Bethlehem Pottery Club

We’ve had a busy quarter with lots of great things happening at our club and for our members. Our membership numbers are increasing and we’re noticing the studio is being used a lot more every day.

Tuesday Night – Member night was created to support our ” newbies” who have joined. Cat Thompson volunteers on these nights to guide and answer questions so the newbies aren’t so daunted by having the studio to use. This night has been really valuable to new members who are still finding their way with their clay journey. Cat is also attending the Driving Creek Railway 50th celebrations.

BOP Garden & Art Festival – This will be our 3rd time participating in the Bay of Plenty Garden & Arts Festival. This is always a successful, fun event for the Club and our Potters who open up their own studios and gardens. We will also be selling our members’ work at the Club during the Festival. As usual we will have an opening night for members and their families on the Wednesday night before the Festival starts on Thursday. This is always a nice, relaxed evening sharing with members and oohing and aahing at all the gorgeous work, and getting in before the public! This year we will be donating a portion of our sales commission to Zonta. Zonta stands up for women’s rights; they advocate for equality, education and an end to child marriage and gender-based violence.

UKU exhibition in Hastings saw four of our members selected to take part – Suzanne Sturrock, Cat Thompson, Ruth Vickers and Judy Chappell. Special congratulations to Cat, who won the @thepotterystudionz Handbuilt Award for her stunning work “The Last Breath”.

What’s coming up for BPC?

Garden and Art Festival, 14 – 17 November

BPC Christmas Party, 1st December 2pm with Spot Prizes, Ham & Merriment

Rotorua Potters Group

Annual Exhibition – our annual exhibition is starting very soon with our opening night on the 8th of November.

Ceramics NZ Open Studios – Our Studio will be fully open to the public across the weekend of the 25/26th November as part of the Ceramics NZ Open Studios. Pop in to see what our potters are working on! Rotorua Potters Group is made up of club members from all walks of life living in Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty. We have a wide variety of artists who explore throwing, slab building, sculpting and different finishing techniques.

Located in Studio 3 at the Rotorua Arts Village we guarantee that all visitors will find something that they love. Make the most of this visit and check out the pieces on display in our annual pottery exhibition while you are here!

Flora and Fauna Exhibition – coming up from 24 January to 14 February 2025, at the Pot House, Tauranga Historic Village, 17th Avenue, Tauranga. Watch this space…

Coming up for RPG

Annual Exhibition, 8-29 November

Haututū – Come together to Whakawhanaungatanga (Pottery Station), 10 November

Open Studios, 23-24 November

He Kete Rau Mahara: Local Heritage Week Pottery Session, 30 November

Flora & Fauna Exhibition, 24 January to 14 February