March 2023
ISSUE #030
Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser
Hello Potters
Well it’s March already. Not long till the Blue Water Festival and the SAS Easter Art Show. I hope you are progressing with your entries. I have seen a few around and they are looking good. There are also a couple of exhibitions closing soon so see below for further details. The snake in the back room saga continues but I have been reliably advised that the room has now been snake proofed (as long as somebody remembers to tell the snake). Thanks to Linda, Phil and Catherine for actioning this.
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
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 on our 11th firing for the year. People have been great about remembering to put their name/mark on their pots and have it match the firing paperwork. Thank you as that means we can unload the kiln and get your pots back to you easily and it saves us time.
Our big news is from the glaze room. Catherine supplied some wire and I dragged Phil (husband) in so we could snake proof the glaze room. The “we” is I held the hammer and he did all the work. Let’s hope it is effective. Only thing left is to put some expanding foam in the corner. Catherine has already gotten in there and cleaned up after the glazes the snakes knocked over. Katrina gets a gold star for cleaning up snake/possum poo. THANK YOU KATRINA.
Remember the Easter Show is coming up in beginning of April so get your creations in for firing so there are no last minute pressures.
MAJOR CHANGE STARTING THIS YEAR. IF YOUR NAME OR MARK IS NOT ON YOUR POT AND DOESN’T MATCH THE PAPERWORK ON THE FIRING FORM
– IT WILL NOT BE FIRED.
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.
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:
$198.60
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 :
The Great Pottery Throwdown Season 6
There is currently a season 6 underway in the UK but unfortunately not released here yet. However, Seasons 1 - 5 can be seen on Binge, or you can view on Foxtel re-runs of each series, as well.
Late news in is that they are calling for entrants for The Great Pottery Throwdown Series 7. Exciting!
SAS Easter Art Show
Sandgate Art Society are very excited to announce that the annual Sandgate Easter Art Show will be on from April 6th – 8th. So show your support for the local talented artists and potters by entering some ceramics in the show, or by simply popping along to see the exhibition.
There are three categories - 2D, 3D and Photo / Digital, and each category has three awards. There is also a Best in Show award.
The exhibition will be held in the Callan Centre, Pier Ave, St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe. Entry details are available on the SAS website.
Opening night Thursday 6 April 6:30 to 8:30
Ipswich Art Awards
Entries close 7 March 2023
Held annually since 2000, the Ipswich Art Awards is the foremost visual arts awards for the Ipswich region and celebrates emerging and established artists.
There are 8 categories open for entries, with a total prize pool of $16,500:
Entry fee $35 per submission
Winners will be announced at the opening night on Friday 26 May 2023.
An exhibition of entered works will be free and open to the public from 27 May – 3 June 2023 at 1 Nicholas St, Ipswich.
Brisbane Institute of Art
We hope that you can visit the gallery to view Fluid, an exhibition featuring wheel thrown, hand built and slip cast works by Peter Biddulph.
Fluid
23 February to 8 March 2023
Mon - Fri 10-4 pm
Sat + Sun 12-4pm
Thursday Evenings 6-8pm
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
2023 Immanuel Arts Festival
25 to 28 May 2023
Friday and Saturday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Sunday: 9.00am to 2.00pm
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 our region for over 40 years and draws more artist entries and visitors each year. The Festival proudly promotes visual, creative and performance art within the Sunshine Coast community and will be held at Immanuel Lutheran College.
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.
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.
June 2004
Pots too dry? To bring overly dry pots back to leatherhard without cracking, wrap and line with wet newspaper and leave for 24 hours. They should then be ready for turning.
September 2004
Handbuilding: Keep a large wet sponge on a plate next to you when working, This will provide just enough dampness to wipe fingers on or tools when needed,
Hard Clay: If clay has become too hard to use, cut it into pieces, spray with water, and microwave on high for 5 minutes in a plastic bag. The result should be soft.
October 2005
Broken bisqueware: Mend using paper clay slip. Wet the broken pieces extremely well. Join these pieces to the work using very wet paper slip (do not glaze at this stage). Bisque the repaired work, if there are further cracks use more paper clay slip and bisque again..
December 2005
Raku: For excellent crackle results, fire your pot, take out of the kiln and allow to rest for about one minute. When glaze ‘pings’ put the pot into the reduction container, cover with paper, allow to flame, then close cover. Leave for about two minutes lift the lid and allow the paper to reignite. Close the cover again and leave to reduce and cool normally.
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
and follow us on
