New ceramics studio is ‘amazing’

Continued from page 1. He converted it from a totally run down, half collapsed shed into a highly functional new looking studio.

Cheryl, the art school’s Creative Director, also put in many volunteer hours to help complete the project.

“The work that [Paul] put into this studio is absolutely amazing,” the Inverlochy Board Chair, John Apanowicz said at the opening. John is also a northern suburbs resident, and lives in Johnsonville.

“I am deeply passionate about creativity and making Wellington creative,” Mayor Whanau said.

“I really applaud your community for putting this [new ceramics studio] together.”

The studio, she said, “is amazing. It is really cool.

“Thank you for allowing me to be part of this [the opening].”

Creating the new ceramics studio

“has been a huge effort over the past few months,” Inverlochy Arts Centre’s Director of Operation Nicola Clements said.

“Many, many hours have been poured into it.”

Paul and Cheryl made a major contribution to the new studio, and without their contribution “we would not be here today.”

Paul used mainly reclaimed material from the site, allowing his creative endeavours to shine as well as significantly reducing the overall cost of materials needed to complete the renovation.

It also reduced landfill waste.

The original roof was inverted and now forms the studio ceiling. Doors found on site were used for form walls and storage cupboards.

The exterior doors and windows came from Paul and Cheryl’s personal collection as well as their various skip diving excursions.

The building that has been converted into a ceramics studio was the first building on the site where Inverlochy House now stands.

It was built in 1861 as a workers cottage, and was on site when Thomas and Francis Macdonald bought the property in 1877.

The Macdonalds then built what is now Inverlochy House as a family home in 1878.

Inverlochy officially opened as an art school in 1987.

Due to the school’s growing student population and the need to introduce a ceramics programme, the arts centre decided to put its energy into converting the ancient shed into the new ceramics studio.

The arts centre already has another project in its sights.

It has a new fund-raising effort to help pay for an accessibility project that will improve physical access to Inverlochy House, opening the doors to a wider population.