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President's report
There has been lots going on at the rooms lately and if you have not been there recently you will see some changes next
time you come. The club has a new committee (see names at the end of this newsletter) and a key change is that the
running of the rooms is now in the hands of Jo Moon, our new Rooms Manager, who has taken over from Vivian
Rodriguez. Vivian has done a great job whilst also being our Resident Potter - always prepared to answer calls for help
from those working there. Vivian is off home to Costa Rica shortly for a long overdue trip to her native land and we wish
her a safe journey and return. And thanks, Vivian, for running a very successful workshop.
Jo has some new plans for running things and will be telling you about them via the newsletter. Part of this will be to
encourage members to remove their old work and redundant personal bits and pieces from their work areas as we are
under increasing pressure for work space as a result of an increasing membership. Ivan Vostinar will build twenty new
cubby holes before Christmas and other areas will be rationalised to make the storage of tools & moulds more
convenient. We will also be introducing a new system of paying for the firing of your work that will simplify the work of
the Stackers & Firers. This will involve paying before the work is fired. The new system will be introduced on 1 January
when we will also revert back to Tuesday club firings. Details will be sent out to members.
The DCA students have finished their last semester for the year and will be looking forward to a good summer break.
Their work area upstairs will have a make-over, too, over summer so we will be ready to accommodate (hopefully) a
good intake next year.
On Sunday, 21 November a very good turn out of enthusiastic members tackled the annual spring clean, removing four
trailer loads of rubbish. Well done all those who attended and thanks on behalf of us all for the hard work.
Finally, please note the BBQ notice in this newsletter. The club will provide nibbles and salads - you just bring the family
and whatever you would like to add to the BBQ plus a bottle. This will be a good opportunity to meet other members and
especially the committee who will be there to listen to your ideas.
Happy Festive Season,
Roger
Potters' diary
Date Activity Subject Coordinator/tutor
Sunday 19 December 2010:
11:30 to 3:00 pm
Family BBQ Jo Moon & Rhonda
Edwards
Saturday 15 January 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins
Tuesday 4 January – Tuesday 8
February 2011
Additional Student
Classes (6 weeks)
Rosemary O’Hara
Saturday 22 January 2011 Pit Firing Francesca Costa
Saturday 26 – Sunday
27 February 2011
Visiting American potter
Ben Carter: workshop
“Design for Soft Surface” Cate Pates
Saturday 5 – Sunday 27 March
2011
Anagama Firing (and
associated activities)
Alan Ross
Saturday 23 April 2011 Pit Firing Francesca Costa
Sunday 24 April 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins
Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 May Mike Dee’s workshop Archy Texture Alan Ross
Dec
2010
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Friday 17 June 2011 (TBC) An evening guided tour
Victoria University’s
classical pottery
collection (mostly Greek)
Vera Burton
16 July – 7 August 2011 NZSP Regional
Exhibition “Elements 11”
at Pataka
Mal Sole
Saturday 23 July 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins
Saturday 20 – Sunday 21
August 2011
Potter-in- Residence
workshop\demonstration
TBC Vivian Rodriquez
2 -18 September 2011 Ceramicus 2011 Roger Pearce
October 2011 AGM
Saturday 22 October 2011 Raku Firing Mike Atkins
Saturday 5 November 2011 Pit Firing Francesca Costa
Saturday 19 – Sunday 20
November 2011
Potter-in- Residence
workshop\demonstration
TBC Mia Hamilton
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT CLUB FIRINGS
We have an increased number of club firings and it has been creating a heavy workload for the volunteers who load and
unload the kilns. So from January 1st 2011 there will be some changes designed to make the process simpler for them.
The main one that will affect everyone is that you will have to pay for the pots before they are fired. You will be required
to weigh and calculate the cost of firing yourselves and put the money in the safe.
Pots will also not be fired if:
they are not labelled or the label or mark is not legible,
they have not been paid for,
they are bisque pots that are not completely dry,
they are glazed pots that do not have the bottom wiped, or have glaze too thick at the bottom of the pot.
Full instructions will be in the glaze room along with the new firing slips and charges payable.
