Hello and sunny spring greetings from us at Bukkenburg in Swellendam
How wonderful to feel the warmer weather now and enjoy longer days with the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere.
We’re marking two notable milestones in October
And one upcoming event
We have been together for 50 years!
Our meandering journey / adventure / odyssey into clay and the art and craft of high fired studio pottery began within a few months of our getting together in October 1972.
Then and now …
We’re also marking 26 years in Swellendam. We moved into the heritage house Bukkenburg on 1 October 1996, after many years in our home and studio in Johannesburg.
Bukkenburg
Winter into spring
It’s been a different and an interesting journey this past winter.
Felicity broke the fibula in her right leg in July about a week after we posted our last newsletter, and that had a profound impact on the rhythm of life and work.
We are so grateful for supportive friends and neighbours who helped us through this time.
We ran several short workshops in the studio during the winter while Felicity was ‘out of action’, and managed to cater a marvellous dinner for the Swellendam Music Society and their visiting artists with help of Carolyn from next door, Sue and Felicity’s son Andrew who was here for the weekend.
Occupancy in the cottage has been modest and steady.
Felicity’s recovery is reassuring and work in the studio is regaining some momentum – the rhythm of life and work slowly returns.
We have the house and some light studio equipment connected to a backup electricity supply and so now we are able to remain productive.
The studio and covered outside drying area are filling up with unfired pots, many orders and stock for our gallery for the summer. We’re looking forward to getting busy with our spring firings as soon as possible.
As with so many all over the country, the ongoing nationwide power cuts have impacted our work in the studio. In order to fire either of our two big oil fired kilns we need at least 14 hours of uninterrupted electricity.
We’re hopeful for a more steady supply of electricity soon, and if not, we we’ll have to consider an alternative solution, perhaps a generator to run the big three-phase fan that atomises the fuel as it enters the kiln.
In the studio
Swellendam Garden Expo & Open Gardens 4 to 6 November
We have also been very busy preparing the garden for the Swellendam Open Gardens weekend in November.
Ours will be one of 18 gardens in and around Swellendam that will be open to visitors from 4 to 6 November.
In addition there will be a Gardener’s Market and a range of events.
For further information and bookings please visit the Swellendam Garden Expo. Website: CLICK HERE Also on Facebook; CLICK HERE
A few spring garden pictures
Spotted Eagle Owl Mother and baby photographed just a little more than a week ago
‘Swellendam – On The Way To Everywhere’
For the past few years Swellendam has been without an organised, co-ordinated tourism plan or strategy, and we appreciate what is being done by several hard working individuals in their efforts to keep the profile of the town and region visible and prominent.
Our self-catering guest cottage, shown above, is available for an overnight stay or longer. Details and pictures on the ‘Accommodation Page’ Click Here
Overberg farmlands outside Swellendam in late September
Hello and warm winter greetings from Bukkenburg in Swellendam.
Porcelain bowl – wheel thrown, faceted, turned and tooled. Copper glaze, reduction fired to 1320 degrees C in our oil kiln.
Overall mixed blessings this winter as the country emerges from more than 800 days of varying degrees of Covid-19 lockdown, and now ongoing nation-wide power cuts affecting everyone and everything.
Multi-layered drama in the social, political and economic world as well.
Fiscal shrike on a fencing dropper in the garden.
We are thankful to have been busy in the studio lately and there is commissioned work in hand to take us through to the spring.
Winter is usually quiet here in the Southern Cape, and as usual we are using the time to get through the outstanding ordered work and also to build up a new collection of work to have in the gallery for the coming spring and summer months.
Pippa in one of her unusual, usual spots
We require at least 14 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply to power the fan on our big oil kiln to complete a firing.
Stage 6 load shedding has just begun country wide. This means that the power will be cut for about 9 1/2 hours a day at different times until further notice.
The house and some light equipment in the studio are on a backup system so we can remain productive to a point.
We’re making use of these days of load-shedding to get this blog and some other tasks done, in addition to getting pots made for the next firings.
We sincerely hope that those who are waiting for their pots will not have to wait too much longer.
Here are some pictures of what we’ve been up to recently.
The big kiln – before and after glaze firing
Pots cooling in the open kiln after the glaze firing
Throwing a big stoneware amphora
Decorating a stoneware lamp base
Swellendam is so well situated on the N2 national road, halfway between Cape Town and the Garden Route, and we are delighted to have become an essential stop for family, friends, and customers old and new as they make their way through this part of the country.
In addition to this, we are so grateful for the continued support from people in Swellendam and surrounds.
In the pictures below: On the left – James with his cousins Sarie, Paul, Simone, and Juliette. From Cape Town and Germany. On right – With an old school colleague Alan Whiteside from Norwich, UK reacquainting after 52 years! Below – a lovely visit from our niece Alice and her husband Nate who live in London.
