Archive for November, 2009

Newer Entries »

2nd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters Takes Place Nov. 20 – 22, 2009, in Seagrove, NC – #2

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

(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.)

Home

Share this article

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in About Seagrove Pottery, NC Pottery Center | Comments Off

Carolina Arts Has Joined the Charleston Arts Coalition – How About You?

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

In full disclosure, Carolina Arts joined a month or so ago, but it has taken us all that time to get ourselves a page up on the Charleston Culture website  – not that it’s that hard. Actually it was very easy and free, but we were busy doing other things and our household was visited by H1N1 and a few other things during that time. Lucky us! I’d tell you where you could find that page, but it’s more fun for you to search through the site to see how many times you can find us and see what you discover along the way.

Now, when I say we have joined the Coalition – I’m talking about taking out a membership – which you can learn all about at the Coalition’s website. Becoming part of Charleston Culture is free – open to anyone in the Greater Charleston creative community.

We are representing Northern Berkeley County from the community of Bonneau, SC. Since part of the city of Charleston is in Berkeley County on Daniel Island – we qualify. So when you think about the tri-counties (the greater Charleston area), Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties – you’re talking about McClellanville to Edisto in Charleston County, Goose Creek to St. Stephen in Berkeley County, and Summerville to St. George – and a whole lot of creativity in-between – not just downtown Charleston.

In reality, if someone wanted to become a member of the Charleston Arts Coalition from Greenville, SC; Charlotte, NC; Boston, MA; Paris, ID, Paris, IL, Paris, ME, Paris, France; or wherever to support the Coalition in its efforts to create, unite, inspire – I’m sure they’ll take your money – they’re set up for PayPal on their site. And, for all the people out there who have enjoyed or look forward to enjoying Charleston’s creative spirit – I’m sure that’s going to happen.

So what do you get if you join – besides the satisfaction of being part of something so wonderful and creative – well you can check out all the tangible rewards at this link – if the warm fuzzy feeling of being part of something isn’t enough, to see what you will receive at each membership level. But like all organizations – what you get is pretty much tied to what you put in and more. No one wants just a bunch of membership card holders – they want people to get involved. And, involvement doesn’t always mean attending what other members have worked so hard to offer – it means being on the hard working end sometimes. But, if you just don’t see yourself in the hard working category – that’s OK – just make sure you’re joining at the very highest level. Let your money work for you.

So what do I expect to get out of my membership? Well, we’re already part of Charleston Culture – linking us up to everyone who comes across that website. And we’re going to do our part to let everyone know about it as much as we can (think Seagrove pottery). But, I’m looking for some of that collaboration that has been going around the leaders and members of the Coalition – like the kind that was talked about at the Coalition’s Town Hall Meeting held back in Aug. 09. Here’s a link to my posting on that event.

And, my idea of collaboration isn’t everyone asking to be featured in our paper, on our website, or on the blog. I hope we’ll start to see some support from some of these folks. Collaboration is supposed to be a two-way street.

You see, I’m part of the old guard of Charleston’s art community and the Coalition represents the new kids in town. I can say kids in reference to my age, but these are not children – they’re just the new generation taking up the banner – which they will soon learn is the burden of the Charleston art community. It’s a heavy load at times. We’ve been carrying a load for Charleston for over 22 years.

So before I sign off duty – which I hope is a long time from now – I hope to share some of my experience and knowledge with this new generation – hopefully helping them avoid some pitfalls along the way – and learn some new tricks too. You have to keep on your toes to survive in Charleston’s jam-packed creative community. It’s such a small place for so many creatives to find their way. The journey can be full of obstacles, distractions and dirty tricks. Much like anywhere else. So, it’s good to have friends and collaborators along that journey.

We’ll see what happens. And I’m going to be checking the membership roster from time to time to see who else is joining and who isn’t. Not that I’ll be making a list, but I’ll be wondering why certain people and groups have not joined although they seem to be involved in many of the featured panels as speakers. Maybe some are better at talking and not so into doing. Well, that’s always been the case in Charleston, but it’s also always noted.

