Auckland Studio Potters: 50 Years Old - 2011

March 2012 Body of Clay

2012-03-04T15:15:00.003+13:00

I have had a break from the blog while I tried to sort out in my mind what it was all about once the 50th anniversary was over. I think I will just keep a loose record of goings on at and around ASP. We have the website and the newsletter so there will be overlaps. By around, I mean if members are in a show somewhere or have a ceramic event they want recorded, just let me know.

Body of Clay, The Steel Gallery, Pukekohe

3 March - 31 March 2012

Featuring work by a group of fifteen artists who have either graduated or are studying Ceramics through Otago Polytechnic through Auckland Studio Potters.

Opening night

Suzy Dunser

Michelle McKinstry

Carol Stewart

Ann O'Sullivan

Helen Perrett

Jo-Anne Raill

Merilyn Shuker

Roy Burgoyne

Marilyn Wheeler

Kim Rochester

Peter Baas

Susan St Lawrence

Margaret Bray

Mark Griffin

Michelle Brown

ASP 50th Birthday Party

2011-11-06T19:04:00.000+13:00

Begining with an afternoon tea, entertainment included an ASP quiz, songs from Yuko Takahashi and an impromptu song from Les Andrews. The day moved on to a Happy Hour and then a Spit Roast dinner and music from two band: ASP's very own The Porcelaines followed by the dance band, Humble Souls.

A feature of the evening was a spectacular birthday cake kiln cunningly matched by Peter Lange to Suzy Dunser's exquisite Birthday Cake Kiln cake.

Duncan, Stuart and Tony

Les and Sonia sing with the Porcelaines

The Humble Souls

The Porcelaines

The New Workroom - 1994

2011-10-20T17:21:00.001+13:00

Some new photos have come in from Christine Lloyd of the site being prepared for the new studio/workshop building.

I have added some photos posted elsewhere on the blog to add to the story.

Robyn Paul (red trousers) is choosing the spot to turn the first sod.

Tony Bacon on saw duty

An Informal History of Auckland Studio Potters - Introduction

2011-10-09T13:00:00.000+13:00

I thought I would keep this blog as a way of sharing some of the history of the Auckland Studio Potters in 2011: the year it turns fifty. I have no qualifications for this, I have been a member of ASP for the past ten years and volunteered to do this as my little bit towards the ASP's birthday.

It is a bit of a mission for me, learning how to publish a blog, this is my fifth attempt. They keep disappearing. I wonder about all those words floating around out there. Hot air - potters are quite good at hot air. Just so you know what I am having to deal with and why it has taken me two months to get this far, there are dashboards to negotiate, there were kitchen sinks, slugs and pingbacks. I have been warned about the risk of cutting and pasting turning my blog into spam (and maybe that's what happened to my other attempts...I am not really surprised.)

I would like to post on this blog (that's what you do!) pages that I have typed up from the little blue publication The First Twenty Five Years. But first I want to publish this introduction in case it's the cutting and pasting that's the problem. I think some of the history will be a good starting point, but it would be nice to get lots of anecdotes and stories and I have visions of themes, Visitors from Overseas, Special Firings, Exhibitions but I suppose I will have to see how this goes. And what people send me. Lots of old photos would be great.

For a full history please go to this page:

http://www.ceramics.co.nz/History/history.html

Here's one from 1975.

Len Castle: Potter

2011-10-09T12:42:00.000+13:00

Len Castle

Len Castle 1924 - 2011

Len Castle is recognised as one of New Zealand's master potters with a career that spanned more than sixty years. Primarily based in Auckland, Len trained as a secondary school science teacher, and had his first introduction to pottery making in 1947. In 1963 he made the move to leave his job as a science lecturer and become a professional potter. He worked as a fulltime practioner as long as he could.

The following is an excerpt from "Playing with Fire - Auckland Studio Potters turns 50" Published 2011. A Conversation with Tanya Wilkinson.

"My career has encompassed the emergence, flowering and later transformation of the 20th century craft movement. During that time my highlights have been represented by numerous minor and several major peaks.
   "One of the first peaks was discovering the magic of making forms on a potter's wheel. In 1947 I obtained a copy of Bernard Leach's A Potter's Book, which illuminated the practical aspects of making high-fired pottery and workshop methods."

Excerpt from Sunday Star Times:
"Castle first exhibited in 1949. He said that one work sold and weeks later he discovered the mystery buyer was his mother.

