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Retirement brought Malcolm Macaskill back to a craft that he had abandoned 30 years before.
He says he had always had a hankering to try making pottery and when he first went to night classes on the North Shore in the late 1960s, he discovered that the process of shaping clay came naturally to him. So much so, that he ended up teaching the classes.
His job in the printing industry took him to South Auckland, where he found a friend and mentor in his neighbour, renowned New Zealand potter Peter Stichbury.
Malcolm set up an electric kiln in his garage and began turning out domestic wear.
After 20 years of making and selling his work, Malcolm considered taking a break from a process that had taken over a large part of his life. The decision was made for him shortly afterwards, when his kiln blew up.
“I didn’t replace it, and didn’t go near a kiln for 30 years,” Malcolm says.
After retiring to Orewa six years ago, Malcolm visited Estuary Arts Centre and was impressed by the newly built pottery studio. He began coming to the ‘casual potters day’ every Friday, which enables potters with some experience to use the kiln and wheels for their own projects.
“I wondered if I could still do it, but it was like getting back on a bike. There are so many things you do unconsciously from years of practice and it felt good.”
He says he enjoyed “playing” so much that before long he was turning out mugs, cups, plates, bowls and jugs in quantities large enough to sell at Estuary Arts Centre’s shop. Last year he had an exhibition.
“In an hour I can turn out two sets of coffee mugs and half a dozen jugs,” Malcolm says. “I don’t do it to show off – it’s just that’s how I am used to working.”
Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa has classes where you can learn pottery skills.
