01 – 09 of October 2022
Whakatū (Nelson), Aotearoa
Kurinuki – an old Japanese handbuilding technique – involves cutting, carving and marking the exterior form from a solid block of clay and then hollowing it out. This more sculptural approach allows complete freedom in the shaping of vessels.
During this two-day workshop, you will learn about kurinuki and use it to explore various forms: from tea bowls to sake cups, vases and boxes.
If possible, participants should bring a basic pottery tool kit (sponge, cutting wire, wooden knife, wooden shark fin rib, steel rib, needle tool and trimming tools) and 2-3 items that may create interesting patterns on clay (e.g. bolts or screws, interesting rocks, a comb).
Bisque firing of finished pieces can be arranged for an additional cost. Details will be available at the workshop.
Born in Germany, Elena Renker was first introduced to Pottery in 1977 at the Golden Bridge Pottery run by Ray and Debra Meeker in Pondicherry, India. More structured learning followed on her return to Germany, at the studio of Gisela Fattorini, a Canadian potter working in southern Bavaria. After a year at her studio, Elena moved to Munich to study graphic design, started a family and moved to New Zealand.
Elena rediscovered pottery in 1998 after her youngest child started school, first taking lessons at Auckland Studio Potters and then studying towards a Diploma in Ceramic Art at the Otago Polytechnic, which she completed in 2007.
Focused on making functional ware that can be used in everyday life, Elena aims to make work that is beautiful to look at, feels good in the hand and is pleasant to use. She believes that functional wares should be made with their purpose in mind, a vase should enhance the beauty of the flowers, not compete with it, and a bowl or plate should complement the food served in it.
Read more about Elena on her website.