''I was so elated somebody would hand over money for something I had made. It gave me the confidence to carry on.

''The locals probably used to think I was a bit loopy. I used to take a wheelbarrow down the suburban streets of Westmere, park it up on the footpath the disappear down a bank to the beach, dig my clay from beneath the sand, carry it up in sacks and wheelbarrow it home.''

In 1957 Len traveled to Bernard Leach's St Ives Pottery after receiving a scholarship from the Association of NZ Art Societies.

In 1963 Len Castle was elected to be a member of the ASP committee.

Another Arts Council grant in 1966 facilitated a trip to Japan where he became interested in shino glazing and the firing that creates the best effects.

   "While in Japan I developed a passion for shino pottery, quite often not so much for the forms that carried the glaze but the glaze itself." (Playing with Fire)

There followed a period of experimental and the resolve to become a professional potter.

"From the late 1960s interest blossomed and I decided I would try selling from home rather than have the hassle of packing and supplying the many galleries who wanted my work. We held open weekends often outside in a natural setting. These were very successful and were our main means of generating an income through the late 1960s and 1970s." (Playing with Fire)

Len received a CBE for Services to Pottery in 1986, and a New Zealand Commemorative Medal in 1990 for services to the country.

In 1994 'Making the Molecules Dance' was the title for Len Castle's retrospective exhibition based on his work made between 1947 and 1994. It was curated by James Mack, director of the Dowse Art Museum. It toured the country and helped Len become a national icon. Len toured extensively, demonstrating and judging exhibitions. He exhibited world-wide, including Australia,Taiwan, Japan, the Netherlands,Sweden, USA and England (Victoria and Albert Museum).

Len Castle received an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Award in 2003, and a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Auckland in 2004. In 2004 he was also awarded a D.C.N.Z.M (Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for Services to Pottery. In 2010 Len was awarded a knighthood but would not accept the title 'Sir'.

An exhibition of around sixy works entitled Len Castle: Mountain to the Sea was organised and curated by Tanya Wilkinson with support from Hawke's Bay Museum & Art Gallery and Creative New Zealand, it toured to selected galleries around New Zealand thoughout 2009 and into 2010.

Len Castle also produced two pottery books Len Castle: Potter 2002 Ron Sang Publications which received a Montana Book Award for Best Illustrative Book and Len Castle: Making the Molecules Dance 2009 Lopdell House Publication which received the New Zealand Post Award for best illustrative non-fiction.

References: Sunday Star Times, Stuff.co.nz, Playing With Fire publication.

Diploma Student Exhibitions

2011-10-04T18:04:00.000+13:00

ASP has provided the studio part of the course for the Auckland based students of the Otago Polytechnic's Diploma of Ceramic Arts programme.  Doing the Diploma has brought together many passionate clay practitioners and this proximity has encouraged students and graduates to work at exhibiting together. Sometimes this is formalised but most often organised amongst the students themselves.

                                                               Great Expectations II, 2011

Fiona Lander

Kim Rochester

Michelle Brown

Water pots by Marilyn Wheeler

Merilyn Shuker

Carol Stewart

Margaret Bray

Mark Griffen

Debbie Neill

Nadine Spalter

Great Expectations 2010
Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa

Marilyn Wheeler

Nadine Spalter

Annie McIver

Susan St Lawrence

Elena Renker

Suzy Dunser

Helen Perrett

2011 - Happy Birthday Auckland Studio Potters

2011-09-30T19:25:00.002+13:00

It's ASP's 50th this year, half a century of people messing about with clay. Some have gone on to become professional potters but for most of the people who have attended classes at ASP it's been all about learning a new skill and having fun playing with mud.

It's been a place which has always generated a strong sense of community, it's always had shared lunches, barbecues and pot luck meals, always had gatherings around fires and kilns. There have been plenty of dogs and children wandering around and I remember the excitement caused by an exploding cabbage and a UFO sighting. No, not random, rather planned mayhem.

During the annual exhibition which was being held at Mairangi Arts Centre during October, there was a special small display of pots owned by ASP and held by the Auckland Museum. It was a rare opportunity to see these 30 pieces on display alongside an exhibition of contemporary ceramics by current ASP members.

There was also a video playing in the main galleries with a selection of videos and photographs of events and people associated with ASP.

