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President's report

There has been lots going on at the rooms lately and if you have not been there recently you will see some changes next

time you come. The club has a new committee (see names at the end of this newsletter) and a key change is that the

running of the rooms is now in the hands of Jo Moon, our new Rooms Manager, who has taken over from Vivian

Rodriguez. Vivian has done a great job whilst also being our Resident Potter - always prepared to answer calls for help

from those working there. Vivian is off home to Costa Rica shortly for a long overdue trip to her native land and we wish

her a safe journey and return. And thanks, Vivian, for running a very successful workshop.

Jo has some new plans for running things and will be telling you about them via the newsletter. Part of this will be to

encourage members to remove their old work and redundant personal bits and pieces from their work areas as we are

under increasing pressure for work space as a result of an increasing membership. Ivan Vostinar will build twenty new

cubby holes before Christmas and other areas will be rationalised to make the storage of tools & moulds more

convenient. We will also be introducing a new system of paying for the firing of your work that will simplify the work of

the Stackers & Firers. This will involve paying before the work is fired. The new system will be introduced on 1 January

when we will also revert back to Tuesday club firings. Details will be sent out to members.

The DCA students have finished their last semester for the year and will be looking forward to a good summer break.

Their work area upstairs will have a make-over, too, over summer so we will be ready to accommodate (hopefully) a

good intake next year.

On Sunday, 21 November a very good turn out of enthusiastic members tackled the annual spring clean, removing four

trailer loads of rubbish. Well done all those who attended and thanks on behalf of us all for the hard work.

Finally, please note the BBQ notice in this newsletter. The club will provide nibbles and salads - you just bring the family

and whatever you would like to add to the BBQ plus a bottle. This will be a good opportunity to meet other members and

especially the committee who will be there to listen to your ideas.

Happy Festive Season,

Roger

Potters' diary

Date Activity Subject Coordinator/tutor

Sunday 19 December 2010:

11:30 to 3:00 pm

Family BBQ Jo Moon & Rhonda

Edwards

Saturday 15 January 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins

Tuesday 4 January – Tuesday 8

February 2011

Additional Student

Classes (6 weeks)

Rosemary O’Hara

Saturday 22 January 2011 Pit Firing Francesca Costa

Saturday 26 – Sunday

27 February 2011

Visiting American potter

Ben Carter: workshop

“Design for Soft Surface” Cate Pates

Saturday 5 – Sunday 27 March

2011

Anagama Firing (and

associated activities)

Alan Ross

Saturday 23 April 2011 Pit Firing Francesca Costa

Sunday 24 April 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins

Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 May Mike Dee’s workshop Archy Texture Alan Ross

Dec

2010

2

Friday 17 June 2011 (TBC) An evening guided tour

Victoria University’s

classical pottery

collection (mostly Greek)

Vera Burton

16 July – 7 August 2011 NZSP Regional

Exhibition “Elements 11”

at Pataka

Mal Sole

Saturday 23 July 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins

Saturday 20 – Sunday 21

August 2011

Potter-in- Residence

workshop\demonstration

TBC Vivian Rodriquez

2 -18 September 2011 Ceramicus 2011 Roger Pearce

October 2011 AGM

Saturday 22 October 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins

Saturday 5 November 2011 Pit Firing Francesca Costa

Saturday 19 – Sunday 20

November 2011

Potter-in- Residence

workshop\demonstration

TBC Mia Hamilton

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT CLUB FIRINGS

We have an increased number of club firings and it has been creating a heavy workload for the volunteers who load and

unload the kilns. So from January 1st 2011 there will be some changes designed to make the process simpler for them.

The main one that will affect everyone is that you will have to pay for the pots before they are fired. You will be required

to weigh and calculate the cost of firing yourselves and put the money in the safe.

Pots will also not be fired if:

they are not labelled or the label or mark is not legible,

they have not been paid for,

they are bisque pots that are not completely dry,

they are glazed pots that do not have the bottom wiped, or have glaze too thick at the bottom of the pot.

Full instructions will be in the glaze room along with the new firing slips and charges payable.

Until 31 December 2010 club firings will continue to be on Wednesdays, after that they will again be on Tuesdays.

