great connections with some amazing people and received invitations to visit new clay friends all around Australia.
If you are keen on ceramics and pottery, I would definitely recommend attending the next festival in two years’ time.
For more information take a look at these sites: www.mansfieldceramics.com
Instagram: @mansfieldceramics #claygulgong2022
The 2400 Year Old
Giant Clay Pot You Never Heard About
On October 27, 1966, the Regional Museum of Ica discovered a unique object of unseen proportions; a massive granary bowl, the largest pre-Hispanic pot found in Peru. The giant clay pot was discovered in the Paracas region, in the Pisco Valley. The fired clay vessel dimensions were 2 metres in diameter, 2.8 metres in height, and sections of 5 cm on the walls and 12 cm at the base.
Inside and at different levels, archaeologists found seeds of beans, pallares, yucca, lucuma, and guavas. No remains of a kiln were found in the vicinity, as archaeologists believe the giant pot was transported approximately 2400 years ago, from an unknown location to where it was eventually discovered.
1966 was a busy year for news with the race to the Moon, the Vietnam war and multiple nuclear tests by Russia, USA and France. Most of the news stories were focussed on foreign issues, so it is understandable that this story didn’t make it to the front page of the international press.
Kiln For Sale
Single Phase Kiln, 25amps,15 X 15 X 17 inside, Elements In Excellent Condition, fire to 1200 but mainly used for Earthenware. Kiln Sitter & Diggie Temp. Shelves. Approx 8 years old. Little use. Selling to buy bigger Kiln. Please No Time Wasters. Deposit Required. $3000 total price.
Jacqueline 0401 956 569. Or email pottery58@mail.com
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:
Nicole Domonkos, Damel Martin, Lyn Michell
If we have missed anybody, our sincere apologies – drop us an email so that we can include you next time!
4017 Bayside Open Studios
15 – 16 & 22 – 23 October 2022
Following is an initial Expression of Interest form for members who would like to be included in the 4017 Bayside Open Studios. Shorncliffe Pottery Club Inc will again be open to the public with demonstrations and items for sale, for both weekends, if you wish to participate through the club. So keep that in mind as we will be calling for volunteers to demonstrate and manage the studio closer to the date.
So if you have a home studio, or commercial venture that you would like to be included, copy the form into your email program, fill it out and email it to Grace.
4017 Bayside Open Studios
Artist Participation
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Artist Name_____________________________________ Mobile______________________
Post Code you currently reside in___________
Artist Media__________________________________________
Studio Name__________________________________________
(If known)
Studio Address ________________________________________
(If known)
What Artists will you be sharing space with_______________________________________
(If known)
___________________________________________________________________________
Studio Type Artists are asked to select from the following for our planning purposes:
Check all that apply to your circumstances. 4017 BOS will be actively looking for pop up studio spaces for artists without a home studio to work in.
___My own studio space
___Shared studio space with other members. Who_________________________
___Venue other than a studio. I.e.: Public space or community hub, etc.
___No studio - interested in sharing a community space with others (artists are encouraged to set up their own working space in the shared space to emulate their own environment as closely as possible.) ___I am willing to share my space with another artist as mutually agreed upon.
Please email this Expressions of Interest Form to Grace Cross, so we can start planning our event.
grace@naracoopagallery.com.au or mail to 60 Phillips St Bracken Ridge
Or SMS Grace with your form 0412 147 456
The BGS Art Committee is excited to announce the date of the 53rd Annual BGS Art Show. The premier ticketed Gala Night will be held on Friday 6 May, with the exhibition continuing through into the BGS Open Day on Saturday 7 May 2022.
Connect and celebrate with the BGS community at the Gala Night exhibition for the opportunity to experience and purchase works from our outstanding curated collection of emerging and established artists.
2022 Immanuel Arts Festival
19 to 22 May
The Immanuel Arts Festival is a celebration of fine and contemporary art and is the largest of its kind on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It has showcased the artistic talents of the region for over 40 years and draws more artist entries and visitors each year. The Festival proudly promotes visual, creative and performance art, including ceramics, within the Sunshine Coast community.
So How Do You Glaze
An Entire Ceramic Piece
Including The Base?
Use kiln stilts! Kiln stilts consist of metal rods that prop up a pottery piece off the shelf, and a durable one may be used multiple times. According to pottery suppliers, beyond cone 6 (1240°C), metal rods may begin to deform, and may deform at lower temperatures under heavy weights, so stilts are best used for light-weight pieces. You can also increase the number of stilts to spread out the weight distribution, but this will result in more places requiring sanding after it is fired.
For firing spoons, use straight line stilts if available, or you can also try the three pronged ones under the bowl of the spoon. Fired at cone 5 (1200°C) you shouldn’t have any trouble with slumping, although at cone 6 (1240°C) spoons could bend in the middle. To avoid this, you could add an extra stilt to support the middle.
Courtesy www.paigepuckett.com
‘Ready for firing’ glazed spoons resting on straight kiln stilts
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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