And, for all you other arts organizations out there throughout the Carolinas – this is my one backyard membership. I can’t join every arts organization out there in the Carolinas – much less every Chamber of Commerce that comes across our paper. It’s going to be hard enough for us as is to participate from Bonneau when things are happening in Charleston – a mere 1 hour plus drive  – both ways. So don’t send those membership letters or e-mails.

Carolina Arts does its fare share of contributions throughout the Carolinas – we just don’t make a big deal out of it and we don’t ask those who receive those contributions to either. There are no deep pockets here.

So like we said on our profile on Charleston Culture – Carolina Arts supports the Charleston Arts Coalition in its efforts to bring the greater Charleston area arts community together and feels that every creative individual, arts organization, and arts related business should do the same. It also recommends that every individual and business in the Charleston community should do the same to make it a better community to live in.

You hear that, Boeing executives? Show us your generosity in return for all those incentives we taxpayers will be forking over to you.

Home

Share this article

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Carolina Arts | Comments Off

The 24th Annual Vista Lights Takes Place in Columbia, SC – Nov. 19, 2009 – 5-10pm

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Now this is not the same as Artista Vista – a celebration of the visual arts in Columbia. SC’s Congaree Vista area, but it is an overall celebration of the Vista area and the businesses found there – including the Adluh Flour mill where you’ll be able to sample their famous biscuits (see correction below). You can read what I wrote about this year’s Artista Vista at this link. It might give you a reason to visit Vista Lights.

Vista Lights is the kickoff of the holiday season in Columbia. You can fill in any holiday that suits you.

But because the event includes the visual art community of the Vista – there will be plenty of art offered – just like during Artista Vista – with a whole lot of other distractions thrown in. I’ll tell you all about the art offerings after a blurb from the Congaree Vista Guild.

Vista Lights November 19, 2009

Times: 5-10pm

Location: In the Congaree Vista, on Gervais Street between Gadsden and Assembly; on Lady, on Park, on Senate, and Lincoln. Also at the SC State Museum, and various businesses nearby, all accessible by a horse and carriage (50 cents per ride) operating from the museum to the corner of Gadsden and Assembly. (See correction below.)

For more than 20 years, the arts and entertainment community of Columbia’s Congaree Vista has welcomed the holiday season with an annual family evening celebration of food, arts, entertainment and shopping. Several Vista streets will be pedestrian-only so visitors can enjoy street entertainment that includes live music, singing, Irish dancing, magic, ballet, and much more. Carolina Ballet’s “Nutcracker” Bon-Bons and their Mother Ginger will be on hand to light the giant Christmas tree at the corner of Gervais and Lincoln Streets.

Festivities kick off at 5pm and go on until 10pm. Gervais, Park and Lincoln Streets (between Lady and Senate) close at 6pm. Mayor Bob Coble and other dignitaries will light the Christmas tree at the intersection of Lincoln and Gervais at 7pm.

Transportation via horse and carriage is available from the South Carolina State Museum (where parking is ample and free) as far east as Assembly, with numerous stops in-between for your convenience. Open houses are plenty in stores, galleries and other businesses. Make sure to visit Adluh Flour to sample the mill’s famous biscuits.

Don’t worry about parking. There’s ample space in three parking garages, many lots, and on the street. The SC State Museum, the Convention Center (Lincoln St. south of Senate), and the lot at Lady behind M Vista offer free parking for Vista Lights. Canal & Senate, an events venue located at 320 Senate Street, also offers free parking. If you park at the museum or Canal & Senate, a horse-and-carriage ride will bring you to the heart of the Vista (50 cents per ride).

Bring the children; there’s plenty for them to see and do. Plan to come early and stay late for this long-time Columbia tradition.

Check back on our website (www.vistacolumbia.com) as we add the entertainment acts you will enjoy at Vista Lights.

Columbia’s Congaree Vista, always an art destination, will be hopping on November 19th. Make plans to kick-off the 2009 holiday season at Vista Lights.

For more information call 803/269-5946.

Now, about the art offerings we know about – only the organized have early details. The others will show up at the last minute – as always.

