June 2023
ISSUE #033
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Hello Potters
Wow. June already. It’s half way through the year. You should be in full swing with your pottery by now. A big welcome to the new members to our club, we wish you happy potting for the rest of the year. There is lots happening in the world of ceramics, so if you see an exhibition or something that might be useful to other potters write it down and send it in to us here for inclusion in the newsletter.
Also take note that the club email address has changed. This was done to hopefully stop so many emails automatically ending up in the junk folder. The new email address is:
shorncliffepotteryclubinc@gmail.com
There are also some more useful pottery tips from the ‘Collected 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@gmail.com
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 by debit or credit card at the shed.
From the Kiln Room
We are now on our 40th firing. We are still waiting for the kiln repair to happen. I am more then impatient to get our kilns up and running at their optimal efficiency as soon as possible.
A few requests to help the kiln crew. There has been some frustration in identifying pieces and finding people’s shelves.
1} Please show your marks/signatures on your shelf. Put it on some paper and tape it to your shelf where we can see it.
2} Please remember to put your name or mark on your piece. We have provided underglaze by the weighing scales to do this. If unmarked they won’t be fired. Also, some people have four signatures/marks. It would help the kiln crew and simplify our job if you went to one mark only.
3} If you are working at the shed please request a shelf, so we have a place to put your fired pieces. If they are left on the shelf in the kiln room for over two months they will be discarded.
In recent newsletters, we have been talking about differences in types of clay; stoneware (high fire) midfire and earthenware as well as porcelain. Midfire is often called a stoneware but fires at a lower temperature. Midfire is designed to mimic stoneware/high fire. One main reason to use midfire is it fires at 20 degrees below stoneware and this can save 30% of firing costs. It is hard to believe that a 20 degree difference in temperature can make such a difference at over 1200 degrees.
Porcelain is hard to work with and has a tendency to warp and crack. Clay manufactures have included additives etc. which make it better to work with. Most clay is made from organic materials. Porcelain, on the other hand is made from a mixture of kaolin, silica, quartz, feldspar and a few other materials. Kaolin is a key component which gives porcelain its light structure and porosity. Porosity being the empty spaces within the clay which gives it it’s lightness. YES. I had to look porosity up. Compared to other forms of clay porcelain clay can be fired at high temperatures. So the clay body is firmer and has a higher hardness and durability. This allows it to be thinner and a have a more delicate translucent finish.
Linda, Gus, Jean, Katrina, Lynne, Douglas
And Catherine and Gabriel from the glaze room
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!
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
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.
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:
$231.51
thank you!
Club Tuition for Members
by Members
Tuition could be in wheel throwing, handbuilding or glaze making. The rate is $35 per hour. 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 the session.
If this is something that you would like as a tutor or a learner please contact the committee using the club email :
Lilley Volunteer Breakfast
The third week in May was Volunteers Week and a couple of our volunteer supervisors Tamara V. and Linda R. attended a morning tea event at the Geebung Bowls Club hosted by the above politicians, Bart Mellish MP, Anika Wells MP and Councillor Jared Cassidy.
Now in our 9th year, and with nearly 50 artists across more than 20 studios, 2023 is guaranteed to be one of the biggest Samford & Surrounds Arts Trail & Open Studios events.
Visual artists, ceramicists, jewellery, wood, textile artists and photographers; our members practice in a diverse range of genres, medium and techniques.
The Trail meanders from Samford Valley to Clear Mountain, Cashmere and Eatons Hill to Cedar Creek and Dayboro.
Every Saturday & Sunday in June, from 10am-4pm
It is that time of year again; planning is already well underway for the 4017 Bayside Open Studios 2023 Event. Your committee is working hard in the background to make this third year better than ever. Of course, this event cannot happen without you the artists, your awesome studio spaces, and your artworks so we hope you will consider participating this year.
OPEN STUDIOS TWO WEEKENDS:
SATURDAY/SUNDAY 14/15 OCTOBER AND 21/22 OCTOBER
EACH DAY FROM 10AM TO 4PM
Save The Dates
Australian Ceramics Open Studios (ACOS) is an annual, nationwide, weekend event that celebrates clay, community and creativity.
Hosted by The Australian Ceramics Association, ceramics studios around Australia open their doors to offer a peek into their making, practical demonstrations and the opportunity to take home a handmade piece.
NOTE: Expressions of Interest for opening your studio will open in May 2023.
Scattered Arts 2023 Competition
HURRY – Entries close 5 June 2023
Email scatteredartsbrisbane@gmail.com for details.
With a first prize of $20 000, the Lethbridge Art Award is open to national and international artists for small-scale artworks. Entrants may submit 2D or 3D artworks up to 61cm (24 inches) in height, width or depth. The Judging is based on three equally evaluated criteria of creativity, originality and skill.
Date Prize Announced
24 June 2023
Exhibition Dates
17 June 2023 - 27 June 2023
The Moreton Bay Region Art Prize is an annual exhibition and prize that supports and celebrates the diverse creative talent of local artists.
The exhibition will showcase artwork from artists who have been selected as finalists for the Moreton Bay Art Prize.
When
Saturday, 03 June 2023 - Saturday, 19 August 2023
The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Where
Pine Rivers Art Gallery, 130 - 134 Gympie Road, Strathpine 4500
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.
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.
September 2011
Clay sealant: A mixture of 50/50 linseed oil and turpentine applied to unglazed sculptures and bottoms of pots will give a rich waxy finish whilst also sealing and protecting them.
May 2012
To help with extruding clay, spray kitchen cooking oil into clean barrel before dropping in clay. This makes it easier to extrude and to clean.
November 2012
A polystyrene block with 3 nails in it pointing upwards (see illustration) will give a good stand on which to place your work when you need to spray pots or sculptures. The nails will hold the work and enable you to spray under the overhanging areas.
President: Douglas Ainsworth
Vice President: Ken Bull
Treasurer: Tamara Vitale
Secretary: Rose Kelly
Committee Members: Suzanne Bell, Barbara Fletcher,
Linda Rosenthal, Gus Saunders
Newsletter Editor: Ed Trost
email: shorncliffepotteryclubinc@hotmail.com
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