Here's a selection of photographs from the show:

Margaret Milne 1971

Bronwynne Cornish 1992

Warren Tippett 1983

Scott Hockenhull

Christine Thacker 1987

And the 2011 Show:

Bowl and candle holders by Sarah Guppy

Merit Award winner: Brendan Adams with Perfume Bottles

Premier Winner: Jo Ann Raill with Beehives in Paris

Merit Winner: Chuck Joseph

Co-Selector: Lex Dawson

Alex Whyte

Greg Barron

Annie McIver

Diploma Graduate: Susan St Lawrence

Barbara Miller-Reilly

Juliet Roborough

Kim Rochester

Paddy Bourke

Jin Ling Zhang

Helen Perrett

Double Merit Award Winner: Julie Collis

Rod Davies

Diploma Graduate: Jacgui Brown

Nadine Spalter

Frank Checketts

Simon Leong

Yuko Takahashi

Carol Stewart

St Ives Folk Club playing at Corellis Cafe, Devonport, since renamed The Porcelains

Bronwynne Cornish and Diploma students

Student Exhibition at the Centre, a very successful one week show which has been running for three years. The Monday night class have organised the event for the past two years and provided a celebratory event with chilli and mulled wine.

1990

2011-09-23T22:13:00.000+12:00

John Green and Class

Elizabeth Fritch and Seigi Kobayashi
Fletcher Challenge Ceramic Awards

Gallery

2011-09-05T22:12:00.003+12:00

Fiona Lander

Annie McIver

Petra Molloy

Nadine Spalter

All You Ever Wanted, Group Show by ASP Members. 2010

Anne O'Sullivan

Graham Ambrose

Alex Whyte

Peter Collis

Elena Renker

Graham Ambrose

Renee Boyd

Jo Anne Raill

Margaret Sumich

Vince Kobylarz

Annie McIver

Alex Whyte

Anne Crane

Charade Honey

Monopoly by Helen Perrett

Brendan Adams

All You Ever Wanted opening at The Depot, Devonport 2010
A group show by ASP potters.

Chair by Peter Lange, Rabbits by Charade Honey, Roses by Gael Baldock, Fire and Clay 2008

Brick People, Helen Perrett, 2008

Vessels by Steve Bailey, 2008

Bottles by Jo Anne Raill, 2008

Grancy Fu, 2008

Matt McLean 2007

Gael Baldock and Aylex Icevich

Graham Ambrose

Domesticware Exhibitions at ASP

2011-09-04T21:34:00.003+12:00

2011 Domestic Ware Award Winners
Selector: Rosie Murray

Susan St Lawrence and Alex Whyte admire pots by Theresa Watson (left) and Nadine Spalter (right)

2008 Domesticware Award, selector: Duncan Shearer

President, Michael Billington

Renton Murray, Director

Trien Steverlynck

Suzy Dunser

Duncan Shearer, presenting awards

2007 Domestic Ware Award

Selected by Margaret Sumich

Winner Elena Renker with three bowls.

Merits to Helen Perrett, Peter Shearer, Kathy Baird, Steve Bailey and Grancy Fu.

Photos are on the ASP website www.ceramics.co.nz

2009

2011-09-04T21:22:00.002+12:00

Big Clay Day Out

Raku sideshow at BCDO

Fire and Clay 2009

Opening Night

Rick Rudd, the selector, and Annie McIver

Anita Barlass receiving a bouquet for her work designing and setting up the show.

Susan St Lawrence and tiles, photo by John Pirtle

The Landscapers Boat by Helen Perrett, Merit Award, photo by Howard Williams

Merits also received by Peter Lange and Lex Dawson but I don't have photos of these.

Big Smoke Conference, April 2011

2011-09-04T19:31:00.000+12:00

Paul Maseyk demonstrating

Carla Ruka demonstrating

Scoria Kiln

Red hot pinata, broken open by Gustavo Perez of Mexico

Gustavo Perez demonstrating

Linda Christiansen of USA demonstrating

Faces of the ASP

2011-09-04T12:47:00.031+12:00

Brendan Adams

Nicky Jolly

Chester Nealie and Jenny Williams

John Parker

Richard Fahey

Trevor Bayliss

Gael Baldock and Jacgui Brown

Duncan and Chris

Barry Brickell

Chester Nealie

John Green

Andrew Van der Putten

Lex Dawson with his children and the Summer School participants and their creations.

