Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatū and Taranaki Updates – September 2024

Kilns at Te Horo

WELCOME NEW RESIDENT ARTIST: TINNI ARORA
Tinni is at The Kilns working in the Blumhardt Studio until 24th September. Call in to say hello!

From New Delhi, she is a skilled studio potter and teacher, specializing in tableware and miniature pottery. Trained under the guidance of Ms Rachna Parasher in India and with a year long apprenticeship at Leach Pottery in England Tinni has developed a deep appreciation for functional pottery and miniature ceramic art – similar to making regular sized pots she creates a variety of miniatures including teapots, jugs, casserole dishes with lids, spouts and handles meticulously crafted on a regular sized wheel.

Workshop – sign up to Tinni’s workshop where you will take part in a baltic  Raku firing called Obvara. Date: 15th September Booking details coming soon.

Exhibition: Tinni’s end of Residency show will be at The Kilns on 22nd September. 11am – 3pm. All work for sale. Eftpos available. Date for your diary!

Ceramicus 2024

The Wellington Potters’ Association is holding its pottery exhibition for its 66th year from Wednesday 30 October – Saturday 9 November. Ceramicus is open to all WPA members; the final pieces for the exhibition will be decided by guest selector and artist for Ceramicus 2024, Felicity Donaldson Smith of Wundaire:

Felicity Donaldson Smith, a multidisciplinary artist and the creative behind Wundaire, relocated from Wellington to Greytown in 2019 with her husband and two small children to create a home studio where she shapes her distinctive ceramics and teaches popular hand-building workshops. With a decade of clay work, her hand-built designs featuring slab work, tinted clay inlay, and trippy multi-layered glazes seamlessly bridge functionality and sculpture.

Over the years, Felicity’s collaborations with iconic New Zealand businesses, including Kowtow, Vogels, Dulux and the Wellington City Gallery. Her work is stocked in selected art galleries & homewares stores both locally and internationally.

Key dates for Ceramicus 2024 are below

Sun 27 October – Ceramicus receiving day (rooms closed all day)
Tues 29 October – Opening night
Weds 30 October to Sat 9 November – Ceramicus exhibition opens
Sat 2 & Sun 3 November – Pop-up market*
Sun 10 November – pot pick up and pack down

Rick Rudd Foundation Emerging Practitioner in Clay Award 2024

Rick Rudd began his life-long passion for clay in September 1968 at Great Yarmouth College of Art, and to celebrate this obsession of 50 years, the Emerging Practitioner in Clay Award has been offered through the Foundation to foster and encourage new talent. The award is offered on a 3 yearly basis and is the biggest prize in the sector.

The Award winner will be announced on 23rd September 2024 and an exhibition of selected works will be on show at Quartz, Museum of Studio Ceramics from 24th September 2024 to 30th March 2025.

The judges for the award are Anna Miles, Bronwynne Cornish, and Rick Rudd. They have selected 34 works from the 76 entries submitted.