Newspaper Article 1990 – Final firing at Kamaka

Final firing at Kamaka

By MARION MORRIS
Staff reporter, Hastings

It’s countdown time again at the Kamaka Pottery of Bruce and Estelle Martin, Bridge Pa.

For the eighth and final year they will fire their wood-burning anagama kiln.

Bruce, who recently won the coveted United Group-Suter Art Gallery Award at the 32nd national exhibition of the New Zealand Society of Potters with his slab box, says cutting the 25 tonnes of firewood needed to fuel the kiln for the 10-day firing, has become too time-consuming.

But the Martins will remain at Kamaka. They have good stocks of pots, and “a lot of other things that need doing.”

Bruce’s recent $5000 award adds to his previous two merit awards, one in the Fletcher Brownbuilt in 1986, and another in the Fletcher Challenge in 1987.

Martin’s entry “Under the Willows” was one of 287 from 93 New Zealand potters.

Photo captions –

Bruce Martin . . . won coveted New Zealand pottery award.

The award-winning slab box.