Peter Collis

Margaret Sumich

Diploma students unloading the Phoenix Kiln

Chris and Suzy

Rachel Carter

Miscellaneous

2011-09-03T18:19:00.003+12:00

Student Show 2010

Domesticware Selector: Rosie Murray

Monday Class Morning tea

Rod Davies and Lee Le Grice

Lex Dawson's Children's class

Unloading Anagama

Big Clay Day Out

Building a kiln lesson, 2009

Diploma students soda firing 2010

Rick Rudd workshop.

Aylex stoking the Phoenix Kiln.

Aylex and Judy Rae in the centre.

Chester Nealie in the red and black swandri.

Carol Stewart greeting Sanae Shirae, Charade Honey looking on.

Wally Hirsch, Judith Tizard and Lex Dawson

Big Clay Day Out 2003

UFO sighting...

Tony Lowe testing the catapault

Nick Holland, Chris Southern and Adrian Beavis

Fiona Lander, Rebekah Hall and Susan St Lawrence at the Student Show, 2011

Kim Rochester after a successful firing, 2010

Taken at the Big Smoke conference, Unitec, April 2011. Rick Rudd, Duncan Shearer and Jacqui Brown on the right.

John and Margaret Sumich

1987

2011-09-03T17:49:00.001+12:00

Pit firing, 1st term

Diploma of Ceramic Arts

2011-09-03T12:09:00.039+12:00

The ASP provides the Studio component for Otago Polytechnic's Diploma of Ceramic Arts Auckland based students. It has been an interesting addition to ASP life giving passionate potters an opportunity to immerse themselves in clay (so to speak) to an even greater level and to add an academic qualification. Every year 12 students enroll for the programme.

The programme was first taught at ASP in March 2003 and John Parker was the first tutor. There were six students.

Many of ASP's long standing members have been able to teach modules of the programme - to name some: John Parker, Peter Collis, Duncan Shearer, Peter Lange, Bronwynne Cornish, Graham Ambrose, Ande Barratt Hegan, Penny Ericson, Campbell Hegan, Toby Twiss, Christine Thacker, Merilyn Wiseman, Andrew Van der Putten, Brendan Adams and Peter Shearer.

Toby Twiss Module, Modelling from life and using an armature, building a mould...

Lois Jameson, modelling for the students.

Brendan Adams Module, 2010

Mark Griffin

Peter Collis Module, 2010

Susan St Lawrence with Village of Teapots

Peter Collis Studio Visit

Graham Ambrose Hand Building module, Feb 2010

Graham

Mark Griffin

Duncan Shearer Throwing Module, Feb 2009

Vince Kobylarz

Anne O'Sullivan and Duncan

Assessment for Duncan's module, Feb 2009

Christine Thacker - hand building, November, 2009

Figures by Helen Perrett

Carla Ruka Module, March 2010

Susan St Lawrence, Horse

Kim Rochester

Fiona Lander, Debbie Neil, Adele Foster, Kim Rochester

Carla Ruka Pit Firing & exhibition, Pakiri, March 2010

Marg Bray, Kim Rochester, Debbie Neil, Adele Foster, Anne O'Sullivan

Ann Crane - Slip casting, Aug 2010

Peter Lange Firing Module, 2009

2009 Diploma class soda firing with tutor Peter Lange, assisted by Aylex

Andrew Van der Putten Throwing Module

Class visit to Andrew's studio

John Parker Module, Exhibition for One Hour at Masterworks, 2007

A Diploma student exhibition at the Band Hall, Big Clay Day Out, 2005?

2010

2011-09-03T11:35:00.003+12:00

Guest Selector: Hilary Kerrod, Diploma Graduate: Helen Perrett

Auction, Big Clay Day Out

Checking that the catapault is still in working order.

Diploma Student Exhibition at the Big Clay Day Out, work by Ann O'Sullivan

Susan St Lawrence and Suzy Dunser at the launch of the ASP Cookbook.
All food pictured features in the book.

Monday Morning class filling the Phoenix Soda kiln

Monday morning class, admiring the results of the firing

ASP President Peter Lange and passerby inspecting the bench made by Peter on K Rd.

At the K Rd launch.

1995

2011-09-02T17:17:00.000+12:00

Takashi Yasuda workshop

Moyra Elliot, Matt McLean, Penny Evans (Back)

Jenny Price, Greg Barron, Pru Venables (Front)

1985

2011-09-02T15:34:00.002+12:00

Alan Peascod, Australian potter, demonstrating

Brian Gartside firing, Penny looking on.