Until 31 December 2010 club firings will continue to be on Wednesdays, after that they will again be on Tuesdays.
New members to WPA
A warm welcome to the new members: Delia Benazzo, Carlo Puglia, Clinton Hunter, Janine Collier, Aletta Chambers,
Rosie Little, Joe Zuccarello, Marie Harris. Rejoining: James Hollis, Johann Bekker
Keeping up to date
The WPA now runs an online diary. Check this out for the most update information on events. You can also find a
number of resources available there too. Website: http://www.wellingtonpotters.famundo.com.
Newsletter by email?
If you would like to receive the WPA newsletter by email instead of hardcopy please send your email address to Vera at
[email protected]. Receiving the newsletter by email will help the club with economics and the environment. You
will also receive it sooner (and in colour)! Cheers
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Potter's profile: Jill Bagnall
Jill became aware of potting at a
Doreen Blumhardt weekend
school in about 1960. She built
an early Brickell test kiln, oil fired
with a drip falling on to a piece of
grooved pumice and a very tall,
removable chimney, and enjoyed
gaining experience from scratch -
and books. She found it very
exciting when the first glazes she
made up from recipes in "A Potter's Book" actually worked. In the early 70's she built a
catenary arch brick kiln, also fired with oil, this time using a blower and two atomising
burners. She now fires with gas.
Jill works from a lovely home studio in Mahina Bay,
Eastbourne. Those of you attending our exhibition
this year would have had the opportunity of winning some of her lovely pots
donated as raffle prizes. She won the Premier Award at our 50th Anniversary
Exhibition in 2008.
"The pottery making process still fascinates me after 40 years. There is the
concentration and calm required for throwing contrasted with the excitement of the
firing, the delights and disappointments of reduction glazes and always the
experiments. There is magic in turning something as soft and malleable as clay
into stone: the designing, the throwing and turning, making a suitable glaze, firing
and using. There is always a challenge. My personal preferences are for both
rough stoneware and the dense, hard shell-like qualities of porcelain. My favourite
glazes are reduction glazes with their subtle variations - shino, celadon and more
recently chun. I like the contrast between hard, sometimes rough clay and a
smooth beautiful glaze. A shell. A stone. Simple shapes. Pots for use."
Jill has been a member of The NZ Society of Potters and
Wellington Potters" Association for many years. She exhibits
with both of these groups. She has work in the collection of
the Dowse Art Museum and in many private homes. Her pots
can be purchased at "Vessel", Victoria Street, Wellington.
Visitors to the pottery in Mahina Bay are welcome, but please
phone first.
Information courtesy of NZ Potter Vol 21/2 1778, and Jill
Bagnall
Working Bee 21 November 2010
Hello Members
Wow, what a working bee! It was only through having the most hardworking and focused workforce that we were able to
plough through years of unclaimed clay, disused materials, excess furniture and prolific weeds. We did not quite
transform the place (we wouldn't want to displace anyone of course!), but heck, it looks great. Well done and thanks to
all who took part.
There was much discussion and care taken over what belonged to whom but because there was such a huge amount of
stuff to sort through some things may have most regrettably been recycled or redistributed around the rooms. Some
new cubby holes were assigned and all other belongings of current members that were clearly labelled were placed
Potter and proud grandmother
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below the whiteboard. If any of your things have gone missing I am very sorry, please come and see me to see what we
can do.
Now... it is understandable that some members accumulate more work and materials than will conveniently fit into their
cubby holes which presents the challenge of where should it go? It was decided therefore to designate an "overflow
area" at the north east corner of the rooms. Work in progress is to go on the shelves and any equipment or materials
can be stored under the work bench. All things stored underneath must be clearly labelled and dated. I make no
apologies for disposing of anything kept here that is not clearly assigned to an owner as I will be attempting to maintain a
reasonable standard of tidiness within the rooms by clearing regularly.
Because of the limited space available at the rooms rather than use our extraordinary facility as a large garage to store
your bits and pieces think of it as a communal studio space; in other words throw away your rubbish, take home all
finished work, respectfully shelve works in the making for a short-term and keep only those materials you are currently
using at the rooms - take the rest home please.
