NorthTec team leaves for Workshop in South Korea

Media release:

NorthTec team leaves to participate in World Onggi Foundation International Students Workshop in South Korea

Four NorthTec students from Kerikeri and their tutor – renowned ceramicist Richard Parker – are leaving for South Korea tomorrow where they will be the only English speaking team of five international teams that have been invited to participate in the World Onggi Foundation International Students Workshop.

The international teams will work alongside five student teams from South Korea to create new works during their week-long stay.

“The Onggi Foundation event attracts huge media interest and we are very honoured to have been invited,” said Richard Parker. “Onggi are traditional earthenware containers that were used to store pickles and other condiments in the gardens of Korean homes. Preserving the highly-regarded craft of Onggi-making is part of a cultural renaissance that receives strong support from the South Korean government and attracts a great deal of interest from the general public in South Korea.”

The NorthTec student group is diverse, ranging from one student – Celia Erstich – who has never been overseas before, to David Knight – an amputee who has only ever travelled as far as Australia. The other two students who make up the NorthTec team are Ros Simpson and Nada Woods.

“It will be the trip of a lifetime for the students. We will be working long days but look forward to representing NorthTec and New Zealand at this presitigious event.”

The NorthTec group paid for their airfares and spending money with accommodation, food and a stipend provided by the South Korean government.

“Each of us will be working on a small-scale speciality piece that we can finish in the time available. We will be looking to develop our work in some way as a result of the environment that we will be working in. We want to use the experience to change our work so that we all come back different as artists.

“There will also be a strong emphasis on ambassadorship. We know that we will be there representing our country and our school – without NorthTec we would never have met each other and had the opportunity to work creatively alongside one another.”

The NorthTec group will return to New Zealand on 14 October.

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