Some tools of the trade and a productive mess
‘Swellendam – On The Way To Everywhere’
For the past few years Swellendam has been without an organised, co-ordinated tourism plan or strategy, and we appreciate what is being done by several hard working individuals in their efforts to keep the profile of the town and region visible and prominent.
Ripening canola fields and the Langeberg Mountains – winter in the Swellendam District of the Overberg Region in the Western Cape.
Stoneware platter – 47cm diameter
A line of smaller porcelain pieces
Stoneware vases
The big kiln is loaded with pots for the first of two bisque firings, waiting now for the power grid to stabilise.
And these will be in the the next firing …
We will be sending out information in due course about upcoming events in which we will be involved as we approach spring and summer. Just two for now:
Our Potter’s Lunch and Open Studio in September ?
Swellendam Open Gardens over the first weekend in November.
Workshops & Classes
With the recent removal of all Covid-19 regulations, we are going to be starting some workshops and teaching sessions. Please have a look at the ‘Workshops Page’ : Click Here
We’re hoping that the pair of breeding Spotted Eagle Owls who have been nesting nearby for the past few years will be doing so again this winter and coming spring.
Our self-catering guest cottage shown above is available for an overnight stay or longer. Details and pictures on the ‘Accommodation Page’ Click Here
New Year Greetings from Swellendam, and a warm welcome back to Bukkenburg Pottery Studio, Gallery & Guest Cottage at the beginning of what seems to be another very turbulent and worrying year ahead.
Once again we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all who have supported our efforts over the last while; your continued support has helped us to sustain ourselves during these very trying times.
We are grateful for the commissioned work, large and small, which has so helped us work through these turbulent times, and also to those who visited the studio over the holiday season and bought something from us to take home with them.
This lovely pair of wheel-thrown stoneware planters are at their new home in Johannesburg.
Much of the past while has been spent working on a commission for very big indoor and outdoor planters. The wet work, including some extras, is more or less done and as soon as we have the final finish and colour requirements from the client, the pots will be fired. We’ll also be firing the smaller commissions and orders that have come in, and also some new work for the gallery.
Overall, we are busy and productive with some ongoing work right here at home – a lot to be thankful for in these uncertain times ..!
It is alarming to hear that the rates of Covid-19 infection, hospitalization and death in our country are growing; and even in a small rural town like this, we are aware of and know people who are really suffering with the virus and some who have succumbed.
A second wave of the Coronavirus is causing such unbearable pain, suffering and hardship around the world, including our own country, and after a brief respite in ‘lockdown’ level 1 towards the end of last year, here, we are back to ‘lockdown’ level 3.
There are several local welfare and charity initiatives set up to help those who have fallen on harder times during the pandemic, providing food and comfort to those hardest hit, and the local population is always willing to spring into action when called on to help.
Local medical services are operating under increasing strain as the virus continues to spread in and around Swellendam.
This version of Level 3 ‘lockdown’ includes several severe measures which have had a devastating impact on the economy, agriculture, and an already struggling domestic travel industry over the summer.
Some of these measures and restrictions which were introduced at the beginning of the holiday season include the total closure of all beaches in our part of the world, a complete ban on all alcohol sales, night time curfew from 9.00 pm to 6.00 am, closure of land borders with neighbouring countries amongst others.
These measures and restrictions have had a specially devastating impact on the wine industry of the Western Cape, an industry that employs over 300 000 people and is central to the economy of the region.
The wine growing region in our part of the world is largely to the west of us and to the south, very close to Swellendam.
This article by winemaker Bruce Jack paints a very touching and disturbing picture of what is being faced:
Vineyards and the Breede River in summer near Bonnievale, Western Cape
By contrast, we hear that the grain famers of the Swellendam district have had a very good harvest, and things are looking promising for them, which will have a beneficial impact on the town. We wrote about this in our September newsletter, before the harvest came in, and if you scroll down, you will find it there.
Wheat fields near Riviersonderend after the harvest.
In our immediate area we are seeing growing unemployment, poverty and misery all around us, and daily there are people ringing our door bell asking for something to do, a ‘piece job’, just to get something to eat. Others desperately asking for a sandwich.
According to Statistics SA, more than 17 million South Africans, one in five, rely on social welfare grants from the state; and even in this small rural town there are unbelievably long queues of desperate people standing in line for their welfare grant payments on their designated days.
Our own strategy for now involves going out as seldom as possible with masks and hand sanitizer, and only for those things we really need; there are bottles of sanitizer around the house, gallery, studio, and cottage; washing hands etc etc, and most specially staying away from busy or crowded places if we can.
