DEVELOPMENT OF N.Z. POTTERY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29473, 27 March 1961, Page 17

DEVELOPMENT OF N.Z. POTTERY

English Lecturer’s Views

New Zealand has an enormous potential for the development of the art of pottery in New Zealand, according to the English potter, Mr John Chappell, who is in Christchurch during a six months’ lecture and demonstration tour of the Dominion.

“You have all the materials and everything needed for pottery except well-trained and skilled workers,” he said. Mr Chappell has spent the last two years studying handmade pottery in Japan among some of the master potters of that country. Since December he has been visiting pottery centres in the North Island. At Wellington he held an exhibition of his work.

During the last 10 days spent in Christchurch he has given lectures and demonstrations to various pottery and other groups in the city and held a week-end school at the Risingholme Community Centre. After giving one such demonstration at the Craft Centre in Springfield road on Saturday Mr . Chappell told "The Press” that he had already noticed “a quite fantastic enthusiasm" for their craft among amateur potters in New Zealand. There seemed to be an enormous amount of activity and work being produced, he said. “But I do feel that the subject is being taken far too seriously by too many people —just at the level where it should be something frivolous. But as in most other fields of activity in New Zealand there is not yet a real standard of quality. It is too easy to mistake the serious approach to the subject for genius.

"It must always be remembered that pottery is something far more complicated than is generally believed. It is a deceptively simple looking art. where nothing is ever as easy as it looks. And no amount of decoration can ever disguise a poorly made article. "There is no doubt that New Zealand needs professional workers to set and maintain this standardskilled craftsmen who can rise above the prevalent ‘she’s right’ attitude. Depending on how seriously the subject is treated here you will in future send overseas more of your own countryman to learn these necessary new techniques. “I believe there are definite possibilities for such men to make a professional living from pottery in this country.” Mr Chappel said.