(This is a corrected version – 11/14/09.) OK, this is the second notice about the upcoming Celebration of Seagrove Potters taking place in Seagrove, NC, Nov. 20 – 22, 2009. Will it be the last? I wouldn’t bet on that.
I’m not here to give you details – we have loads of details in other postings about this event and Seagrove. Just click on the colored words and you’ll find all the info you could possibly want about the potters of Seagrove.
The Celebration is unique in that it is a showcase of the artists of Seagrove, an area that covers the three county corner region of Randolph, Moore and Montgomery counties in North Carolina. Over 85 of the Seagrove potters that earn their living making pottery in the local Seagrove community will be participating in this annual event. Seagrove pottery has long been known for its collectibility and the Seagrove name is recognized worldwide.
Fred Johnston
Now, here’s a little secret. There’s another pottery festival taking place in Seagrove – at the very same time as the Celebration of Seagrove Potters. Can you believe it? Two pottery festivals in Seagrove featuring Seagrove potters. Wait a minute! Let me do some math. I know there are about 100 potteries in the greater Seagrove area and 85 of them (I made the mistake here of thinking the 85 potters represented 85 potteries – when it’s closer to 60 potteries) will be at the Celebration of Seagrove Potters. That means, at best, only 15 potters from the Seagrove area can be at that other pottery festival (again, since it was potters and not potteries – up to 40 potteries could be at this other festival) – unless some are doing both. Where are all the other potters coming from at that other festival?
Bruce Gholson
I went and checked out that other festival – they listed 75 participating potteries and 19 participating craftsmen. There were no links offered to give further info about these potteries or craftsmen – nothing about where they are from. I mean when you call yourself the Seagrove Pottery Festival – you should have more than a possible 15% of potters from Seagrove – shouldn’t you? I’m just saying…(Well, because of the first mistake this figure should be closer to 40 potteries from Seagrove.)
Hey, I’m a fair kind of guy. If you don’t find everything you could possibly want and afford at the Celebration of Seagrove Potters – skip right on over to that other festival and have at it – especially if you’re looking for Seagrove pottery. You’ve got a 15% (more like 40%) chance of finding some.
Carol Gentithes
But, if you’re not sure what’s Seagrove pottery and what’s not – make a stop at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove – they are a resource for info on Seagrove and North Carolina pottery.
It’s a good thing there is such a place where you can learn such info, but you know what – there are some folks who organize pottery festivals in Seagrove who would like to close the doors of the Pottery Center. Why? Maybe they don’t want people to be well informed about pottery? I don’t know. I just can’t figure out their reasons – it baffles me. But that’s a whole different story I’m saving for a late night campfire surrounded by a bunch of young pottery students. It will scare the heck out of them.
If you didn’t find enough info about Seagrove and its potters in all these links offered – visit (www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com) to learn more about the festival and potters and find more links there to the individual Seagrove pottery pages.
And, as always – even when it’s About Seagrove Pottery at Carolina Arts – we’re also into what’s Not About Seagrove Pottery. But, if you want Seagrove pottery – what better place to find it than in Seagrove at the 2nd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters. Am I right or what? (We will accept no votes for the what category.)
Tags: Bruce Gholson, Carol Gentithes, Celebration of Seagrove Potters, Fred Johnston, Luck’s Cannery, NC Pottery Center, Seagrove NC, Seagrove Pottery Festival