We cannot allocate every member all the space they may wish for indefinitely. If your needs are exceptional, as I'm sure
some are, then please come and discuss it with me. In some cases the committee may need to approve the allocation
of extra space.
Today's experience reinforced my feeling of awe for Marilyn who deals with massive amounts of unwanted clay week in,
week out. What a star! Huge thanks.
Equally as impressive is Ivan's dedication to beautifying and streamlining the rooms by way of new shelving and storage
spaces he continues to build. Thank you so much from all of us using the rooms.
Although today was hard work it was immensely satisfying and most enjoyable - plenty of laughs were to be had
(Rhonda!!) and, as usual, great food was enjoyed.
I look forward to seeing you all at the Christmas party!
Warm wishes
Jo Moon
Rooms' Manager
FAMILY BBQ
Sunday 19 December 11.30 to 3 pm
at WPA
The club will provide salads and nibbles
YOU BRING - your family,
meat or vege to BBQ & a bottle
Let’s celebrate another successful year!
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Pit firing - January
Join us on Saturday 22ND January for the first Pit Firing of
2011, followed by shared lunch & glass of wine to celebrate
the New Year!
Where: Wellington Potters Association Clubrooms, Grant
Road, Wellington
Time: 10am – 4pm. Please arrive at 10am to start building
the kiln
Bring along: Bisque fired, burnished forms for the firing.
Small pieces preferred, but larger forms included if space
available - we may even build a second kiln if necessary!
$10 to cover materials. Lunch to share
Tutor: Francesca has fired her own work in this primitive firing method for over 20 years. She has facilitated workshops
at Wellington Potters Association and Auckland Studio Potters for several years, and enjoys sharing this process with
others. Please phone Francesca to register for this firing on: 027 678 6006.
Anagama 2011
Tune In To Shige FM
Shige O’Hashi has agreed to resume the role of Firing Master, a term he dislikes, for the March 2011 anagama firing. A
number of alternative titles were suggested such as firebug, firedrake and pyromaniac but surprisingly none of them
appealed. The abbreviated title “FM” will have to suffice.
Shige is keen that a cadre of aspiring "firing masters" be encouraged to be involved rather than him being seen as the
sole or dominant "firing master". He is happy and eager to share his knowledge about anagama with people who are
interested in learning and having an ongoing involvement in WPA anagama firings. In Shige’s own words: “I like to have
a team as the firing master. If we can have the team and the members want, I'm happy to transfer my anagama
knowledge and experiences to them.”
At the time of writing most of the wood required for the firing has been split and stacked by various enthusiasts so it will
have plenty of time to dry thoroughly. The interior of the kiln needs to be cleaned, and shelves and props from the
previous firing restored to a pristine state by use of grinders and cold chisels. Mike Atkins is adamant the adobe that
covers the kiln should also be given some loving care and attention. Those who have volunteered to help, but whose
services have not yet been required, can expect a call.
Steps Dates
Receive pots at the rooms (Upstairs) Saturday 5 March 2011
Transport pots to kiln Sunday 6 March
Load kiln Monday 7– Thursday 10 March
Fire kiln Wednesday 16 - Sunday 20 March
Cool kiln Monday 21 – Saturday 26 March
Unload kiln Sunday 27 March
Alan Ross
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Crown Lynn: Crockery of Distinction 29 January - 24 April 2011 - exhibition at the Cty Gallery Wellington.
The iconic New Zealand Crown Lynn dinner sets and other domestic ware - including the retro-chic swan vases - will
feature in the exhibition. We will see the collections of a number of passionate and dedicated collectors, and there will
be associated events, for both adults and children.
Yes, of course it's not what we do at Wellington Potters, but there is a connection - clay, at the very least. Do you have
any ideas for how Wellington Potters could be involved in this exhibition, or do something that is related? Have the
styles and forms influenced your work? Could we run some workshops or courses at our rooms on related themes?
Decoration and design? For children? For adults? Should we market our existence - and that of other pottery groups in
the Greater Wellington area?
