Our annual pit firing took place Saturday evening, July 5th at Dan Ferguson’s farm. Dan had the pit prepared and we all had fun helping setting our pots on their bed of sawdust and straw and watching Dan make the final tweaks before we covered them with another layer of straw and dried cow manure and wood.
While the fire roared we sat around and enjoyed a typical yummy guild potluck supper.
Saturday morning we went back to find our beautiful pots in the ashes. We really appreciate Dan sharing his skills and facilities with the guild.
~ Jackie Hodge
Pots are placed in the pit on top of various materials
Dan carefully arranges and adds more straw to the pit.
Darlene helps add the straw
Dan, putting the cow manure on top of the pots.
The pit covered and ready to light.
Here are the firebugs watching the fire take hold. this will burn over night, the pots ready to be revealed the next morning.
Mayor Bennett came to cut the ribbon to formally open our premises
We had a great day yesterday with lots of really good sports.
Mayor Bennett of Peterborough came and cut the ribbon of our new premises and then hand made a bowl that we will be selling at the YWCA’s Empty bowl event taking place on June 21st. He has spent time making pies, we suspect! Then we had MP Dean Del Mastro on hand in the afternoon and he threw a bowl as well! He learned the the placement of the tongue is very important when making pottery. We were impressed that he was able to throw a pot and keep his black suit clean!
Mike Judson made a newsroom desk for CHEX
The boys from CHEX, Tyler Calver and Mike Judson also made bowls on the wheel and had a great time. Mike Judson had such a good time he stayed longer and made a news desk! (Tyler wanted to stay but had a prior engagement) It’s such a fun place here that people love to stay!
We were impressed with all of guests that came out yesterday. What good sports. Mike and Tyler even did a re-enactment scene from the movie Ghost. Very funny.
We are still open today from noon – 4 and we welcome all to come down and view our facilities. You can have a go trying out building things with clay at our working area and be inspired to take a class! We know we will see the fellows that were here yesterday again! 🙂
Here are some photos from the day. The Spinners and Weavers as well as the Woodturners were also on hand demonstrating their art in our lovely courtyard. There is plenty of parking, so please feel free to visit.
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We were honoured to have Liz Willoughby presenting on Monday, May 13th at the Kawartha Potters Guild. She was very interesting and showed us how she puts together her Uwers with their spouts. Very good tips from a pro.
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Check out CHEX TV on Monday May 6th at 5pm for the visit to our studio. Rita Nave and cameraman Kevin Wheeler came to the guild this morning at 9am and had a go at throwing a pot, and looked around our studio and the gallery. What good sports they were!
Here are a couple of images of June giving a throwing lesson.
June gives a lesson to Rita Nave on the wheel with Kevin Wheeler filmingCarolyn looks on.
We are going to be introducing two new courses in the near future. “Slip Decoration” with George Stewart and “Throwing” with Darlene Malcolm-Moran. And if you have seen the beautiful work by both of these potters, you will want to be part of these courses!
More information as soon as the dates are firmed up.
Angelo di Petta came to our guild to talk to us in April and discussed critical thinking and how to make intelligent comments about a work of art or a design. He looked at a few pieces of pottery that a few brave members had brought in and discussed this theme.
He kindly gave us a handout about this and we share it here.
