Last weekend saw the first firing of the Quarry Arts Centre woodkiln by the newly formed Whangarei Woodfiring Roopu. Over 50 potters submitted 100s of pieces of work to be fired to cone 10 over 36 hours. In the mix were beginners through to established artists like Amorangi Hikuroa, Greg Barron, Mark Mitchell, Israel Dawson, Rosyndrich, Dorothy Waetford and many others.

This has been, and continues to be an amazing learning experience. In the lead up to the firing we held a workshop with Greg Barron an 24 members of the group. Greg took us through woodfiring processes, the specifics of the Quarry kiln and info about glazing for woodfiring. The kaupapa of this group is all about increasing local woodfiring knowledge. In the lead up to the firing we held a workshop with Greg Barron which focused on woodfiring and glazing. And with a grant from our local Creative Communities scheme we are able to subsidise the firing and glazing costs and run more workshops before the next firing in November.  We also set up an exchange with Wellington Potters Association with 3 of their members providing amazing support for the loading and firing of the kiln. In return we will send a few people down to the WPA anagama firing in September.

We are unloading the kiln next Saturday and will share some photos from that.

If you want more information about this please contact Briar on monrobriar@gmail.com

To help connect potters and ceramic artists from Te Tai Tokerau we have set up a Northland Clay Artists FB page. If you live in the Kaipara, Whangarei or Far North District Council boundaries and want to connect with other potters/ceramic artist then please sign up.

Otago Polytech are now in their second year of offering their ceramics diploma at The Quarry Arts Centre. This is being led by the amazing Julie Cromwell and has eight students singed up this year.  For more information visit the Otago Polytechnic website.

The Quarry Arts Centres Ceramics Award will be calling for entries from 19 June. This award is open to artists from across the motu. Entries will close on 12 August with the exhibition opening and award ceremony taking place on Friday 13 October – entry info at https://quarryarts.org/events/quarry-ceramics-awards/