As expected, visitor numbers are significantly down on previous years, and the usual flow of foreign travelers to this part of the world seems to have almost dried up completely for now.
It is doubtful that we’ll experience any real return of travellers to our region until there are enough vaccinated people who feel confident to travel again, and that seems to be a long way off.
The summer months have brought a slow, steady flow of visitors to the studio, and we have been fortunate to have also had several bookings in the cottage over the holiday season.
Accommodation at the Studio
Our guest cottage is available for an overnight stay or longer.
For further information please have a look at our accommodation page where there are pictures and a full description of what is available.
And as the year begins to get underway, we are again experiencing ongoing nation-wide power cuts – called ‘load shedding’ here. Sometimes two or even three 2 1/2 hour events a day. Not easy dodging these cuts in electricity supply and still remaining productive and upbeat !
It’s harder now to imagine where the leadership will come from to help change direction here towards something more positive. This article written by Marianne Merten in the Daily Maverick this week provides a sobering look at what the coming year might hold for this country: CLICK HERE:
Sadly, due to the curfew this year, we were unable to take our stroll through town late on New Year’s Eve and make our by now traditional ‘Abbey Road Crossing’ over the main street.
Here’s a picture from last year’s walk:
Huge excitement during the summer when a pair of Spotted Eagle Owls hatched two eggs in a hollow in an oak tree right here in our neighbour’s garden. Needless to say they provided the best photo opportunity imaginable. Here are some of the pictures of one of the adults and the two owlets:
Spotted Eagle Owl – one of the parents
We have found the available digital communications and media reassuring during the lock-down period, and like so many, we have been able to stay in touch with family, friends and customers around the country and the world. Within the next month or so we will be hooked up to the internet with the newly installed fibre network in town and we’re looking forward to high-speed, trouble-free communications. The paperwork is all done, and now we wait for the area to go ‘live’.
Our social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram have become essential tools in our working and social lives.
We have a new e-mail address: david@pottery.co.za Please add it to your address books, the old one will be phased out over time.
The studio, gallery and garden are open and working daily, and visitors are welcome. Please call ahead if travelling from afar, just to be sure that we’re here and available on the day.
Wishing you all the best in good health and safety as we begin the new year.
Please take care of yourselves and each other ..!
David and Felicity Bukkenburg – Swellendam January – 2021
Along with everyone else on the planet, we are slowly and very cautiously beginning to emerge into a different kind of world after more than five months living under various levels of government enforced Covid-19 ‘Lockdown’
We have been deeply affected by the extent of suffering and destruction that this ‘Global Pandemic’ has brought to the world in which we all live, and we are grateful to have made it through the winter, and relieved to see and feel signs of spring with its new growth.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to all who have in one or other way supported our efforts over the pasts few months. Your support for our work has helped us to sustain ourselves during the months when the studio had to be closed.
There are those who bought pots from us online, others whose ordered and commissioned work, both large and small, has provided great encouragement and hope for the immediate post ‘lockdown’ period.
The ordered work is in process of glazing and decorating in preparation for several glaze firings.
Felicity at the entrance to the studio with a group of big wheel-thrown stoneware Amphorae made for De Trafford Wines in Stellenbosch.
And, as if the Coronavirus Pandemic and government enforced lockdown is not enough, once again the country is in the grip of ongoing nation-wide electricity power cuts. Recently we’ve been experiencing up to three cuts a day, with each lasting up to 2 ½ hours. We don’t know how long it will go on like this, and trying to dodge these bouts of what’s called ‘loadshedding’ really plays havoc with any ideas that we may have of getting any consistent work done at the moment.
It is heartening to feel the beginnings of the return of visitors to the town, we’ve had some encouraging early spring bookings in the cottage, and we’re experiencing a slow but steady stream of visitors to the gallery and studio.
It will no doubt be a long time before foreign visitors begin returning to this part of the world.
With the recent relaxing of lockdown restrictions to Level 2 in the country, we are looking forward to the tourism, hospitality and restaurant industries getting going again in our region and further afield.
So much momentum has been lost over these past months with businesses closing and so many people losing their jobs and livelihoods.
We’re hopeful that new and innovative networks will emerge soon to stimulate some creative energy, direction and growth.
We have found the available digital communications and media reassuring during the lock-down period, and like so many, we have been able to stay in touch with family, friends and customers around the country and the world.
Our social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram have become essential tools in our working and social lives.
As a result of all of this and as an added possible way forward, we are thinking about offering online tutoring and/or workshops online in the near future. Please let us know if this is something that would interest you. ____________________________________________________________________
‘Potter’s Lunch and Spring Open Studio’ – a warm invitation.