Raku firing day with Una Sharpley

Outgoing Director Pam Robertson and incoming Director Lex Dawson, 1985

Brian Muir, selector 1985, describes his selection criteria

Merilyn Wiseman, guest exhibitor

Works by John Green, Moyra Elliott, Christine Purdom

Work by Catherine Anselmi, Phillip Luxton

Work by Beverley Luxton

Description of ASP origins from 1985 catalogue

2007

2011-08-23T08:24:00.014+12:00

Works by Rick Rudd, John Parker.

Guest Selector 2007, Campbell Hegan

Diploma Graduates: Rachel Carter, Elena Renker and Marilyn Wheeler

Work by Matt McLean, Dave Wolland, Petra Molloy, Kelvin Bradford and Helen Perrett

Work by Steve Bailey, Brendan Adams and Greg Barron

Rachel Carter and Wally Hirsh

Aylex pugging

Fletcher Brownbuilt Awards 1977 - 1981 Excerpts from Catalogues

2011-08-23T08:24:00.004+12:00

Fletcher Brownbuilt Awards Excerpts from Catalogues 1981 -

2011-08-23T08:22:00.001+12:00

Sponsorship change:

1978

2011-08-21T12:02:00.005+12:00

1976

2011-08-21T11:37:00.003+12:00

1972

2011-08-21T10:11:00.011+12:00

1971

2011-08-21T10:10:00.001+12:00

1965

2011-08-21T10:00:00.000+12:00

1970

2011-08-21T09:45:00.002+12:00

1967

2011-08-21T00:04:00.002+12:00

1966

2011-08-20T23:43:00.003+12:00

1964

2011-08-20T22:42:00.004+12:00

Handwritten comments made by Doris Dutch

1963

2011-08-20T18:50:00.004+12:00

1977

2011-07-27T13:45:00.006+12:00

Warren Tippet, 1977 exhibition selector: Photo below (not from the catalogue)

John Parker, guest exhibitor 1977

Work by Barbara Hockenhull and Bronwynne Cornish

Work by Warren Tippet

Work by Don Thornley

Work by Ian Smail

More pots by Ian Smail

1993

2011-07-27T13:10:00.000+12:00

1979

2011-07-27T13:05:00.016+12:00

Kiln Building with Lex Dawson, 21 April 1979

Levelling sand on top of hollow concrete blocks.

Starting the second course and using generous amounts of GB2 slurry to join bricks.

Lex Dawson, yellow tee shirt.

Putting in the arch

Lunchtime after 11th course.

Nett and Christine relaxing before arch goes in.

Kiln completed and packed, ready to light.

First puff of smoke

Lex Dawson and a chimney, I am awaiting the story that goes with this.

Trevor Bayliss, selector 1979

Salt glazed ware by Rosie Murray

Bottles by John Parker

Teapots, Campbell Hegan and Beverley Luxton

Deadly Snakes and Ladders by Michael Lucas and Jill Totty

1975

2011-07-13T12:39:00.008+12:00

At the back of the catalogue was a souvenir calender for 1976 featuring pots from the exhibition:

1988

2011-07-13T12:22:00.028+12:00

1973

2011-07-13T12:02:00.005+12:00

From the 1973 ASP 11th Annual Exhibition catalogue.

2008

2011-07-05T16:05:00.021+12:00

Peter Stichbury's Thursday Morning Class

Exhibition Centrepiece

2003

2011-07-05T15:19:00.009+12:00

Fire and Clay

(Awaiting a catalogue)

Exhibition Officer: Jenny Williams, Selector and Guest Exhibitor: John Parker

Commendations: Erlanda McLeay, Rod Davies, Alex Whyte, Petra Molloy, Judy Rae, Anne Hudson, Paula Moros, Leigh Matthews, Jenghis Poor, Lois Jameson.

Merit Award winning piece by Rod Davies

Big Clay Day Out

Setting up the studio

Big Clay Day Out

Wally Hirsch auctioning John Green piece held by Lex Dawson

2002

2011-07-05T15:14:00.007+12:00

Fire and Clay

Big Clay Day Out

2000

2011-07-05T14:58:00.001+12:00

The first pizza oven

2006

2011-07-05T14:42:00.013+12:00

2006 Selector Brendan Adams with Fire and Clay Winner, Renton Murray with his winning plate.

Co-Director, Duncan Shearer with Bill Samuels, 2006 Portage Judge at ASP

Bill Samuels' workshop

Crater Clay Potter's Conference (NZSP) Taupo

featuring ASP members

Big Clay Day Out