The Wobage makers warmly invite you to join us for our forthcoming exhibition, beginning on the next May Bank Holiday weekend, opening Saturday 29th May 2010, until Sunday 6th June. In celebration of Sheila’s 80th birthday this Spring, Wobage Gallery will be displaying a retrospective exhibition of Sheila’s pots. The exhibition will also include new work by Patia Davis, Jeremy Steward, & new Wobage potter Josh Redman. Wood & furniture by Ben Casson, jewellery by Clare Hodgson, tin sculpture by Lucy Casson, pots and tiles by Andrew & Clare McGarva, and indigo textiles by Clare McGarva.

After a busy April, Patia’s kiln is now up to the top of the chamber, with the springers in place to begin corbelling the domed roof. Would you trust these two men (see image) with the design of your damper? A lamp-maker and an energy consultant! Thanks indeed to Colin Chetwood and Nick Grant, partners in much worse crimes,  for making such a neat and sturdy job of the kiln’s metalwork. Patia is now back to full-time making and firing in preparation for the forthcoming Wobage exhibition, returning to complete the kiln-build in June. For more pics of the build, scroll to the bottom of Patia’s profile page

With the new Wobage kiln-site shed completed a few weeks ago, Patia is now making good progress with the building of her updraught wood-kiln. Once complete, she will journey towards wood-firing her earthenware which is currently electric fired. Patia was inspired by a similar kiln which she helped build and fire with Clive Bowen at Aberystwyth Arts Centre in 2007. Her design encompasses two catenary arch fireboxes, a round chamber and domed roof.

We eagerly await her first trials later in the year, in anticipation of ever more seductive surfaces; that added warmth, softness and serendipitous generosity of wood-firing. In combination with Patia’s bold and already sumptuous decoration, mmm, can’t wait! The kiln-build will be documented with regular picture updates on the end of Patia’s profile page.

This Autumn’s sunshine offered perfect opportunity for us to move ahead with the groundwork and kiln-shed construction for the new site. Contrary to the misleading pics, the shed construction was largely undertaken by strong girls with big tools belts, namely Patia and 3rd year Cardiff Degree student Fleen Doran. Thank you Fleen for your hard-work and millimeter perfect measuring! The shed will be completed this Winter and Patia will be building a wood-fired bottle kiln to fire her slip-decorated earthenware. A new larger wood-salt-kiln will also later be constructed on the same site.

We are delighted to welcome Sheila Herring into the pottery for a one year apprenticeship from September 2009. This follows the successful application submitted by Sheila and Jeremy earlier in the Summer to the ‘Adopt a Potter’ scheme. Now a registered charity, this fantastic project to fund workshop training to students, was initiated by salt-glaze potter Lisa Hammond.

We are the first to benefit from an award, with another grant just around the corner. Working alongside Jeremy’s wood-fired salt-glaze production, Sheila will be assisting with general studio chores; clay-making, slip & glaze preparation, kiln packing and firing. Importantly she will at the same time be developing her own range of wheel-thrown work. Sheila’s already making some gorgeous pots, look out on future posts for pics from forthcoming firings this Autumn/Winter.

For more information on ‘Adopt a Potter’: www.adoptapotter.org.uk

We love it and hope that our customers and students do too! The Wobage potters can strongly recommend Papergecko, a small web and print design company, based in Crickhowell, Powys, South Wales and run by artist and designer Stefhan Caddick. For more information contact http://www.papergecko.co.uk/