Hawke’s Bay pottery art for sale
When the Napier Pottery Club decides to have a sale, it’s a good idea not to miss it.
With the cream of the local pottery world on show at next month’s exhibition and sale, punters will be tempted by pieces from artists including Penny Madden, Sue King, Sally Evans, Robert Harris and Sophie Lankovsky.
“Sophie has been with us while Keirunga has been closed following the fire. Our wonderful artists will be exhibiting and selling at below gallery prices,” says club secretary and fundraiser Julie Beere.
Emerging artists Katrina Gardner, Karen Cooper, Julie Marie and Emma Hall will also be exhibiting. And as this is the inaugural annual exhibition, the theme for this year’s event is Plant as you Intend to Grow On.
“So we have made loads of pots and planted them with a wonderful variety of plants, herbs, succulents, flowers, etc. Plants in pots — something new for the house or patio, gifts or early Christmas presents.”
Julie says most of the exhibition at the 63-year-old club will be ceramic sculptures and tableware, but with many members pursuing other artistic mediums, a variety of work will be on display.
“This will include painting, wool, pastel, wood, sculptures, potted plants and the new trendy air plants on driftwood.”
Julie believes the demand for local, handmade goods is on the rise as ethical, savvy consumers are choosing to support New Zealand artists and craft makers.
“Handmade is the new in. While we may take for granted the humble cup we swig our coffee from on a daily basis, we forget that clay vessels have been a part of human culture for thousands of years, artifacts of which fill museums the world over.”
She says following the popular television series The Great Pottery Throw Down, pottery has had a resurgence of interest, with a new respect for the challenge of manipulating clay. Around 40 members belong to the club, with members attending on Tuesday mornings and throughout the week.
“We also have people with disabilities and in wheelchairs attend most weeks. Our club also supports some of the local schools who fire their work in our kilns, as do the HB Bonsai Club,” Julie says. New members are always welcome, with classes starting soon and a children’s school holiday class in January 2019 with Sue King.
■ Napier Pottery Club, Exhibition and Sale, Napier Pottery Club, Whitmore Park, Nuffield Ave, Napier, Friday and Saturday, November 23 and 24. Friday, 5pm-7.30pm and Saturday, 10am-2pm.