This week the Chronicle talked to potter Tony Sly.
Describe what you do and what you create?
We make a range of hand thrown pottery based around serving food.We work as a team much like running a kitchen with the tasks of prep, making, finishing and despatch divided up amongst the team of 5 – Eiko Yoshimura, Kelly Clarkson, Thomas Fitzgerald, Maree Harris and Frederick Kogler.
How did you end up based in Raglan?
Raglan was a natural progression from Hamilton. I was a regular visitor here so when my studio lease expired I decided it would be good to be based here.It has been a great move for me and my work!
What happens in a typical day?
A typical day in the studio always starts with making a list from orders received from retail clients in NZ and Australia.We make batch runs of the different shapes over a 6 week cycle so there always a lot of pottery in different stages of making.
How do you like being based at the Wharf? What changes have you made lately to your space there?
We love being at the wharf on the water and are very excited to have opened our new retail space. We can now display our range fully and have complemented our pieces with some great artisan homewares sourced on our travels to Europe.
Describe your dream holiday?
My partner Frederick is Austrian and keeps an apartment and car in Frankfurt so we are fortunate to travel to Europe during Raglan winter months. We enjoy some R and R in Croatia mostly but always fit in a visit to a European city each year.
If you weren’t a potter what would you be?
If I wasn’t a potter I would probably be a chef or nurseryman. Like pottery, taking ingredients from scratch to create something and being surrounded by productivity seems so natural and right for me.
What can we expect from Tony Sly for 2014?
2014 will be very exciting as we are set up for some new work, including some larger on of a kind pieces that have been on my mind.
New years resolution?
I didn’t do to well on last years resolution so will give it another go this year.’To be more understanding!’
