I love the colours of earthenware clays and using slips and terra sigillatas. I am inspired by traditional making methods, coiling, burnishing, scraffito, folk art and the endless patterns of nature. I find it hard to take a walk on the beach or in the bush without coming home with half a dozen leaves, shells, stones, feathers, bits of bark for me to transcribe into my work.
In late 2014 I opened my long-awaited studio at home in Plimmerton. That year also saw me taking my turn as President of Wellington Potters Assn where I have held my classes, and attending Hawaiians Kate and Will Jacobson’s very inspiring ‘Naked Raku’ weekend workshop in Wellington.
At this point in time I am producing my original design of chicken bricks (Rommertoff’s) or vege bakers, pizza stones, slipped terracotta cups and bowls for sale at the Thorndon farmers market, as well Naked Raku pieces for exhibitions and galleries.
If you are interested in my work you can contact me at email@example.com or ring/ text me 021 201 6764. Visits to my Plimmerton studio are welcome by appointment.
I am relief teaching in local primary schools and have a small number of piano students. I play piano and sing in the ‘Klezmer Rebs’, a Yiddish/Eastern European ethnic folk band, with my husband David Weinstein and 6 other musicians. Check us out www.klezmer.co.nz
How I got started
I started handbuilding pottery at Wellington Teachers College in 1977 and a few years later I left primary teaching and set up a pottery studio in Upper Cuba St in Wellington. After a 6 month apprenticeship with Murray Clayton in Wadestown I potted more or less full time, as finances would allow.
I sold through the Clayshapes and The Potters Shop co-operatives in Wellington. I produced slip decorated earthenware domestic and terracotta baking wares. I taught several classes a week at Wellington High School CEC, children’s holiday classes and weekend workshops in coiling and slip decoration. I exhibited annually at Wellington Potters exhibitions, was represented in NZ Society of Potters National and Crafts Council exhibitions between 1982 and 1996.
A trip to South East Asia in 1991, that included studying and photographing village pottery production in Northern Thailand and Lombok, Indonesia, greatly influenced my love of hand building and coiling and opened the door to making larger pieces.
In the wake of the economic downturn of the late 90’s I sold my studio to focus on studying, but I kept my hand in with pottery, taking weekly night classes and regular school holiday programs.