New members to WPA

A warm welcome to the new members: Delia Benazzo, Carlo Puglia, Clinton Hunter, Janine Collier, Aletta Chambers,

Rosie Little, Joe Zuccarello, Marie Harris. Rejoining: James Hollis, Johann Bekker

Keeping up to date

The WPA now runs an online diary. Check this out for the most update information on events. You can also find a

number of resources available there too. Website: http://www.wellingtonpotters.famundo.com.

Newsletter by email?

If you would like to receive the WPA newsletter by email instead of hardcopy please send your email address to Vera at

davee@paradise.net.nz. Receiving the newsletter by email will help the club with economics and the environment. You

will also receive it sooner (and in colour)! Cheers

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Potter's profile: Jill Bagnall

Jill became aware of potting at a

Doreen Blumhardt weekend

school in about 1960. She built

an early Brickell test kiln, oil fired

with a drip falling on to a piece of

grooved pumice and a very tall,

removable chimney, and enjoyed

gaining experience from scratch -

and books. She found it very

exciting when the first glazes she

made up from recipes in "A Potter's Book" actually worked. In the early 70's she built a

catenary arch brick kiln, also fired with oil, this time using a blower and two atomising

burners. She now fires with gas.

Jill works from a lovely home studio in Mahina Bay,

Eastbourne. Those of you attending our exhibition

this year would have had the opportunity of winning some of her lovely pots

donated as raffle prizes. She won the Premier Award at our 50th Anniversary

Exhibition in 2008.

"The pottery making process still fascinates me after 40 years. There is the

concentration and calm required for throwing contrasted with the excitement of the

firing, the delights and disappointments of reduction glazes and always the

experiments. There is magic in turning something as soft and malleable as clay

into stone: the designing, the throwing and turning, making a suitable glaze, firing

and using. There is always a challenge. My personal preferences are for both

rough stoneware and the dense, hard shell-like qualities of porcelain. My favourite

glazes are reduction glazes with their subtle variations - shino, celadon and more

recently chun. I like the contrast between hard, sometimes rough clay and a

smooth beautiful glaze. A shell. A stone. Simple shapes. Pots for use."

Jill has been a member of The NZ Society of Potters and

Wellington Potters" Association for many years. She exhibits

with both of these groups. She has work in the collection of

the Dowse Art Museum and in many private homes. Her pots

can be purchased at "Vessel", Victoria Street, Wellington.

Visitors to the pottery in Mahina Bay are welcome, but please

phone first.

Information courtesy of NZ Potter Vol 21/2 1778, and Jill

Bagnall

Working Bee 21 November 2010

Hello Members

Wow, what a working bee! It was only through having the most hardworking and focused workforce that we were able to

plough through years of unclaimed clay, disused materials, excess furniture and prolific weeds. We did not quite

transform the place (we wouldn't want to displace anyone of course!), but heck, it looks great. Well done and thanks to

all who took part.

There was much discussion and care taken over what belonged to whom but because there was such a huge amount of

stuff to sort through some things may have most regrettably been recycled or redistributed around the rooms. Some

new cubby holes were assigned and all other belongings of current members that were clearly labelled were placed

Potter and proud grandmother

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below the whiteboard. If any of your things have gone missing I am very sorry, please come and see me to see what we

can do.

Now... it is understandable that some members accumulate more work and materials than will conveniently fit into their

cubby holes which presents the challenge of where should it go? It was decided therefore to designate an "overflow

area" at the north east corner of the rooms. Work in progress is to go on the shelves and any equipment or materials

can be stored under the work bench. All things stored underneath must be clearly labelled and dated. I make no

apologies for disposing of anything kept here that is not clearly assigned to an owner as I will be attempting to maintain a

reasonable standard of tidiness within the rooms by clearing regularly.

Because of the limited space available at the rooms rather than use our extraordinary facility as a large garage to store

your bits and pieces think of it as a communal studio space; in other words throw away your rubbish, take home all

finished work, respectfully shelve works in the making for a short-term and keep only those materials you are currently

using at the rooms - take the rest home please.

We cannot allocate every member all the space they may wish for indefinitely. If your needs are exceptional, as I'm sure

some are, then please come and discuss it with me. In some cases the committee may need to approve the allocation

of extra space.

