A gallery of pottery, from bowls created on the wheel to pieces sculptured by hand, will form a diverse mix at the Craft Potters’ Easter Exhibition and Sale this weekend.
Ian Loten is one of the potters at the Ranzau Rd workshop and, five years after learning to throw clay, is creating a range of work that will be on show at Easter.
“I’m an eclectic thrower,” he explains. “I don’t repeat anything; it’s just for form and shape.”
He has a background in woodturning, so admits he already had the “form and shape” in his system when he took up clay which he works with for his own enjoyment.
“The number of variations in pottery make it an endless challenge. When you talk about clays and glazes together, you end up with this huge mix of possibilities. You never master it – it’s a bit like golf really. There’s always the next challenge.
“One tiny air bubble gets found out in the kiln. You only find mistakes when it comes out of the kiln, so its endless fun opening the kiln to see what you’ve got. The number of times I’ve put glazes together and been unsure of what will happen and then you get stunning results. And obviously the reverse can happen.
“For me, it is very relaxing and very therapeutic; a real sense of satisfaction.”
This year is the club’s 50th anniversary and some members remember when it was called Zenith on Paton’s Rd.
Committee member Margaret Earney says the club and workshop is an amazing asset for the community.
“It is so good for our members’ mental health to be part of a group and be creative.”
Twice a year the club runs an exhibition and sale, being the Easter sale and one in November for Christmas shoppers.
“It showcases all the work being made in the club. People want handmade now and not mass-produced. Handmade is fashionable again and they buy a beautiful piece rather than 10 pieces. There’s the background story of the potter and their influence. You’re sort of baring your soul when you put a piece out to the public.”
Margaret says age is no barrier for pottery and the club has eight and nine-year-old children creating their own masterpieces during holiday workshops and there’s no upper age limit to working with clay. Members can work on their creations day or night, with 24-hour access to the workshop.
The Ranzau Rd workshop will be turned into a gallery for the Easter sale which will run between 10am and 4pm on 30 and 31 March.
