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Dorset Pottery Group Newsletter October 2003 |
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Contents Report on General
Meeting Reports on Potfest SW and DACA
Show Report on Extruding
Day Future Events
and Links |
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Links
to Other Documents A
membership form with Standing Order instructions. Please
deal with this and tell your bank to send us the money! Annual
Exhibition at Bridport Arts Centre 21st October to
Paperwork
:- Posters – Please
display these (contact Bill if you want more copies) Invitations
to Preview on Sunday 19th October Print
out your invitation to pin on your wall! Registration
Forms and conditions, these are for potters to book
their spaces. It would be useful to let us know if you are not appearing
this year (if you normally do). Please return the form soon, so that
we know who to expect to turn up and can plan the layout. |
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The
meeting marked the retirement of Alan Ashpool from
active duty as Hon Secretary ever since he founded the group. Alan was presented
with Honorary Life Membership and the Titles of President of the Dorset Pottery
Group and Keeper of The Bridport Ammonite. Alan is still furthering the cause
of Dorset Potters with his efforts to establish the Bridport Ceramic Prize
(see below)
A
healthy number of potters attended the meeting and gave support for some changes
and new ideas. There was no contest for chairmanship of the group, so Bill
Crumbleholme is still The Man. Sarah Herring was happy to continue as Hon
Treasurer with added responsibility for membership, no accounts were presented
due to a temporary breakdown in communications, but the group bank account
apparently has a stash of a couple of hundred quid. The only recent transactions
relate to the annual show and the sale of Bridport Ammonite Postcards (which
have produced a steady income stream.)
The
post of Hon Secretary was not filled at the meeting – it would seem Alan is
too hard an act to follow! For the time being Bill will do the job and is
learning Judo so that he can twist arms without breaking them!
The
Newsletter future of the DPG Newsletter was discussed, the idea to scrap it
produced the desired backlash of support and so it will continue. Carenza
Heyhoe, of the Wellbeloved Gallery on
After
some fired up rhetoric it was agreed to start collecting a membership subscription,
this was agreed to start at £6 per year for individual members of the group.
The
setting up of a group website was welcomed, Bill’s
plan for this is explained elsewhere.
The
members present agreed to help promote the group by arranging and supporting
activities, the members are welcome to organise
events and invite members to attend, maybe as part of their normal potting
life. Jo Scott took this up and invited people to her workshop (see report).
A
calendar of activities will be drawn up for 2004.
A
Revised Constitution was agreed to cope with the changes proposed. This is
available on request and will be displayed on the website.
Annual Exhibition at Bridport Arts Centre
21st October to
The
enclosed paperwork gives the details of this year’s annual group effort. Members
must use the form to book space and all are welcome to show their wares and
join in the fun. We have established a good reputation with this event and
achieve good visitor numbers. The last few events have not been quite as good
in terms of sales compared to previous years, but that seemed to be global.
We are hoping for improvements this year. Please help the event prosper by
telling all your friends and associates about it.
Just
a reminder that Bill is not available to organise
the 2004 event, so if you want it to happen someone is going to have to take
over, all the paperwork is on computer so that is easy, the display is a group
effort, but the publicity needs some new approaches.
A
BRIDPORT CERAMIC PRIZE – Alan Ashpool
For some months I have been looking into the possibility
of setting up a national/international Pottery Prize on the lines of both
the prestigious Bridport Literary Prize and the Bridport Open Art Competition.
I shall shortly be preparing a discussion paper about this. If any member
would like a copy of this paper or would like to get involved in the project
please let me know.
You can reach me on 01297-489347
or by Email:- alanashpool@waitrose.com
The
General Meeting agreed that the group should set up its own website with domain
name. Bill is willing to be webmaster, he has had experience with the Upwey
Potters website and is currently trying to master dynamic programming, which
would enable members to post their own pages of text & images & contribute
to the general pages, newsletters & on-line discussions. Better links
into & from existing websites would promote the Group. Members could be
forwarded enquiries automatically, but without their e-mail addresses being
published – this avoids the site being a source of unwanted e-mail spam. Members could be given their own e-mail addresses linked
to the site address if they want. The Group would get a better hit rate from
browsers searching for Potters in
Meanwhile
Bill Crumbleholme’s website still has a section
devoted to the Dorset Pottery Group and many other pottery related matters,
it can be reached through
www.upweypotters.com
Report on Potfest South West
– September 2003 Pat
March
Our excursion to PFSW was surprising in several ways.