Today's experience reinforced my feeling of awe for Marilyn who deals with massive amounts of unwanted clay week in,

week out. What a star! Huge thanks.

Equally as impressive is Ivan's dedication to beautifying and streamlining the rooms by way of new shelving and storage

spaces he continues to build. Thank you so much from all of us using the rooms.

Although today was hard work it was immensely satisfying and most enjoyable - plenty of laughs were to be had

(Rhonda!!) and, as usual, great food was enjoyed.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Christmas party!

Warm wishes

Jo Moon

Rooms' Manager

FAMILY BBQ

Sunday 19 December 11.30 to 3 pm

at WPA

The club will provide salads and nibbles

YOU BRING - your family,

meat or vege to BBQ & a bottle

Let’s celebrate another successful year!

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Pit firing - January

Join us on Saturday 22ND January for the first Pit Firing of

2011, followed by shared lunch & glass of wine to celebrate

the New Year!

Where: Wellington Potters Association Clubrooms, Grant

Road, Wellington

Time: 10am – 4pm. Please arrive at 10am to start building

the kiln

Bring along: Bisque fired, burnished forms for the firing.

Small pieces preferred, but larger forms included if space

available - we may even build a second kiln if necessary!

$10 to cover materials. Lunch to share

Tutor: Francesca has fired her own work in this primitive firing method for over 20 years. She has facilitated workshops

at Wellington Potters Association and Auckland Studio Potters for several years, and enjoys sharing this process with

others. Please phone Francesca to register for this firing on: 027 678 6006.

Anagama 2011

Tune In To Shige FM

Shige O’Hashi has agreed to resume the role of Firing Master, a term he dislikes, for the March 2011 anagama firing. A

number of alternative titles were suggested such as firebug, firedrake and pyromaniac but surprisingly none of them

appealed. The abbreviated title “FM” will have to suffice.

Shige is keen that a cadre of aspiring "firing masters" be encouraged to be involved rather than him being seen as the

sole or dominant "firing master". He is happy and eager to share his knowledge about anagama with people who are

interested in learning and having an ongoing involvement in WPA anagama firings. In Shige’s own words: “I like to have

a team as the firing master. If we can have the team and the members want, I'm happy to transfer my anagama

knowledge and experiences to them.”

At the time of writing most of the wood required for the firing has been split and stacked by various enthusiasts so it will

have plenty of time to dry thoroughly. The interior of the kiln needs to be cleaned, and shelves and props from the

previous firing restored to a pristine state by use of grinders and cold chisels. Mike Atkins is adamant the adobe that

covers the kiln should also be given some loving care and attention. Those who have volunteered to help, but whose

services have not yet been required, can expect a call.

Steps Dates

Receive pots at the rooms (Upstairs) Saturday 5 March 2011

Transport pots to kiln Sunday 6 March

Load kiln Monday 7– Thursday 10 March

Fire kiln Wednesday 16 - Sunday 20 March

Cool kiln Monday 21 – Saturday 26 March

Unload kiln Sunday 27 March

Alan Ross

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Crown Lynn: Crockery of Distinction 29 January - 24 April 2011 - exhibition at the Cty Gallery Wellington.

The iconic New Zealand Crown Lynn dinner sets and other domestic ware - including the retro-chic swan vases - will

feature in the exhibition. We will see the collections of a number of passionate and dedicated collectors, and there will

be associated events, for both adults and children.

Yes, of course it's not what we do at Wellington Potters, but there is a connection - clay, at the very least. Do you have

any ideas for how Wellington Potters could be involved in this exhibition, or do something that is related? Have the

styles and forms influenced your work? Could we run some workshops or courses at our rooms on related themes?

Decoration and design? For children? For adults? Should we market our existence - and that of other pottery groups in

the Greater Wellington area?

Any ideas you have would be most happily received by kate.ford48@gmail.com. It would be appreciated if you could

contact me by 17 December.

Thanks

Kate

Pottery classes at the rooms

Mondays 7-9pm – Ivan Vostinar

Basic to intermediate 8 week course $145. Enrol through Onslow College (phone 477 1118, email commed@onslow.school.nz)

Tuesdays 7-9pm – Vivian Rodriguez

Basic to intermediate 8 week course $145. Enrol through Onslow College (phone 477 1118, email commed@onslow.school.nz)

Thursdays 7-9pm – Rosemary O’Hara

Throwing and hand building for beginners and beyond. 6 week courses run continuously. $100 per course, plus clay and firing costs. Contact Rosemary to enrol: phone 233 0003, email roseo@klezmer.co.nz.