It gives us pleasure and some added purpose at this time to let you all know that we are planning to host our annual ‘Potter’s Lunch and Spring Open Studio’ again, beginning over the Heritage Day Long Weekend from 24 to 27 September and ongoing into the spring and summer.
Our well-known and usually well-supported buffet ‘Potter’s Lunch‘ will be on Sunday 27th September with the necessary ‘Covid-19’ measures in place. Lunch bookings are essential – (numbers will be limited) Tel: 082 342 5453 The menu and cost will be available soon.
1st October marks 24 years since we moved to Swellendam.
Pictures from some earlier events …A welcome spring visitor in the garden …
We live in a most beautiful part of the country and are fortunate to be able to look on as the changing seasons impact on the diverse and extensive local agricultural industry.
From what we have seen on our outrides into the district, and what we hear, the harvest this year is looking particularly good, which is likely to have a beneficial impact on the town’s economy.
They will begin harvesting the early crops within the next month or so, and the harvest season goes on well into November and sometimes even later.
The farmers in our area concentrate largely on Canola (rapeseed), various grains such as wheat, oats and barley; also sheep and dairy, among others.
Their contribution to the country’s food supply is significant. _____________________________________________________________________
Canola and wheat fields beneath the Langeberg Mountains near Swellendam.
Canola fields and the Langeberg mountains near Swellendam Blue crane – low flying in the Overberg near Swellendam.Late afternoon and the gravel road home …
Studio pictures – work in progress, and the cat (who is not even ours) ..!
____________________
Accommodation at the Studio
At the beginning of ‘lockdown’ in March, all accommodation facilities had to close unless one had a permit to accommodate ‘essential workers’. All travel came to a stop as did all local and international tourism. We had bookings for accommodation in our guest cottage for many months ahead, and suddenly they were all cancelled.
We are glad to say that the cottage is once again available for an overnight stay or longer.
For further information please have a look at our accommodation page where there are pictures and a full description of what is available. Please click HERE
The Covid-19 accommodation measures are being observed. ____________________________________________________
Swellendam Winter School
Also planned for spring are our Clay Explorations Pottery Courses as part of the Swellendam Winter School. After the most enjoyable courses on last year’s program, we were looking forward to the Winter School running again this year. Covid-19 put a hold on all of that, and now it is being revived for the spring.
A wide range of courses are on offer this spring, and for all info and bookings, please visit Swellendam Winter School.
A few pictures from last year’s Clay Explorations courses on the Swellendam Winter School:
Cape white-eye on half an orange outside the studio.
As the winter and severe lockdown recede, and the weather begins to warm up, here’s hoping to seeing some of you out this way during the coming spring and summer.
The countryside in the Overberg region of the Western Cape is looking exceptional right now, accommodation is abundant in Swellendam, and the restaurants are operating.
It’s just the best time to take to the road and travel the countryside – for all sorts of reasons ..!
The studio, gallery and garden are open and working daily, and visitors are welcome. Please call ahead if travelling from afar, just to be sure that we’re here and available on the day.
Wishing you all the best in good health and safety as we learn to navigate what has become known as the ‘new normal’ in this post ‘lockdown’ environment of the Covid conscious world.
Garden view at Bukkenburg in spring, looking north towards the Langeberg Mountains.
A warm invitation to our coming Potter’s Lunch and Spring Open Studio in Swellendam
Wheel thrown stoneware vase – 31 cm tall
Our spring open studio begins as usual with a buffet ‘Potter’s Lunch’. This year it’s on 28th September, just a week after the spring equinox.
Lunch will be served on the veranda and will include fresh local meats and fish from the braai, and a variety of vegetarian dishes including salads and vegetables from the garden. This will be followed by a selection of delicious desserts -served on our own porcelain and stoneware tableware.
Lunch bookings for the 28th are essential Please call: 082 342 5453 or e-mail: bukkenburg@sdm.dorea.co.za
Menu and cost will be available soon. ______________________________________________________________________________
The gallery has been tidied up and dusted after the extreme winds recently, and is now looking good for the coming spring and summer season with a selection of recently fired work on show and for sale.
The gallery at BukkenburgStoneware lidded casserole
Our recently renovated and refurbished guest cottage is available on a self-catering basis for those wanting to stay over in Swellendam on their travels.
The cottage offers luxury accommodation comprising two en-suite, air-conditioned bedrooms, kitchen, lounge with wood burning fire, full DSTV package and outdoor veranda.
Please contact us for further details, availability and rates. For pictures of the cottage please click HERE ______________________________________________________________________________
Brown hooded Kingfisher – eating his own lunch in the garden
We hope that some of you will be able to visit the studio and we look forward to welcoming you here. The studio and gallery are open and working daily and visitors are welcome to browse and enjoy our environment. ______________________________________________________________________________
With our best wishes David and Felicity Spring – 2019
