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Titirangi Potters welcomes its new ‘twins’
Above: Titirangi Potters Committee Member Heather Lussey was delighted to see ’the twins’. Right: Moving the new kilns down to their new home beneath Titirangi Community House was a challenge. Club member Steve Aitken was assisted by BotPots staff.
Like most local clubs, 2020 was a challenging year for Titirangi Potters. The studio was closed for all of Stage Four and Three, which meant potting productivity ceased. However, the year ended on a high with the delivery of two new kilns on December 23 – a wonderful Christmas present for the club. Titirangi Potters, established in 1974, has been in its current location under the Titirangi Community House since 2002. Over the last couple of years the club’s ageing kilns have been on their last legs and the group has been fundraising furiously to replace them. Modern electric kilns cost between $10,000 and $12,000, so it was a mammoth fundraising task for a small club of 50 members. Just before lockdown, in March 2020, the Titirangi Potters committee submitted grant applications to help achieve its goal. It was a nervous wait during lockdown as previous applications had been unsuccessful and there was uncertainty around whether funds would still be available. The club was delighted when they heard that the Waitākere Ranges Local Board would contribute funds for part of one kiln, and Foundation North would also contribute some of the funds for a second kiln. “Titirangi Potters would like to thank the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Foundation North for their generosity,” says Titirangi Potters president Victoria Parsons. “In tough economic times, it is wonderful to know that their purpose of fostering local arts continues. Without these contributions, the club would have been in a precarious situation due to the uncertainly surrounding its firing capability. There is a growing interest in pottery and our club is vibrant with 50 members and growing. New modern kilns means we can fire more efficiently.”
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The kilns were ordered mid 2020, much to the club’s excitement. They were purchased through local pottery company BotPots, and ordered from the United Kingdom as there are no local electric single phase kiln producers remaining in New Zealand. Covid issues in the UK and shipping delays meant an interesting wait. Every news story about boats turning around for port delays was potential bad news. Scraping in just before Christmas, the ‘twins’ were delivered. It was an interesting challenge getting them down the boardwalk and around the kauri tree into their new home and Titirangi Potters committee members Heather Lussey and Steve Aitken were on hand to help with the delivery. “We look forward to firing the kilns for the first time in early February, once they are installed and tested,” says Steve Aitken, a local potter. “It is a new era for the club and we’re looking forward to enjoying the more modern kilns. Whilst the replaced kilns have been loyal and hard working, they were over 15 years old. We welcome all locals to come and visit us at the Titirangi Market to see the work coming out of the new kilns during 2021.” Look out for the ’naming competition’ on the Titirangi Facebook page during February – the club will be asking locals to suggest names for one or both of the twins. For more info, see titirangipotters.nz or find the club on Facebook.
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The Fringe FEBRUARY 2021
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