Any ideas you have would be most happily received by [email protected]. It would be appreciated if you could
contact me by 17 December.
Thanks
Kate
Pottery classes at the rooms
Mondays 7-9pm – Ivan Vostinar
Basic to intermediate 8 week course $145. Enrol through Onslow College (phone 477 1118, email [email protected])
Tuesdays 7-9pm – Vivian Rodriguez
Basic to intermediate 8 week course $145. Enrol through Onslow College (phone 477 1118, email [email protected])
Thursdays 7-9pm – Rosemary O’Hara
Throwing and hand building for beginners and beyond. 6 week courses run continuously. $100 per course, plus clay and firing costs. Contact Rosemary to enrol: phone 233 0003, email [email protected].
Saturdays 9.45-11.45am – Anthea Grob and Rosemary O’Hara
Introductory and intermediate class in hand building and wheel throwing. 6-week courses run continuously. $100 per course, plus clay and firing costs. Contact Anthea to enrol: [email protected]
Rosemary O’Hara: Classes in the new year (depending on sufficient enrolments of course):
Childrens workshop, morning class 10 to 12 am and possibly an afternoon class 1 to 3 pm on 17th ,19th ,20th ,21st January. Ages 7 years up. Handbuilding. $80 clay and firing included.
Tuesday one off throwing course for beginners, post beginners and intermediates from 4th Jan to 8th Feb 7pm to 9 pm (6 weeks) . $120.plus clay and firing.
Thursdays same as Tuesday except the course rolls over. Starts either 6th or 13th of January 2011.
Contact Rosemary to enrol: phone 233 0003, email [email protected].
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International potter Ben Carter workshop update:
The workshop will be a mixture of hands on, slide show discussion and demonstration.
Cost: members $60 and non members $70
Dates: Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th February 2011
See poster below for more information
If you are able to host Ben, can you please get in touch with Cate Pates
Clays for sale at WPA
How to buy clay
New clay is kept under lock and key in the storeroom. The rooms manager, president and treasurer have keys. Clay is available for purchase on Tuesdays between 10am and 2pm. Please pay immediately. Note that we can’t give change or receipts.
Abbots Stoneware: $22 Traditional buff stoneware.
Abbots Sculptural: $26 Grogged stoneware, suitable for raku or sculptural work. Low shrinkage. Oatmeal buff colour in oxidation, brown in reduction. Firing range: cone 8-10.
Abbots Red: $22 Fine, plastic earthenware. Orange terracotta colour at maturity. 50mesh. Firing range: cone 03-2 (1100-1150).
Red Raku (12.5kg): $26 Great for hand building. Grog content of about 30%. Pale terracotta colour. Won’t take glaze all that well. Firing range: cone 03-5
PCW (Potters Clay White): $36 A versatile, pale grey-firing (grey in reduction) stoneware body with excellent throwing characteristics. Suits many all applications (including raku firings because of a good thermal shock resistance). 80 mesh. Drying shrinkage 5-8%, total when fired about 16%. Firing range: cone 9-10 (1257-1282 degrees centigrade).
W10 (10kg): $23 White clay with a firing range from earthenware to stoneware (similar to Abbots white). (Members using this are impressed with its texture for throwing)
Primo white stoneware (10kg): $20
Primo buff stoneware (10kg): $20
Recycled clay: $7 bag
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Otago Polytechnic Diploma in Ceramic Arts
In association with
Wellington Potters
Association, Inc
If you’re fired up for a career in
ceramics, the Otago Polytechnic’s
Diploma in Ceramic Arts (Level 6) is
absolutely the best way to get there and
is New Zealand’s only specialised
programme in ceramic arts at tertiary
level. The part time course takes four
years and you can study for the distance
diploma here in Wellington.
What will you study?
Studio practice is tutored by experienced
ceramics professionals at Wellington
Potters Centre in Thorndon, while the
theoretical aspects of ceramics- drawing
and design, theory and history of art and
glaze technology -are taught via distance tuition from Otago Polytechnic.
