In 2022, Port Hacking Potters were approached by Tamworth Legacy with an idea to create 1000 ceramic
poppies that would be mounted onto white wooden crosses for a commemorative
display around the Waler Memorial Pool in Bicentennial Park, Tamworth.
(see bottom of page for link to buy a copy of the Journal of Australian Ceramics article about the project)
The installation would be referred to as the Pool of Reflection.
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| Installation showing how Pool of Reflection was an apt title. |
The
occasion was for their 75th Anniversary, as well as the 100th
Anniversary of Legacy Australia in July 2023. The event would coincide with a
nationwide torch relay reaching Tamworth the same week.
Through the power of social
media, potters local to Tamworth were contacted. Potters from Barraba Potters,
Gunnedah Pottery Club and Tamworth Craft Shed Potters agreed to help.
The project took almost a year
from inception. A number of prototypes were made and underglazes with a clear glaze and a commercial red and black glaze were tested.
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| Tests of various designs, clay shrinkage and various underglazes and commercial glaze. |
Once Legacy agreed on
the design suggested, the coordinator from the Port Hacking Potters team, chose the
clay and glazes for testing. One element to be considered was the frosty
weather of Tamworth in winter when the celebrations were to take place. It was decided a raku clay, fired to cone 6
would be most suitable.
A set of
instructions, along with the clay, paint-on glaze, a custom-made clay cutter
and plaster stamp were sent to each group who agreed to make between 100 to 350
poppies, depending on the size of the group.
The instructions included which clay to use and how thick to roll the slabs. The clay shrinkage was calculated to ensure the required finished size. Custom-made stamps were ordered.
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| Custom stamp made to required size |
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We found covering the slabs with thin plastic sheets prevented the clay sticking to the cutter and gave a nice rounded edge to the top of the poppy.
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A plaster stamp end showing texture. These were used for the centre of the poppies. The poppy shape was placed on foam (3 sheets of cone box foam) then the stamp pressed into the centre causing the side petals to rise up and giving the texture of stamens in the centre of each flower.
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| from flat to fully formed in one press |
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| Barraba Potters glazing |
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| Barraba Potters glazing |
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| Gunnedah Potters in the making of their contribution |
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| Tamworth Craft Shed potters at work glazing |
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| Some of the Port Hacking Potters team cutting and stamping poppies |
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| Port Hacking Potters used the Hazelhurst Arts Centre studio to roll slabs and cut out and shape their poppies. |
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| this meant transporting the poppies for firing |
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| plastic bread trays were used to transport to the kiln |
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| President of Port Hacking Potters, Margaret Chapman, counts the second batch |
The first glaze fired batch of poppies did
not match the test results! |
| the first batches fired by Barraba Potters and by Port Hacking Potters came out a disappointing pinky orange. |
Unfortunately the glaze manufacturer’s technician
was on holidays, so consulting among ourselves we realised that the new glaze
was thinner than the test glaze. The required result was achieved by heating
each finished poppy and reapplying an extra coat followed by a re-firing.
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| poppies were heated and an additional coat of glaze applied |
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| the refired poppies were placed in various places in the kiln as part of the testing |
The remaining poppies were given the extra fourth coat before being fired. This worked well.
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| Organiser of the project hands over the first successful batch to the President of Tamworth Legacy |
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the Gunnedah Potters contribution is collected from their representative Geoff by Legacy President, Greg Roese and Legatee, Pat.
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The crosses were made by a local Tamworth business with the timber being donated by a major hardware store. The poppies were attached using a silicon suitable for outdoor use. |
| crosses being painted and poppies attached |
The installation took place in
Tamworth ready for celebrations on Monday 3 July 2023.
The event was marked by
local Kamilaroi
elder Len Waters performing a smoking ceremony and welcome to country, with
speeches by local, State and Federal politicians, and local sponsors. These people completed the installation by placing a cross in the prepared ground. |
| Representatives and sponsors at the official opening event |
The
participating potters were represented by the project coordinator, Anna Ryland
from Port Hacking Potters.
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| Representing the four pottery groups, Anna Ryland of Port Hacking Potters, walks through the guard of honour to install a cross |
It was a wonderful opportunity to contribute to Legacy
through collaborative contact with other potters.
The skill and talent of the teams from all four groups produced a wonderful outcome which was fully appreciated by those who attended the installation over the week it was in place. The video below shows a walk around The Pool of Reflection.
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| Wide view of installation |
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| Members of the public inspect crosses many of which were placed in the name of family members who had served in the Australian Armed Forces |
to find out more about Legacy Australia and the four pottery groups involved here are some links:
The pottery groups on Facebook in alphabetical order:
A short version of this was published in the Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 62 No 3 November 2023 p120-121. Follow this link to purchase a copy:
Journal of Australian CeramicsThe Journal is also available around the country from pottery suppliers and galleries.
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