Firstly to find it so far out of the town of
Many exhibitors were obviously old hands who had cleverly
made fitted backdrops and stands to disguise their surroundings, but all methods
of draping the bars showed off the wares to their best advantage.
Some intrepid potters had even come from across the
Channel.
The individuality and creativity of the human brain
was amply demonstrated by the infinite number of forms that clay had become.
There was something for every taste, need and pocket.
Seemingly every form, scale, clay, glaze, and firing process represented;
from large outdoor sculptures to small detailed figures, from decorative to
functional, from porcelain to crank and everywhere in between.
Although there was so much to see, it was not on an
overwhelming scale and, at least on the Friday, no jostling in the aisles.
When a mind-break was needed there was always the excellent on-site café to
provide nourishment and respite.
Although billed as a market event, outside in the car
park a fullsize brick kiln had been built to demonstrate
a woodfired salt glaze firing which was to last
all night and be opened the following day. (Despite the billowing black clouds
of smoke I was assured by a Phd in the subject that
it was no more harmful than soda glazing).
Overall an atmosphere of cheerful camaraderie prevailed
and I look forward to repeating the inspiring experience next year.
Visit the website:
www.potfest.co.uk
Report
on Dorset Art & Craft Association Show 2003
The
Upwey Potters returned and took over a room, dressed it with their usual flair
(and fleeces) and were awarded the Challenge Cup for their efforts. They thus
join the illustrious ranks of former recipients such as the Upwey & Broadway
WI Handkerchief Club, Alan Wallwork and Don Potter.
The show attracted reasonable numbers of viewers, but not too many open chequebooks.
Sales of smaller trinkets were brisk, but sensible sized ware was slow to
shift. As a shop window the event works well.
If
any more potters want to join the ranks next year, please contact the Upwey
Potters for details. If enough people were interested you could see if you
could take over a room as the Dorset Pottery Group.
Invitation
to
Throwing & Raku Firing Workshops
Sundays 2003 - 10am to 5pm
9th & 23rd November &
At Upwey Old School Hall (North of
Bill
is running some more informal Sunday workshop sessions for folk from evening
classes and other invited friends, such as DP Group Members.
Phone Bill with the dates you want to come – the numbers
are limited. You can come for the whole day or just a couple of hours. You
can use the craft room facilities, working on the wheels or hand-building.
Bill will be firing his pots in the Raku kiln, you
can fire your own biscuit ware (subject to quality control!) & biscuited bowls will be sold for visitors to use. You apply
the various glazes & then watch the firing. After cooling, you clean them
up & take them home. Allow at least 3 hours for this.
Wear old clothes & shoes (waterproof, but nothing
too inflammable).
Bring a camera, food & drink.
The cost per person is £5 (special DPG rate, for up
to 7 hrs!), plus material & firing costs. Pay on the day, but book now
to avoid disappointment!
Check
the website for details and pictures. www.upweypotters.com
REPORT FROM THE ANCIENT POTTER
Bill
Crumbleholme has been working with archaeologists recently, researching local
prehistoric and Roman pottery and doing some experimental work. Bill's website
has some images & descriptions. Hopefully a small display will be set
up at the Bridport show with some of the results & pictures of the kilns.
Bill is doing a presentation at the Museum in
EXTRUDING
DAY - SOUTHWELL,
Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to be
awarded the Dorset Art and Craft Association Bursary. With the money
I bought an extruder. I offered to host a days 'play' with my new toy at the
end of June. However, despite newsletter notices and signs everywhere on site,
not all those who set out managed to get there, which is a shame because those
who did really enjoyed it. The weather was good and we were able to
work and eat outdoors.