City Art, at 1224 Lincoln Street, will present a gallery exhibit by painters Wanda  Steppe and Harriet Marshall Goode, with exclusive performances by the Wideman/Davis Dance Company, and a trunk showing of hand woven apparel by Terri Goddard, between 5-10pm. The exhibit will be on view through Nov. 30, 2009. You can check out City Arts beautiful website at (www.cityartonline.com).

Vista Studios’ 13 studio artists will be participating in this year’s Vista Lights celebration with an exhibit of works in Gallery 80808, at 808 Lady Street, from 5-10pm. Come see the exhibition and visit with the artists as they open their studios and discuss their processes. There are two new artists at the studios, Deanna Leamon and Kirkland Smith. Although they are new to Vista Studios, they are well known around Columbia as two of its finest artists. Come by and see their new studios. The exhibit of works will be on view through Nov. 30, 2009. For further info you can visit their website at (www.gallery80808vistastudios.com).

Of course “the guys” at One Eared Cow Glass at 1001 Huger Street will be putting on a show of how molten glass can be turned, blown, twisted and spun into an object of art. Tommy Lockart, Mark Woodham and Ryan Crabtree will be doing the dance that is glass making – a must see on any visit to Columbia. You can see a blog entry about them at this link. For further info visit their website at (www.oneearedcow.com).

The South Carolina State Museum will be open until 7pm with free admission, parking and horse and carriage rides operating from the museum to the corner of Gadsden and Assembly. You can visit three exhibits there including: The Lonely Shadow, featuring an exhibit created by nationally-known silhouette artist Clay Rice, including 23 original silhouette illustrations from the new children’s book The Lonely Shadow; Tangible History: South Carolina Stoneware from the Holcombe Family Collection and From the Pee Dee to the Savannah: Art and Material Culture from South Carolina’s Fall Line Region.

The Gallery at Nonnah’s at 928 Gervais Street will be featuring works by artists Bonnie Goldberg, Ingrid Carson, Edie Biddle, Jan Fleetwood, Betty Mandell, Alicia Leeke, Donna Rozier, and Christy Leheup in various media. Plus, enjoy all the other goodies at Nonnah’s.

The other art galleries in the Vista will also present works by local, regional and national artists so visit Carol Saunders Gallery, if ART Gallery, Lewis & Clark Gallery,  The Gallery at DuPRE, and Wink Gallery.

I also heard that The gallery @ Restaurant 300 Senate, located at 300 Senate Street – near the river will be featuring works by members of About Face, one of Columbia’s largest art groups. Figurative pieces, portraits, landscapes, abstracts, representational and experimental art will fill the walls and feature foyer at the venue overlooking the river. The works will be on view from Nov. 19 – Dec. 24, 2009.

So there you go – lots to do and see with a tree lighting thrown in. What more could you ask for? Well maybe Santa will be there and you can put in a request.

And, remember – if you’re going to be in Columbia for Vista Lights – you can go early and see other art being offered in that city or stay the next day to do it. And, they won’t mind if you find something you can’t live without – tell them I gave you permission to buy anything you liked. In some cases you might not be able to take it home with you right away, but we all can live with that.

Here’s a bit of updates to the info offered here.

We have been notified that there are a few changes to the info we found on the website of the Congaree Vista Guild in preparing our entry about Vista Lights in Columbia, SC, on Nov. 19, 2009. It’s not much.

Adluh Flour mill has decided, after many years, to be guests of Vista Lights instead of hosts, and will not be providing food and entertainment. The horse-and-carriage rides are 50 cents per ride – the Vista Lights Cruiser, a 22-passenger bus, will also run the route from the SC State Museum to Assembly and back, for 50 cents a ride. Free parking is available in all three City of Columbia garages, on the street, and in the lot behind M Vista.

As always it is best to check the website link (www.vistacolumbia.com) before you travel to Columbia for the latest updates on what will be offered that evening. There will be more additions than subtractions I’m sure.

Home

Share this article

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Columbia SC Visual Arts | Comments Off

Newer Entries »