With our 3 FOSTER A POTTER placements now underway for 2026, we want to share how their year is progressing.
Chester Nealie and Matt Almera have been busy in south-west WA, mostly in Chester’s studio in Augusta. They have been busy with some repairs and maintenance to the anagama kiln, while building up Matt’s reading list. The Unknown Craftsman by Soetsu Yanagi has inspired by both Chester and Matt over the years, and remains a favourite … worth revisiting after Chester’s recent work with Marty Gross for the Mingei Archive. They have also been making clay, using (for one coarse, iron-bearing mix) the last of Janet Mansfield’s stoneware mix that Chester had been saving. In their spare moments, they have been studying Chester’s excellent ceramics collection, in particular some Nezumi Shino and Green Oribe works. And as if they needed more to do, they have enjoyed some field trips to Ian Dowling’s workshop and to Bunbury Regional Art Gallery. In the studio, they have been looking at the finer points of Chester’s slab platter building, and throwing teapot lids off the hump. Can we agree? They have been making the best of this time together!
Follow their journey on Instagram HERE.
And up in The Blue Mountains of NSW, Simon Reece and Raymond Huynh, are just starting up. Their placement commenced in April, a little later than usual. Simon is busy preparing for his solo show at Muswellbrook Art Gallery so Raymond has been assisting with breaking down Muswellbrook clay (to be used in the show), and glazing hundreds of bisqued mussels. Raymond works in Simon’s studio for 2 days every week, then returns home in between to practice a technique set by Simon. One of the challenging techniques being practiced is throwing off the hump. Raymond has learned to establish and consolidate a platform as he throws, then use a (generously gifted) paring knife to separate the piece from the hump. On Raymond’s return to Simon’s studio, they undergo trouble-shooting, and from all reports, Raymond’s technique is coming together well.
Note: Simon’s show opens 13 June.
Follow their journey on Instagram HERE.
Maryke Henderson (living in Canberra) and Kris Tay (living in Melbourne) have enjoyed their first soda firing together at Canberra Potters, as part of their mentorship experience. They won the The Anne Mossman Award and are exploring soda kilns and firing throughout 2026. In March, Kris travelled to Canberra with her bisqued pots, then worked with Maryke to prepare the kiln shelves with wash, glaze the pots using a new glaze fountain, and wad the pots to prepare for the soda firing. Sadly, the kiln didn’t make it to temperature due to gas piping problems, so many of the results were disappointing. Kris still felt happy though as the kiln was full of experiments with clay bodies and slips, and, even with the dry surfaces, she was still able to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t. Both agreed it was a worthwhile learning opportunity, and they are excited and inspired as they consider the next firing.
Follow their journey on Instagram HERE and HERE.
Post header image: Kris Tay and Maryke Henderson at Canberra Potters.
THE POTTERS RETREAT AND WOODFIRING AT DENBIGH
This amazing, fundraising event was held over 5 days at Easter at the beautiful Denbigh.
It was SO much fun! … we had lots of good results with 8 wonderful participants, while also raising much-needed funds for our upcoming 2027 placements. The retreat was based around the firing of Olive, the Olsen fast-fire kiln built by Steve Williams in 2025. Day 1 was spent glazing pots, packing the kiln, and settling in to camp. Susie supplied us with 4 luscious glazes – chun, shino, Denbigh ash and white salt. At the crack of dawn on Day 2, Olive was lit, and with Jean McMaster supervising the 1-day firing, we took on roster duties, stoking the kiln with olive wood (considered a weed at Denbigh), drinking tea and chatting and eating. The day ended with a swim in the dam and a sausage sizzle as we watched the flame dancing out of the chimney. We fired for around 15 hours, finished by holding for 1 1/2 hours in oxidation. Day 3 was play day – clay making with Susie, creative wheelthrowing with Jean and meditative pinch pots with Vicki. Toolmaking with James and David filled Day 4 with everyone jumping in to make all sorts of useful tools with timber and metal. We wrapped up the retreat on Day 5 by unpacking the kiln, then assessing the exciting results spread out in the sun.
Thanks to Susie and Ian for so generously sharing their beautiful Denbigh property.
SUSAN CURRAN AND HER BEANIES! THANK YOU!
A huge thanks to Susan Curran, a potter from Milton NSW, who has been busy selling her hand-knitted beanies at ceramics events around the country. When she sells a beanie, she asks that the $25 is donated to FOSTER A POTTER. To date, Susan has raised over $500!
Thank you Susan!
You can find Susan’s ceramic work HERE.
SUPPORT THE POTTERS … HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR 2027 PLACEMENTS.
You can donate weekly, monthly, or annually HERE.
or make a one-off donation HERE, via our GOFUNDME campaign.
When you make a donation of $2 or more to FOSTER A POTTER (an endorsed DGR charity), you can claim a tax deduction. Please let us know that you’d like a tax receipt.
Please email us at fosterapotter@gmail.com if you have any questions, ideas or comments to share.
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