I bought a 'Clay Bulley'
The biggest snag with this extruder is that because of its size I am not really
able to operate it efficiently on its own, furtunately
Bill provided the muscle and proved invaluable at pulling the handle and generally
being blokeish (in the nicest possible way of course)
We used crank to make the basic shapes - a hollow
square about 10cm across and a tube about the same diameter. A lot of 1cm
coils were extruded too so that everyone was able to experiment with a variety
of shapes. The hardest bit of the day was cleaning it out after use.
I was surprised and gratified to see how much enjoyment
everyone had from creating unique and interesting pieces. I haven't heard
from the people who came but I hope all the pieces got home in one piece and
I look forward to seeing the finished products at our next exhibition.
I would be very happy to host another such day in
the not too far distant future, and would be happy to have visitors at my
wonderful studio - but do call first to check I'm there.
Jo Scott. 35d
jo@wykeregispottery.co.uk
tel 01305 781981. www.wykeregispottery.co.uk
Dorset Art Week – 29th
May – 13th June 2004
Just a reminder for your diaries of this premier Open Studio
event, which features several DPG members. Look out for the guides early in 2004.
There is space for individuals
to exhibit at Wessex Barn in Frampton during Dorset Art Weeks. If you would like more information
about 'ArtXtra' and how to apply for space contact:
jane @wessexbarn.co.uk
or ring 01300 321348.
It
is up to members to suggest the events that they would organise
and/or support, the General Meeting welcomed several ideas based on groups
of members getting together to run single events.
Carenza Heyhoe of the Wellbeloved Gallery has offered to entice her famous exhibitors to run
a masterclass session for the Group – at the St.Georges Centre,
Visits to members studios – is anyone brave enough to invite us in?
ArtsMatrix - Professional Development for Creative Practitioners
Arts Council England, South
West is pleased to announce the start of their exciting new initiative – ArtsMatrix
ArtsMatrix is a scheme offering professional
development information and advice for creative practitioners, and is based
in five arts organisations throughout the South
West region. From answering simple phone enquires to providing a full Professional
Development Programme of three face to face sessions,
your local ArtsMatrix co-ordinator is there to help
you with your development and it's all free of charge! Contact details as
follows:
Steve Crabtree, ArtsMatrix Co-ordinator based at PVA in Bridport, on 01308
412334
You might like to look at the
following websites, when you have a spare moment – if you do not want to have
to type them in they are listed as hyperlinks in
the DPG pages with www.upweypotters.com
Please e-mail in any other
sites you find of interest
Website entry via www.upweypotters.com (for now!)
Bill Crumbleholme,
Chairman, e-mail bill@upweypotters.com
40,
or Telephone 01305
812030
SMALL ADS - WANTED
OR FOR
The group is happy to help members dispose of or acquire equipment
or materials from each other or beyond. Please send in details, stating if
you are happy for the details to appear on the website.
There
are no block adverts in this issue, due to lack of space and a need to revise
the details. Please contact us if you wish to advertise your products or services
through the DPG, or can suggest a business we should approach.
An
annual membership fee of £6 has been brought in at the general meeting, to
enable the group to pay for basic services for members, such as the newsletters,
website and administration expenses.
Sarah
Herring agreed to process this on the understanding that Bank Standing Orders
would be used to collect the annual fees with minimal fuss for her and you.
We have set the collection date at 1st November, so the Annual
Exhibition entry is still open and you can pay for it from sales at the annual
exhibition!
Please
follow the instructions on the enclosed form
to set this up, fill in your bank details and take it (or post it) to
your bank. Or if you can bank on-line then set it up through the internet.
A
Membership card will be issued when your entry has been checked on the group’s
bank account statement.
Members
are welcome to bring guests to most events, but paid up members will have
priority when booking events. Guests who are potters will be encouraged to
join.
Only
paid up members will receive future newsletters, the exception being other
Pottery Associations with whom we have reciprocal arrangements.