Saturdays 9.45-11.45am – Anthea Grob and Rosemary O’Hara

Introductory and intermediate class in hand building and wheel throwing. 6-week courses run continuously. $100 per course, plus clay and firing costs. Contact Anthea to enrol: anthea@ecofabric.co.nz

Rosemary O’Hara: Classes in the new year (depending on sufficient enrolments of course):

Childrens workshop, morning class 10 to 12 am and possibly an afternoon class 1 to 3 pm on 17th ,19th ,20th ,21st January. Ages 7 years up. Handbuilding. $80 clay and firing included.

Tuesday one off throwing course for beginners, post beginners and intermediates from 4th Jan to 8th Feb 7pm to 9 pm (6 weeks) . $120.plus clay and firing.

Thursdays same as Tuesday except the course rolls over. Starts either 6th or 13th of January 2011.

Contact Rosemary to enrol: phone 233 0003, email roseo@klezmer.co.nz.

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International potter Ben Carter workshop update:

The workshop will be a mixture of hands on, slide show discussion and demonstration.

Cost: members $60 and non members $70

Dates: Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th February 2011

See poster below for more information

If you are able to host Ben, can you please get in touch with Cate Pates

Clays for sale at WPA

How to buy clay

New clay is kept under lock and key in the storeroom. The rooms manager, president and treasurer have keys. Clay is available for purchase on Tuesdays between 10am and 2pm. Please pay immediately. Note that we can’t give change or receipts.

Abbots Stoneware: $22 Traditional buff stoneware.

Abbots Sculptural: $26 Grogged stoneware, suitable for raku or sculptural work. Low shrinkage. Oatmeal buff colour in oxidation, brown in reduction. Firing range: cone 8-10.

Abbots Red: $22 Fine, plastic earthenware. Orange terracotta colour at maturity. 50mesh. Firing range: cone 03-2 (1100-1150).

Red Raku (12.5kg): $26 Great for hand building. Grog content of about 30%. Pale terracotta colour. Won’t take glaze all that well. Firing range: cone 03-5

PCW (Potters Clay White): $36 A versatile, pale grey-firing (grey in reduction) stoneware body with excellent throwing characteristics. Suits many all applications (including raku firings because of a good thermal shock resistance). 80 mesh. Drying shrinkage 5-8%, total when fired about 16%. Firing range: cone 9-10 (1257-1282 degrees centigrade).

W10 (10kg): $23 White clay with a firing range from earthenware to stoneware (similar to Abbots white). (Members using this are impressed with its texture for throwing)

Primo white stoneware (10kg): $20

Primo buff stoneware (10kg): $20

Recycled clay: $7 bag

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Otago Polytechnic Diploma in Ceramic Arts

In association with

Wellington Potters

Association, Inc

If you’re fired up for a career in

ceramics, the Otago Polytechnic’s

Diploma in Ceramic Arts (Level 6) is

absolutely the best way to get there and

is New Zealand’s only specialised

programme in ceramic arts at tertiary

level. The part time course takes four

years and you can study for the distance

diploma here in Wellington.

What will you study?

Studio practice is tutored by experienced

ceramics professionals at Wellington

Potters Centre in Thorndon, while the

theoretical aspects of ceramics- drawing

and design, theory and history of art and

glaze technology -are taught via distance tuition from Otago Polytechnic.

Studio practice

Students attend Wellington Potters’ Centre on a Friday to receive tutoring. Each year consists of three, ten

week modules covering a range of ceramic techniques. Students also have access to electric kilns and

glazing materials and facilities.

