Wellington Western region | Te Whanganui-a-tara May-June update
Kia ora koutou
Welcome to your regional news update. Over the coming two months we can look forward to an exhibition of residency works by Shigemitsu Ohara at Toi Mahara Gallery Waikanae; Star Glaze Matariki event at Ōtaki Pottery Club, and a clay workshop with Sydney-based artist, Alana Wilson at The Kilns at Te Horo. We also explore the works of clay artist, Frederick Church – a man of many hats! Kapiti based ceramist, Jennifer Shearer’s recent works for the 39th Easter show, and a David Shearer retrospective.
Jennifer Shearer exhibition | The 39th Easter Show, Hauraki House, Coromandel (2026).
Jenny shares images from the 39th Easter Show, saying it was a special occasion. David Shearer’s retrospective (below) was a first. David died in 2001. He was an original member of the Easter Show group alongside Barry Bricknell, Wailin and Tom Elliot, Dr. Deidre Airey, and Jenny Shearer. This year we included potters Mike O’Donnell, Janet Smith, Maureen Allison, and Fiona Tunnicliffe. Also two full time potters from Driving Creek, Callum Trudgeon and Matilda Halley. Jenny comments there were good sales and a strong and varied show of work.
David Shearer: retrospective
In your region
Kāpiti | The Kilns at Te Horo
Shigemitsu Ohara celebrates his end of residency with an exhibition “Beyond the sky and at hand” at Toi Mahara gallery, Waikanae.
Detail from Shigemitsu Ohashi’s Moon.
As Artemis II heads to the far side of the moon Shigemitsu Ohashi knows exactly what the four astronauts on board should see. The Moon sculpted in minute detail is the centrepiece of his exhibition “Beyond the sky and at hand” at Toi Mahara in Waikanae until 26 July. Accompanying the Moon are Saturn and two other planets plus vases and bowls completed by Shige during his six- month residency at The Kilns at Te Horo.
Next residents at The Kilns
Lyuba Zhilkina will return to The Kilns through May and June and will be followed by Sydney-based Alana Wilson who will begin a three month residency in July.
Alana who has exhibited her work extensively in Australia, Japan, the USA and in New Zealand specialises in handbuilt sculptural works. During her time at The Kilns, Alana intends to experiment with gas fired and atmospheric firings using locally sourced materials and clays. Alana will also hold a workshop while at The Kilns. To register your interest, email thekilnsattehoro@gmail.com
Kapiti | Ōtaki Pottery Club
Star Glaze Matariki Mid Winter Ceramics Festival returns to Ōtaki Friday 10th – Saturday 11th July. This two day event celebrates ceramics, creativity, and community, alongside the Ōtaki Māori Racing Club Race Day on Friday, with hands-on activities, a vibrant exhibition, and a relaxed Saturday featuring raku firing and gallery viewing.
Exhibitor registrations are now open, offering artists the opportunity to showcase and sell their work as part of this unique Matariki event. Note: Registrations close at the end of May and exhibitor spaces are limited. See event page and registration form below to register now:
Event page: https://www.otakipotteryclub.org/star-glaze.html. Registration form: https://forms.gle/19Vfu6q3uhniDmNf7
- Registration fee is $50
- A 25% commission applies to all sales
- Set up is on Thursday prior to the event
- Pack down is on Saturday from 4pm once the festival finishes
If you have any questions, or would like anything further from us, please contact Kylie Van Dyke at Otaki Potery Club: marketingotakipottery@gmail.com
Kapiti based Ceramicist | Frederick Church
Hats! I seem to wear a number of hats. I am a trustee on the Mirek Smíšek Arts Trust. A kiln master for the Hautere Salt/Soda and gas kilns for the Mirek Smíšek Arts Trust. An Education Manager for the Otaki Pottery Club. As well as being on the glaze and kiln teams, I tutor an 8 week slab building class, mainly teaching patience to my students. So pottery plays a big part in my life.
Currently I am residing on the Kapiti Coast after being Pottery Manager at Driving Creek Pottery for several years, enjoying the change in climate. I am working with OPC and artist/potter Sarah Brock developing and organising a series of workshops under the label of “Slow Clay” where we deep dive into topics to do with all aspects of pottery and explore the science and concepts behind the things we do with clay. The more we understand, the more we are able to solve potential problems that we may encounter. We have currently covered topics like Handles, Pricing, Identifying Your Style, The Gentle Art of Cracks, Alternative Firing Types, Feet and many more to come.
The Hautere Kiln is a salt/soda diesel fired kiln designed by Duncan Shearer and built under his supervision in 2023 by a team from Wellington Potters Association and Otaki Pottery Club and me from Driving Creek at the time. As I write this firing #49 is underway at Lavender Creek Farm, Te Horo. It is a lovely little kiln that has matured and now behaves beautifully when treated with respect. I am enjoying introducing new people to the joys, delights and unexpectedness of reduction salt firing.
Expectations are one thing that potters have trouble with. Putting a piece into the kiln and expecting one thing and when unloading the pot it looks different to expectations. My immediate response is put it away for a day then relook with fresh eyes. I also ask whether testing was done. Kilns especially fuel fired kilns with atmospheric changes can do amazing things and the factors of load density, position on shelf, pots alongside each other with different glazes etc can alter the outcome. I have had a gas firing where one side of the pot was in reduction and the other in oxidation. So much fun!
The Hautere Kiln is run by the Mirek Smíšek Arts Trust and is hosted by Lavender Creek Farm and Susi and Vaughan White. Bookings and questions are welcome at thekilnsattehoro@gmail.com
Clay spaces
National | New Zealand Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 5): Ceramics
Wellington | Ceramic classes &/or one-off workshops
Wellington Potters Association – term based (booked via https://www.cecwellington.ac.nz/w/search/pottery/); The Dowse (https://dowse.org.nz/learn/education); Ceramysterium (https://www.ceramysterium.nz/); Inverlocky art school (https://www.inverlochy.org.nz/); Inner City Studio (https://www.innercityartstudio.com/); Te Papa (https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/) , The Learning Connection (https://www.tlc.ac.nz/); Lower Hutt: Hutt art (https://www.huttart.co.nz/pottery-studio); Upper Hutt Mud + Women (https://msha.ke/mudwomanpottery); Sabrina Ayling (https://www.pottersroost.co.nz/);
Kapiti | Ōtaki Pottery Club workshops and term classes (https://www.otakipotteryclub.org/); Pine Haven potters (https://thecommunity.co.nz/clubs/pinehaven-potters-club/)
Whanganui | Whanganui Studio Potters (https://www.whanganuipotters.com/); Whanganui Open Studios (https://openstudios.co.nz/studio/whanganui-creative-space/)
New Plymouth New Plymouth Potters (https://newplymouthpotters.co.nz/); Decopots for supplies (https://decopot.co.nz/pages);
Palmerston North | Mabel Vickers (https://mabelvickers.co.nz/); Square Edge Community Arts (www.comunityarts.org.nz).
For contributions to our next reional update please email me at wellingtonwestern@ceramicsnz.org
Ngā mihi anō
Stephanie Nossiter
Wellington Western representative | Ceramics New Zealand.