Studio practice
Students attend Wellington Potters’ Centre on a Friday to receive tutoring. Each year consists of three, ten
week modules covering a range of ceramic techniques. Students also have access to electric kilns and
glazing materials and facilities.
Programme for 2011
Term 1:
yr 1: pinch and coil techniques, yr 2: slab building, yr 3: sculpture and surface decoration including
majolica
Tutor: Cate Pates plus guest tutors Sam Ducker-Jones, Mia Hamilton and Gloria Young
Term 2:
yr 1: introduction to wheel throwing, yr 2: throwing part two, yr 3: throwing and altering
Tutor: Jenny Shearer
Term 3:
yr 1: slab and press mould construction, yr 2: plaster and slip casting, (yr 3/4: individual work
programme)
Tutor: Richard Stratton
Additional sessions
Photography workshop by Hamish Trolove
The ins and outs of running, and exhibiting in, a Gallery (tbc)
Anagama and Raku firings run by members of Wellington Potters Association
Free entry to two guest potter workshops held at the Wellington Potters Association
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Fees
Indicative fee for 2011 is $5,106. You may qualify for a student loan for this course.
Contact details
Otago Polytechnic: Freephone 0800 762 786; or email: [email protected]. Otago Polytechnic’s website
is: www.tekotago.ac.nz
Co-ordinator for the Wellington programme:
Cate Pates: 04 478 44 33 or 021 143 7705, or email: [email protected]
nzpotters.com Newsletter - December 2010. December has arrived on a very sad note with the loss of 29 miners at the Pike Creek coal mine. For any of our members connected in some way to this tragedy please accept our sincere condolences. Those of us who cannot attend the memorial service in Greymouth today will be there in spirit to support the families who have lost loved ones in such tragic circumstances. Surprise $500,000 gift for the arts. Sir Eion Edgar, a well known philanthropist for sport, health and public facilities announced that his family is donating $500,000 to the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. His surprise announcement was made on the occasion of the Foundation’s AGM and Sir Eion’s retirement as a Founding Trustee. Click here to read the full media release. Ceramics Quarterly - we need your stories and images! The copy deadline for the next issue of Ceramics Quarterly is a week away….December the 7th and Peter is in need of some more New Zealand material…..a profile of a potter, an article about a local event, a picture of a wonderful pot or what ever. Please give it a little thought and time …..we want CQ to be a really national magazine. As agreed at our recent exec meeting there will always be room to advertise local events in CQ so please get any copy to Peter at [email protected] To reach him by December the 7th. Please note that the March issue of CQ will come out 2 weeks early in the first week of March in order to maximise publicity for THE BIG SMOKE Click here to go to the Big Smoke website Mystery Pot - do you know who might have made this? We are getting quite a few requests for the identification of pots on our website. The latest is a tall bottle which was in the collection of Keith Thompson. Keith died about ten years ago. He was a lecturer at Massey University in Palmerston North. Click here to see the mystery bottle Lawrence Ewing Web Manager, nzpotters.com
Chris Weaver workshop
Words – Lisa Donaldson, Illustrations – Annabel Wigley, Photos – Cate Pates and Anya Mowll
Chris Weaver’s demonstration week end was awe-inspiring; watching his
incredible skill with clay and listening to his interesting anecdotes of potting on
the West Coast, family help and travel in Asia. Most inspiring were his
descriptions of his own progression, thoughts and problem solving that led him
to make his signature forms starting with the Black Iron Teapot. Chris was
open and generous not only with how he makes his pots but with the tooling,
glazing and firing he does.
Chris is driven by his attention to form, design and function and makes his
own tools to maintain simplicity and for economy of movement and time. He is
always striving for the simplest, most elegant solution. He is a master of
invention and has many West Coast friends who share their diamond drills,
wood turners and perspex! He has a belief that one thing leads to another be
that an invitation or an accident. Many of his beautiful designs have come
about because Chris plays on the wheel and allows himself time to follow
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through on accidents. He also applies that follow through
in design of forms with sides, spouts and handles
repeating shapes. It is no surprise that Chris is invited to
appealing places to show his beautiful ceramics.
