January 2023
ISSUE #028
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Hello Potters
HAPPY NEW YEAR. I hope you had a wonderful Xmas and are looking forward to making an incredible array of pottery pieces this year. It isn’t long until we are open again, but keep an eye on our Facebook page for pop-up openings. We have a big year ahead of us with a new club committee with loads of ideas, so keep an eye on the newsletter for upcoming events and workshops.
There are also some more useful pottery tips from the ‘Creative Wisdom’ newsletters further down that may make your pottery life much easier. Plus we have popped all the tips, hacks and techniques onto a ‘Tips’ page on our club website so that you can refer to them easily.
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 social media.
Ed Trost - newsletter editor
club email: shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com
Hello fellow members and welcome to 2023!
Firstly I would like to thank all the members who attended our AGM in December. It was heartwarming to see so many friendly faces, long standing members and many, like me, a bit of a newbie.
Special thanks must be made to those members who raised their hands and took on roles within the club’s committee. Some of you do extraordinary amounts of work for the club and it doesn’t go unnoticed. And for that we should all be extremely grateful.
This year saw the implementation of a kiln supervisors group. We have some fresh faces onboard and this new system seems to be running like a well oiled machine. I believe the tally for the year was 101 loads fired.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you just how truly unique our club is. Our home may be a tin shed but we are blessed with facilities beyond some clubs grasp. Also and most importantly, we are blessed with many members who hold great knowledge when it comes to playing with clay. My greatest joy as a supervisor is that exchange of process, successes and at times absolute disasters. This is a journey through that process and one that should be shared and enjoyed with your fellow club members. Remember, we should all be here to support each other.
Our workshop committee are once again planning events for 2023 so keep your eyes on our socials and by reading our newsletters.
For those of you who haven’t renewed your membership, now is the time.
I hope you have all had a wonderful festive season, and even had a chance to play with clay at home.
The shed reopens on Tuesday the 24th of January and I look forward to seeing you all in the year ahead.
Kind regards
Douglas Ainsworth President, SPC Inc.
Tuesday + Thursday + Saturday Mornings
9:00am—1:00pm
Wednesday Mornings
10:00am—2:00pm
Thursday Evenings
6:00pm—9:00pm
SESSION FEE
$7.00 per visit, payable at the time by debit or credit card at the shed.
New Year Closure
The club remains closed until 24 January. This closure will allow our volunteer supervisors and kiln team, who ensure the club runs smoothly, to have some down time from club responsibilities to relax and recharge.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page though for pop-up openings of the club. Here’s the link:
From the Kiln Room
We think it is a new record – 101 firings for the year. That’s basically 2 firings a week. You have all been busy and consequently so have we. We have a new firing supervisor system in place which will make the process more streamlined from our perspective but shouldn’t change your firing method.
Remember: to always put your Maker’s Mark on your work prior to firing so that we know whose work it is; fill in the firing form with ALL the information required; and, make sure you clean the bottoms of your pots. Do these 3 things and our system will work very well for the firing of your precious pieces.
Happy New Year from the Firing and Glaze teams.
Linda, Jean, Gus, Douglas, Lynne, Katrina, Catharine and Gabriel
Annual General Meeting Review
There was a well attended AGM this year. A lot of interested members were there either physically or via the phone. A new committee was elected so we are all looking forward to their input into the management of the club. Our new committee consists of:
President – Douglas Ainsworth
Vice President – Ken Bull
Treasurer – Tamara Vitale
Secretary – Rose Kennedy
Committee – Suzanne Bell, Barbara Fletcher, Linda Rosenthal, Gus Saunders
We look forward to seeing them steer the club to even greater successes over the coming years.
And a HUGE thank you goes to the preceding committee that did such a remarkable job during such challenging times.
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!
Join the Club
It’s Membership Renewal time. Don’t forget to renew your membership or risk losing your shelf space (as it is becoming scarcer and scarcer). Only $52 per year which equates to $1 per week. Even cheaper if you have a concession or student card.
Use this link to renew your membership and pay by Credit / Debit Card or EFT from your Bank Account or by Square at the Shed.
www.shorncliffepotteryclubinc.com.au/membership
Don’t forget to let the Membership Officer know that you paid using your Bank Account by emailing to this address:
Gift Certificates Available
The SPCI Gift Certificate is now available for purchase from the Membership Officer. If you would like to purchase this wonderful gift contact Tamara V. 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 Linda R. to see if she can get it in.
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 harassed.
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.
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.
amount recycled to date:
$193.20
thank you!