Programme for 2011

Term 1:

yr 1: pinch and coil techniques, yr 2: slab building, yr 3: sculpture and surface decoration including

majolica

Tutor: Cate Pates plus guest tutors Sam Ducker-Jones, Mia Hamilton and Gloria Young

Term 2:

yr 1: introduction to wheel throwing, yr 2: throwing part two, yr 3: throwing and altering

Tutor: Jenny Shearer

Term 3:

yr 1: slab and press mould construction, yr 2: plaster and slip casting, (yr 3/4: individual work

programme)

Tutor: Richard Stratton

Additional sessions

Photography workshop by Hamish Trolove

The ins and outs of running, and exhibiting in, a Gallery (tbc)

Anagama and Raku firings run by members of Wellington Potters Association

Free entry to two guest potter workshops held at the Wellington Potters Association

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Fees

Indicative fee for 2011 is $5,106. You may qualify for a student loan for this course.

Contact details

Otago Polytechnic: Freephone 0800 762 786; or email: julie@tekotago.ac.nz. Otago Polytechnic’s website

is: www.tekotago.ac.nz

Co-ordinator for the Wellington programme:

Cate Pates: 04 478 44 33 or 021 143 7705, or email: clpates@hotmail.com

nzpotters.com Newsletter - December 2010. December has arrived on a very sad note with the loss of 29 miners at the Pike Creek coal mine. For any of our members connected in some way to this tragedy please accept our sincere condolences. Those of us who cannot attend the memorial service in Greymouth today will be there in spirit to support the families who have lost loved ones in such tragic circumstances. Surprise $500,000 gift for the arts. Sir Eion Edgar, a well known philanthropist for sport, health and public facilities announced that his family is donating $500,000 to the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. His surprise announcement was made on the occasion of the Foundation’s AGM and Sir Eion’s retirement as a Founding Trustee. Click here to read the full media release. Ceramics Quarterly - we need your stories and images! The copy deadline for the next issue of Ceramics Quarterly is a week away….December the 7th and Peter is in need of some more New Zealand material…..a profile of a potter, an article about a local event, a picture of a wonderful pot or what ever. Please give it a little thought and time …..we want CQ to be a really national magazine. As agreed at our recent exec meeting there will always be room to advertise local events in CQ so please get any copy to Peter at lange52@clear.net.nz To reach him by December the 7th. Please note that the March issue of CQ will come out 2 weeks early in the first week of March in order to maximise publicity for THE BIG SMOKE Click here to go to the Big Smoke website Mystery Pot - do you know who might have made this? We are getting quite a few requests for the identification of pots on our website. The latest is a tall bottle which was in the collection of Keith Thompson. Keith died about ten years ago. He was a lecturer at Massey University in Palmerston North. Click here to see the mystery bottle Lawrence Ewing Web Manager, nzpotters.com

Chris Weaver workshop

Words – Lisa Donaldson, Illustrations – Annabel Wigley, Photos – Cate Pates and Anya Mowll

Chris Weaver’s demonstration week end was awe-inspiring; watching his

incredible skill with clay and listening to his interesting anecdotes of potting on

the West Coast, family help and travel in Asia. Most inspiring were his

descriptions of his own progression, thoughts and problem solving that led him

to make his signature forms starting with the Black Iron Teapot. Chris was

open and generous not only with how he makes his pots but with the tooling,

glazing and firing he does.

Chris is driven by his attention to form, design and function and makes his

own tools to maintain simplicity and for economy of movement and time. He is

always striving for the simplest, most elegant solution. He is a master of

invention and has many West Coast friends who share their diamond drills,

wood turners and perspex! He has a belief that one thing leads to another be

that an invitation or an accident. Many of his beautiful designs have come

about because Chris plays on the wheel and allows himself time to follow

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through on accidents. He also applies that follow through

in design of forms with sides, spouts and handles

repeating shapes. It is no surprise that Chris is invited to

appealing places to show his beautiful ceramics.

Some of the fascinating techniques we watched Chris

demonstrate were self-taught (and often things he was

told not to do):

Throwing with very little water which allows him to

alter the pots on the wheel with little disruption to the

surface.

Throwing baseless cylinders then deforming them.

Untouched up joining seams by an economic turn with

a carved wooden knife.

The twisted wire leaf pattern made on the wheelside then flipped to be a teapot side.

His design solutions for fitting his own wooden handles to pots

…………….and those tools – bowed wires,

cheese cutters, spacers and precise lug hole

rulers – all made with West Coast driftwood…or

from anything found when not at home!

We all left with either a Chris tool or a desire to

make our own or even just to add foam sheets

and a magnetic tool board to our studios. Many

thanks to Chris for sharing his experience with

us, and to WPA for hosting the weekend.

