WORKSHOP REPORT J

The day's workshop with Peter Stichbury for me was a confirmation of all
the reasons why I chose to be a potter. I] saw a quiet gentle centred soul who
after many years of working with the clay was stil] in love with it and
the lifestyle he chose. His pots made in the British art/craft tracition
of Leach and Cardew were refreshingly different. They were softer, brighter,
and very spontaneous. The decorations were in complete harmony with the
spirit and form. The fingers of the potter were combed through the black
iron sand from New Zealand beaches sprinkled on the ash glaze from indigenous
trees,

Peter spoke of some of the technical problems of being a potter on a
small isolated chunk of land at the bottom of the world. Since the world
oi] crisis the cost of firing his o7) kilm has more than quadrupled and so
he now fires with LPG with only the occassional oi] firing for special
glazes.

New Zealand at one time in the not too distant past was considered
a potters heaven, Jike Japan. Peter said that nowadays even potters working
traditionally are struggling in the competitive market with imported objects
from Europe, the U.S. and the Pacific rim countries. Peter also mentioned
the political boot of the U.S. is being felt in New Zealond since the courageous
stand his countrymen make on the disarmament issue.

Peter talked about the potters co-operative gallery which he helped
form where I4 people each take turns working one day in the gallery. Most
of his sales come from this source as well a5 a studio salé once a year.

Al] the while sharing his expertences as a potter he worked the clay
and made wonderful strong forms, a pitcher, a tea pot, a wine decanter,
goblet, plate, bowl, casserole - all of which just seemed to appear. It
was a joy to see this ease in the process of making.

The great disappointment of the lost films and slides enroute from
Los Angeles did not dampen his spirit and I found myself welcoming the
golden opportunity to see Peter Stichbury, the performer, the potter, the
human being. At the end of the day I felt relaxed but highly motivated
and wished he and his charming wife Diana, also a potter, would stay longer.

Jeanne Sarich

64

The highlight for me, was the completion of pieces thrown in the morning:
tea pot. casserole. wall-bottle. Only then could I see that his work has
the strong lines and form that he had expressed admiration for, particularly
that of Henry Moore's sculpture. Admiring such forms is a long way from
being able to produce them; he can do both.
Phyllis Argyle 99

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