Muzza’s Alchemy in Coro Town
One of the most rewarding aspects of putting together Coromind is getting to know the people behind the art we showcase – not just their work, but their habits, quirks, and the slow-burn stories that shape their creative lives. When I first met Murray Rainey, aka Muzza, what struck me wasn’t just his elegant, well-balanced pottery. It was the tidiness of his studio. It was spotless. Not in a clinical way, but in a way that made you feel calm. Safe, even.
It turns out, there’s a reason for that. Muzza is not only a potter, he’s also an electrical engineer. His technical background plays a strong role in his practice, from his self-built pottery wheel (because the first one didn’t go slow enough) to his ability to repair a gas kiln for firing porcelain. In his world, creativity and control aren’t opposing forces – they dance.
“My first name is Murray, but over the years, Muzz stuck,” he says. “So, Muzza’s Pottery it is.”
Muzza’s ceramic story started not with a grand vision but with a simple invitation.
“About 10 years ago, my daughter started talking about pottery courses at Waikato Society of Potters,” he recalls.
“We did a term, then another on wheel throwing. The courses were okay, but I needed more.”
So, he got more. He bought his own wheel and kiln, the kind of heavy machinery that takes commitment, and hasn’t looked back since. “Having my own gear meant I could fire regularly and get feedback quickly. I still have the first thing I made: a snowman.”
Born in Hamilton and a longtime visitor to Papa Aroha, Muzza eventually built a home and now his permanent studio in Coromandel Town with his wife Janeen. The Coromandel, he says, has changed his pace and deepened his creative rhythm. “Hamilton’s busy and loud. It felt like rush mode all the time. Here, it’s laid back and quiet. When you’re in the right mood, pottery flows. If your mind’s distracted, you learn how to recycle.”
That insight, being in rhythm with both self and place, permeates his work. His pieces are clean, often minimalist, sometimes showcasing a bold colour that stands out, giving space for the details to breathe. “When you’re throwing on the wheel, your hands are in the work the whole time. You’re feeling what needs to happen. There’s a bit of you in every piece.”
And sometimes, there’s literally a piece of you. “They’ve found fingerprints in pottery works from hundreds of years ago,” Muzza says with a grin.
He prefers a smooth, plastic commercial clay that holds shape and fires into a crisp white. “Lazy,” he jokes, but it suits his technique. Many of his larger pieces are spray-glazed outdoors, and if a glaze doesn’t feel right, he’s not afraid to wash it off and try again. “I trim a lot at the leather-hard stage, and I use a small pug mill to help with recycling.”
Still, for someone who enjoys order, Muzza isn’t afraid of a challenge. His next chapter? Porcelain.
“I’ve repaired a gas kiln to help me reach the high temps needed for firing porcelain. It’s true what they say: porcelain’s a sod.
But I want to make really thin work that turns translucent. That’s the goal.”
He laughs, imagining the chaos to come. “Watch this space. Keep your ears open for cries of anguish as my studio turns a classy white from flinging porcelain.”
With plans to keep exhibiting in Coromandel’s art spaces, Muzza’s tidy and methodical studio proves that art can thrive where structure meets spontaneity. His journey, from crafting a simple snowman to creating sleek, sophisticated forms, shows how a steady hand and curious mind can shape far more than just clay. Check out Muzza’s website for more information: www.muzzaspottery.com
On the first two weekends of October (4–5 and 11–12), more than 30 Coromandel artists will open their studios to the public as part of the Coromandel Open Studios Arts Tour and Coromind is stoked to be partnering with it! Muzza is one of the participating artists, so make sure to pay him a visit.
More info: www.coromandelartstour.co.nz
Words by Leonardo Magri