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 :
Cheap Pottery Tools
While SPCI doesn’t endorse the site or receive any affiliation from it, cheap small useful and unusual tools for pottery, like the one’s above, can be found and purchased on AliExpress.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:
Jessica Barbaro, Gayle Bishop, Monica Church, Kathy Downey, Clare Houston, Jessica Hurst, Rose Kelly, Monja Martin, Fiona Morgan, Alyssa Ryan, Rachael Terry, Camela Vosten
If we have missed anybody, our sincere apologies – drop us an email so that we can include you next time!
Muswellbrook Art Prize 2023
Since 1958, the Muswellbrook Art Prize has grown and evolved and is today one of the richest prizes for art in regional Australia. Finalists for the Muswellbrook Art Prize vie for a total of $70,000 prize money across three prize categories: Painting ($50,000 acquisitive), Works on Paper ($10,000 acquisitive), and Ceramics ($10,000 acquisitive).
Entries Close – 13 January 2023
So Why Does Pottery Explode?
Many potters have had the disappointing experience at least one time of their pottery exploding in the kiln. The beauty of pottery is that you can get some very unexpectedly wonderful results. However, a nerve-wracking array of things can go wrong with pottery once you hand it over to the kiln of fate. So, exactly why does pottery explode in the kiln?
The main reason that pottery explodes in the kiln is residual moisture left in the clay body even when it appears bone dry. Once the kiln reaches 100°C, the moisture starts to turn into steam. The steam expands very rapidly into any small air pockets in the clay and shatters the pottery.
If a piece of pottery is going to explode, it normally does so in the bisque fire. The reason for this is that prior to the bisque fire, the greenware still has some water content. After the bisque fire, all this water will have gone. So, the main reason for the pottery to explode will have basically evaporated.
However, there are other factors that can cause pottery to explode at various points during firing. It is commonly said that air bubbles in clay cause pottery to explode. However, this is only partially true. Air itself does not expand enough when heated to cause the pottery to explode. However, when the free water starts to evaporate, it looks for a way to exit the clay. It migrates toward the surface of the clay. If there are air bubbles in the clay the moisture will evaporate into the bubble cavity. Then as it expands within the bubble cavity, it will cause the pottery to explode in the kiln.
There are also factors other than non-dry clay, air bubbles and air pockets that can also play a role. Clay thickness can be an issue. It is a general opinion that the thinner the clay the better the chance of firing successfully. Anything greater than 25mm thick can be problematic and will require a longer drying out time and specialised firing.
Another important factor is the firing schedule. If the piece is being fired too quickly, it puts a lot of strain on the pottery and explosions are more likely. All these things need to be taken into consideration to avoid the big bang!
Thanks to Ken B. and the Pottery Wheel for this story
50 Years of Handy Hints
We are fortunate to have received a very useful book titled “Collected Wisdom – 50 years of handy hints” from the Ceramic Study Group, Australia supplied to us by Clare H. from her trip to Gulgong. It is a collection of tips and techniques gathered and published in their newsletters since the 1960’s. Each month we will delve into this vast archive of information regarding all things ceramics and bring to you snippets of their collected wisdom.
March 2000
Trimming a coffee pot or jug with a pouring spout that was pulled upward is simple, if you first centre a ball of clay on the wheelhead and cover it with a sheet of plastic. Then centre the upside down pot on the clay support. This gives the spout clearance above the wheelhead, while the footring is trimmed.
February 2002
Slumping or unevenness during throwing: Hold the length of a credit card or an even longer flexible rib against the profile and gently push the inside against it to strengthen the wall.
Leather hard stage, base cracked: Keep the piece wrapped and leatherhard and throw another base. When roughly the same consistency of leatherhard, join by scratching and slipping. Dry very slowly.
Handles cracking: Catch the pot at the right time and have handles at the same dryness. You can leave pulled handles draped over a form, for example a roll of newspaper, until they are same dryness. Fix in place and dry slowly.
Joining and mending dry clay: Paper clay is marvellous. It can even fix a dry handle to a dry cup.
Tips page on SPCI website
Don’t worry if you can’t remember which newsletter had which tip as we have now popped all the tips, hacks and techniques onto a ‘Tips’ page on our club website so that you can refer to them easily in one place.
President: Douglas Ainsworth
Vice President: Ken Bull
Treasurer: Tamara Vitale
Secretary: Rose Kennedy
Committee Members: Suzanne Bell, Barbara Fletcher,
Linda Rosenthal, Gus Saunders
Newsletter Editor: Ed Trost
email: shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com
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