Not only has the exhibition returned to the city, but Dunedin potters have claimed their share of the glory.
The exhibition began in the Otago Art Society space at the Dunedin Railway Station on Saturday.
After Covid disruptions and a few missed events in the past, this year marks the exhibition’s diamond jubilee.
Ceramics New Zealand Otago representative and diamond jubilee project leader Nicole Kolig said the first New Zealand studio pottery exhibition was originally organised by Otago-based potter Oswold Stephens and held at Otago Museum 64 years ago.
Since then the annual event has moved around the country, showcasing New Zealand’s finest contemporary ceramics and pottery and creating a ceramic event in the respective hosting region.
However, Mrs Kolig said it was time to return the national exhibition back to its place of origin.
"It’s very exciting. The whole idea behind the project this year was to make it accessible to the public, but also give them a little bit of a historic perspective of pottery in New Zealand.
"Because this year is a jubilee, we wanted to have the celebration back here, where it all started off."
Not only had the event returned to Otago soil, but with Dunedin potters among those winning top honours in the exhibition, so had a number of awards, Mrs Kolig said.
Kate Fitzharris was awarded the primo-pro premier award for her work titled A Small Plate made from Japanese clays, while fellow Dunedin resident Patrick Ferris recieved the Nelson Pottery Supplies Emerging Artist Award for his piece Convergence.
Winners from further afield were Renate Galetzka (Imery’s Excellence Award for Beaker to Bowl), Sung Hwan Bobby Park (Driving Creek Pottery Professional Development award for Figure 1), Teresa Peters (Pand and Send Merit award for Artefacts), Karin Amdal (special mention for Vase Upside Down) and Galeen Morley (special mention for The Journey).
The exhibition runs until November 20.
