Wellington Western region | July -August update

Kapiti region

New International artist takes up residency at The Kilns

Conservator and ceramic artist Jasmina Vuckovic is the new Resident Artist at The Kilns at Te Horo.  Born and raised in Belgrade, Jasmina has been working as a conservator and art tutor in southern England while extending her own ceramic art.

“I am a maker and a restorer. As a restorer I am drawn to the broken and fractured, while as a maker I seek to create new forms that speak of the fragility of growth,” Jasmina says.

“My fascination with crumbling structures started early on. Since childhood, I was captivated by and saw the beauty in derelict buildings, ruins and shipwrecks – as eerie monuments of human history while providing a background for new life.”

“Those feelings of melancholy and bygone times intertwined with hope and rebirth inspire my art.”

During the three-month residency Jasmina intends to produce a body of work which will draw on the large, crumbling structures with contrasting delicately modelled details such as a shipwreck and exquisitely detailed islands.”

“I believe ceramics to be the perfect medium embodying ideas of permanence and fragility at the same time. Through using different types of clay, I seek to bring together those contrasts: strength and vulnerability, disintegration and repair.

“I like to push the boundaries of clay, making delicate and precariously balanced pieces, often defying the viewer’s expectations of stability. By creating forms that seem fragile and/or slightly off balance, I aim to evoke a sense of wonder and tenderness -inviting the viewer to find beauty in brittleness,” Jasmina says.

Her work has been presented at more than 20 national locations and internationally in Serbia. Previous residencies include Dragacevska Terracotta (2006), Donji Dubac, International art colony Decije selo (2007) in Serbia and West Dean College (2011) England.

 Jasmina’s residency at the Kilns began on 1 July and will run until the end of September. During her time at The Kilns Jasmina will offer one workshop, the first provisionally scheduled for early September. Contact  thekilnsattehoro@gmail.com for further details and bookings.

Ceramist: Jenn Leov residency – The Kilns at Te Horo

The Te Horo residence and studio have a rhythm of transience. Residing by a motorway in an old train station for three months whilst watching the Tararua mountain range change with the seasons. Spinning the wheel with my foot with the soundscape of the forest/bird mixed with transport travelling swiftly beside. It was my temporary place of refuge, exploration, kind people and a lot of pots.

I was lucky to be the resident Potter from April to June this year at The Kilns at Te Horo. My time breezed past and I enjoyed many hours potting on the Leach wheel outside the Doreen Blumhardt studio, with the pleasant view of Mirek’s  beehive kilns keeping me company. I had an eventful residency with two salt firings in the Hautere kiln and one wood firing with soda off site. Potter friends came to stay and fire over Easter from Te Wai Pounamu, a birthday kiln unload, many rainbows, a  sold out workshop and many, many ideas to translate into work kept me busy and daily meandering Mirek’s paths in the little forest kept me connected to the surroundings.

All of which contributed to the body of work I exhibited on Matariki weekend with the beautiful kilns acting like a backdrop. I created a mixture of sculptural forms and domestic ware ranging from a quirky table setting to crowns and sculptural flowers.

 I used this residency to experiment with shapes and develop my glazes utilizing site specific materials such as pumice and ash and of course explore Mirek’s recipes courtesy of Pamella. Thomas Baker’s previous slip development from his time there meant I had some already made up with tests to admire to  jump in and use. Pamella Annsouth let me spend time with her ledger of recipes and workshop notes spanning many years and firings. A very special mention to Pamella who quickly became a friend; I am so thankful for her time and energy and caring disposition. Frederick was a great kiln master to work with and I really appreciate his help over my time. Jane Manthel and Jenny Shearer deserve a mention also for their help too, as do Susi and Vaughn at Lavender Creek farm for their hospitality.

I really enjoyed letting the environment inform and inspire my surfaces either through carving details I saw directly onto my pots. Or hand manipulating my pots into different shapes after throwing or using ash from the surroundings in my glazes. I had so much fun experimenting and I hope that my work conveys the freedom and playfulness that I felt whilst residing and creating there.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Blind Low Vision Pottery Workshop and Tactile Tour with Jenn Leov

Nairn Street Cottage, Wellington. Thursday 17 July, 10am-12pm. Free

Join us at the Nairn Street Cottage visitor centre (Wellington) for a hands-on pottery workshop with Kāpiti potter, Jenn Leov. 

Jenn will show us how to make some simple pottery pieces, followed by a tactile tour with some special items from our heritage collection. This event is for blind and low vision participants only. Companion tickets also available. 

Capacity is limited. Please contact NellT@experiencewellington for further details and to secure your place. 

Click here for accessibility information.

The 70s Dames 2025: Anneke Borren, Jenny Shearer, Pamella Annsouth

Exhibition 21 June–27 July 2025
Toi Gallery, Pātaka, Porirua

Working in three distinctive styles; carved and decorated vessels, porcelain domestic ware, and sculptural pieces, these three artists display some of the diversity of potting. See Pātaka for exhibition details. https://pataka.org.nz/whats-on/exhibitions/the-70s-dames-2025/