Who’s Who in the WPA

President Roger Pearce 970 2113 rojann@paradise.net.nz Vice President Mauritz Basson 381 6751 mauritz.basson@wellingtonzoo.com

Secretary Alan Ross 566 8922 alross@paradise.net.nz Treasurer Robyn Connolly 977 8448 rob.c@paradise.net.nz

Rooms Manager Jo Moon 972 1123 jomoon@paradise.net.nz

Kilns – Club Firings Sam Duckor-Jones s.duckorjones@gmail.com

Kilns – Repairs Mike Atkins 970 1205 kayne_nz@yahoo.co.nz

Glazes Stoneware: Ivan Vostinar ivan@vostinar.com

Newsletter Editor Saskia Hendrikse saskia.hendrikse@buddlefindlay.com

Librarian Elaine Marland 384 4718 marland@xtra.co.nz

Raku Matters Mike Atkins 970 1205 kayne_nz@yahoo.co.nz

Pit Firing Francesca Costa 479 1522 costaf@xtra.co.nz

NZP Delegate Mal Sole 479 4145 jan.mal@xtra.co.nz

DCA Supervisor Cate Pates 04 478 4433 021 143 7705 clpates@hotmail.com

Email address for the WPA wellingtonpotters@gmx.com

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As a club we try to keep our fees down while still covering costs. If for financial reasons you feel excluded, please contact the President.

Articles for January newsletter need to be emailed to Saskia by 31 December 2010

(paul@clubfido.co.nz)

Clubrooms, 130 Grant Road, Thorndon (opposite George Street), PO Box 6686, Te Aro, Wellington 6011 Phone (04) 473 3680, Email wellingtonpotters@gmx.com

Committee List 2010/2011

Position Name Address Contact number Email

President Roger Pearce 47 Simla Crescent, Khandallah 970 2113 (027 356 4025)

rojann@paradise.net.nz

Vice President Mauritz Basson 9 Kilgour Way Crofton Downs 381 6751 (021 227 8151)

mauritz.basson@wellingtonzoo.com

Secretary Alan Ross 58 Viewmont Drive, Harbour View, Lower Hutt 5010

566 8922 alross@paradise.net.nz

Treasurer Robyn Connolly 2 Worcester Street, Wilton, Wellington 6012

977 8448 rob.c@paradise.net.nz

Immediate Past President

Gwyn Williams gwynwilliams@gmx.com

Committee

Newsletter editor

Saskia Hendrikse 146 Mulhern Road, Judgeford¸ Porirua 5381

H 238 2779 (021 661 324)

Saskia.Hendrikse@buddlefindlay.com

Librarian Elaine Marland 91A Webb Street, Wellington 384 4718 marland@xtra.co.nz

Rooms Manager

Jo Moon 33 Harbour View Road, Northland, Wellington 6012

972 1133 (021 177 4191)

jomoon@paradise.net.nz

Host Rhonda Edwards 12 Connaught Terrace, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021,

389 8751 rhonda_je@yahoo.co.nz

Kilns Mia Hamilton 19 Freyberg Street, Lyall Bay, Wellington 6022

027 668 6711 mia.hamilton@xtra.co.nz

Grants Kate Ford 14A Salisbury Garden Court, Cecil Road, Wadestown, Wellington 6012

473 5356 (021 121 6531)

kate.ford48@gmail.com

Co-opted Members

DCA Coordinator

Cate Pates 2 Trilids Lane, Churton Park, Wellington 6037

478 4433 clpates@hotmail.com

Database lists Vera Burton 20 Motueka Street, Ngaio 938 8207 davee@paradise.net.nz

Kilns & Raku Mike Atkins 13 Nevay Road, Miramar 970 1205 kayne_nz@yahoo.co.nz

Pit Firings Francesca Costa Flat 7, 35 Ganges Rd, Khandallah 479 1522 (027 678 6006)

costaf@xtra.co.nz

Glazes Rosemary O’Hara 8 Reserve Road, Plimmerton 5026 233 0003 roseo@klezmer.co.nz

NZP Delegate Mal Sole 46 Silverstream Rd, Crofton Downs, Wellington

479 4145 jan.mal@xtra.co.nz