artist residency in driving creek pottery, new zealand

It all started during a market in Florence. A guy comes at my stall and says: Hi, I’m Riccardo from DCP, NZ. You should really apply for our residency! So I did, and one year later I was on board of my first intercontinental flight.

It was an amazing overall experience, I fell in love with the place, the nature, the people. Its history is incredible.

Barry Brickell (1935 - 2016) always had a passion for steam trains and clay. But with those you don’t eat, his parents said, so he went to university, and then became a teacher. He only lasted a few months before realising that wasn't his path; in the meanwhile, he fell in love with the place he moved to: Coromandel. He acquired a piece of land with good clay deposits and close to the sea for easy pots transportation; later, he built the first high firing wood kiln of NZ.

The land he was sitting on used to be a kauri forest: a magnificent, huge and ancient tree. They were almost completely cut down, for the wood was a very high quality one. It then became a pasture for sheeps. He studied biology and started planting native plants and trees, hundreds and then thousands of them, slowly recreating the original jungle that was lost.

Gold mines were also active in that area. He collected old rails and scraps materials, and built himself a small railroad and train to reach the clay deposits and wood for the kiln. The pottery started and he used to sell his work via boat in Auckland.

The railroad kept growing, facing engineering challenges and great deal of work, until he got to the top of the hill, where he built the “eyefull tower”, an amazing viewpoint from which you can see the jungle, the ocean, and small islands coming out of it.

The railroad became so famous that people started arriving from all over the country to see it, and to take a ride; now, it’s the main attraction of Driving Creek, with hundreds of tourists catching the train every day.

The pottery is still working too, producing on site a variety of tableware.

The artist in residence program is thriving, with people coming from all over the world.

My plan was simple: to only use collected materials, and to let the surroundings influence my work. It surely happened, and I did some plant and animals inspired decoration, which I don’t usually do, but simply couldn’t resist. The work was mainly done on the wheel, both electric and Leach treadle wheel, and deepen the idea of a fast, immediate creation, with as little refinement as possible, to keep the impression of the moment and the energy of the quick making process. The pieces are my usual range, mostly tea-influenced: teapots, tea cups and chawans, but also big and small vases, plates and jugs.

The local materials were very interesting and beautiful: I used three different clays and mixed two ash glazes and a shino.

The final firing was done in a fast-fire type wood kiln, with salt introduced for additional glazing effects; hikidashi was also done to some pots (taking them out of the kiln , during the firing, and close them in a reducing atmosphere container, to obtain deep black colour).

The firing, the glaze preparation and testing, and some material foraging was done with Ellie Woods, to whom I express my gratitude.

After the firing I sold some pieces on site, which I’m very happy about, because it made a lot of sense for them to stay in their native place. Some of them travelled with me in my suitcase and some of them were shipped to Italy. You’ll find a selection of the best ones for sale in the shop.

I’m very grateful to everyone at Driving Creek, especially Riccardo, Alex, Matilda, Callum and Sam for the amazing time. See you!