Some of the fascinating techniques we watched Chris
demonstrate were self-taught (and often things he was
told not to do):
Throwing with very little water which allows him to
alter the pots on the wheel with little disruption to the
surface.
Throwing baseless cylinders then deforming them.
Untouched up joining seams by an economic turn with
a carved wooden knife.
The twisted wire leaf pattern made on the wheelside then flipped to be a teapot side.
His design solutions for fitting his own wooden handles to pots
…………….and those tools – bowed wires,
cheese cutters, spacers and precise lug hole
rulers – all made with West Coast driftwood…or
from anything found when not at home!
We all left with either a Chris tool or a desire to
make our own or even just to add foam sheets
and a magnetic tool board to our studios. Many
thanks to Chris for sharing his experience with
us, and to WPA for hosting the weekend.
Who’s Who in the WPA
President Roger Pearce 970 2113 [email protected] Vice President Mauritz Basson 381 6751 [email protected]
Secretary Alan Ross 566 8922 [email protected] Treasurer Robyn Connolly 977 8448 [email protected]
Rooms Manager Jo Moon 972 1123 [email protected]
Kilns – Club Firings Sam Duckor-Jones [email protected]
Kilns – Repairs Mike Atkins 970 1205 [email protected]
Glazes Stoneware: Ivan Vostinar [email protected]
Newsletter Editor Saskia Hendrikse [email protected]
Librarian Elaine Marland 384 4718 [email protected]
Raku Matters Mike Atkins 970 1205 [email protected]
Pit Firing Francesca Costa 479 1522 [email protected]
NZP Delegate Mal Sole 479 4145 [email protected]
DCA Supervisor Cate Pates 04 478 4433 021 143 7705 [email protected]
Email address for the WPA [email protected]
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As a club we try to keep our fees down while still covering costs. If for financial reasons you feel excluded, please contact the President.
Articles for January newsletter need to be emailed to Saskia by 31 December 2010
Clubrooms, 130 Grant Road, Thorndon (opposite George Street), PO Box 6686, Te Aro, Wellington 6011 Phone (04) 473 3680, Email [email protected]
Committee List 2010/2011
Position Name Address Contact number Email
President Roger Pearce 47 Simla Crescent, Khandallah 970 2113 (027 356 4025)
Vice President Mauritz Basson 9 Kilgour Way Crofton Downs 381 6751 (021 227 8151)
Secretary Alan Ross 58 Viewmont Drive, Harbour View, Lower Hutt 5010
566 8922 [email protected]
Treasurer Robyn Connolly 2 Worcester Street, Wilton, Wellington 6012
977 8448 [email protected]
Immediate Past President
Gwyn Williams [email protected]
Committee
Newsletter editor
Saskia Hendrikse 146 Mulhern Road, Judgeford¸ Porirua 5381
H 238 2779 (021 661 324)
Librarian Elaine Marland 91A Webb Street, Wellington 384 4718 [email protected]
Rooms Manager
Jo Moon 33 Harbour View Road, Northland, Wellington 6012
972 1133 (021 177 4191)
Host Rhonda Edwards 12 Connaught Terrace, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021,
389 8751 [email protected]
Kilns Mia Hamilton 19 Freyberg Street, Lyall Bay, Wellington 6022
027 668 6711 [email protected]
Grants Kate Ford 14A Salisbury Garden Court, Cecil Road, Wadestown, Wellington 6012
473 5356 (021 121 6531)
Co-opted Members
DCA Coordinator
Cate Pates 2 Trilids Lane, Churton Park, Wellington 6037
478 4433 [email protected]
Database lists Vera Burton 20 Motueka Street, Ngaio 938 8207 [email protected]
Kilns & Raku Mike Atkins 13 Nevay Road, Miramar 970 1205 [email protected]
Pit Firings Francesca Costa Flat 7, 35 Ganges Rd, Khandallah 479 1522 (027 678 6006)
Glazes Rosemary O’Hara 8 Reserve Road, Plimmerton 5026 233 0003 [email protected]
NZP Delegate Mal Sole 46 Silverstream Rd, Crofton Downs, Wellington
479 4145 [email protected]