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Word and Pictures are Starting to Come Out from the 3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters in Seagrove, NC

Saturday, November 20th, 2010


Some of the blogging potters in Seagrove, NC, who are part of the 3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters have started posting pictures and feedback on their blogs.

If you can’t read between the lines – I couldn’t go this year – I’m spend the weekend working on another pottery project. Announcement coming soon.

First word came from Around and About with Bulldog Pottery by Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke of Bulldog Pottery. They’re young with lots of energy. And, Michael Mahan posting at From the Ground Up has offered images of his booth.

I’m sure it won’t be long before we see a report from Meredith and Mark Heywood on the Whynot Pottery Blog about what’s been going on.

New – I’ve added in Touya News the blog of Takuro Shibata and Hitomi Akebi Shibata and Turning Mud Into Gemstones the blog of Jennie Lorette Keatts. Both have added more info from the Celebration.

All of their blogs offer links to other blog where news may be soon popping up. So, if you’re like me and can’t go this year – live through the blogs.

This morning I got a call from my friend Will Ravenel who went with me to the Celebration last year – from the Celebration. He was wondering if I was on my way. I wish. And, then later he called to tell me I was again responsible for him leaving a boat load of money in Seagrove.

It’s what I do – turn people on to ways they can better spend their money – on items with lasting value. And, if you only look – that’s OK too.

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NC Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, Features New Exhibit of Works by NC Pottery Collectors

Friday, November 19th, 2010

The North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, will present the exhibition, Collector’s Eye, Series I: Seven Perspectives, on view from Nov. 23, 2010 through Feb. 12, 2011. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, from 3:30-5:30pm and is being sponsored by The North Carolina Pottery Collectors’ Guild, based in Raleigh, NC. The Reception is free and open to the public.

This exhibit will explore North Carolina pottery through pieces selected by seven North Carolina collectors. The collectors in this series are Monty Busick, Steve Compton, Bragg Cox, Leon Danielson, Joe Foster, George Hoffman and Joe Wilkinson. This exhibit presents an interesting perspective on North Carolina pottery. This is the first of the Collector’s Eye series that will begin the visual journey around the state through the collector’s eyes.

Monty Busick, an educator for 37 years and currently a consultant for Wake County Schools, is the current president of the NC Pottery Collectors’ Guild. His collection is from the Seagrove and Pittsboro areas, focusing on Mark Hewitt’s apprentice’s work.

Leon Danielson, an Economics Educator at NC State in Raleigh, and wife Sue moved to NC in 1972. They collect NC art and utilitarian pottery generally with emphasis on Hilton Pottery from the Catawba Valley. Their collection of Tobacco Road Pottery is remarkable; they established this business with a partner in 1979 utilizing the turning skills of C.B. Craven and the artistic talents of Ernestine Hilton Sigmon.

Joe Wilkinson, an Antique and Fine Arts dealer from Spring Hope, worked summers in the early 1970’s with Dot and Walter Auman at Seagrove Pottery, developing a concentrated interest in pottery. Wilkinson collects Transition Period Pottery 1916-1930 and utilitarian pottery being transformed by Arts and Crafts influences.

Steve Compton was first introduced to North Carolina’s pottery traditions in the mid 1970’s while on assignment as a photographer for the Mebane Enterprise-Journal. Compton collects 18th to 19th century earthenware, utilitarian salt-glazed and alkaline-glazed stoneware, and early to mid-20th century art pottery. He is currently District Superintendent for the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Bragg Cox, a North Carolina native, has collected NC Pottery for twelve years; he collects early utilitarian, transitional, art and figurals from North Carolina and focuses on pieces with exceptional glazes, decoration and form. He also collects Southern decorative arts including folk art.

Joe Foster is a self taught potter, having begun as a pottery collector. He began working for Archie Teague around his shop in the 1990’s where he learned a great deal. When Archie died suddenly in 1998 Foster found himself with the increased responsibility for the day to day operations of the shop.

George Hoffman, originally from Delaware, OH, has been collecting pottery for twenty five years. He began collecting North Carolina pots when he was traveling down Hwy 220 from Ohio and stopped in Seagrove at Seagrove Pottery on his way to Seven Lakes. He collects early Jugtown, early Ben Owen III, Billy Ray Hussey, and candlesticks.

Exhibitions are made possible through the generosity of our membership, the Mary and Elliott Wood Foundation and the Goodnight Educational Foundation. This project was supported by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The mission of the North Carolina Pottery Center is to promote public awareness of and appreciation for the history, heritage, and ongoing tradition of pottery making in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Pottery Collectors’ Guild is organized for the purpose of fostering and supporting the folk pottery heritage of North Carolina and the interest of those with affinity for the rich traditions and wares of this industry. The Guild’s efforts advance this purpose in numerous ways including: collecting, organizing, and sharing information related to North Carolina potteries, potters, and their wares; identifying knowledgeable persons; documenting collections and research materials associated with North Carolina pottery; encouraging new North Carolina pottery collectors, and expanding the market for North Carolina pottery.

The Center is located at 233 East Avenue in Seagrove, NC. Hours of operation are Tue. – Sat., 10am – 4pm.

For more information call 336/873-8430 or visit (www.ncpotterycenter.org).

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NC Pottery Center Raffles Off Mark Hewitt Pot at 3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters in Seagrove, NC – This Weekend

Friday, November 19th, 2010

If you plan to visit the 3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potter this weekend at the historic Luck’s Cannery in Seagrove, NC, you want to be sure to stop by the North Carolina Pottery Center booth for your chance to win this beautiful Mark Hewitt pot. Raffle tickets are only $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00.  We hope to see you there!

Raffle to benefit the North Carolina Pottery Center

Purchase your tickets at the NCPC booth located at the entrance to the potters exhibit hall.


Two Gallon Jar, Wood-fired salt glazed stoneware, with medallions and blue glass runs, 16″ H x 11″ D, retail Value: $250

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Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove, NC, Offer Show & Sale – Dec. 4, 2010

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

I’m sure the first thing regular readers of Carolina Arts Unleashed will be asking themselves after reading this headline is – How are Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke going to have anything left to sell after the 3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters, which takes place Nov. 19 – 21, 2010? Well, they probably will sell everything they’ve made up to then at the Celebration, but like the makers of Doritos who used to advertise – Eat all you want – we’ll make more – they’ll have plenty to sell you as they’ll be making more all the time. And since they have been experimenting with glazes lately – the more will not only be different, but perhaps – if you can believe it – more interesting with every new kiln load. You may even want to check in if you attended the Celebration to see what’s warm right out of the kiln.

Don’t worry – they work like beavers and Ed and Gloria Henneke and Max the bulldog – the entire crew at Bulldog Pottery will chip in to make sure your holiday shopping will not fall short by visiting them on Dec. 4th.

Here’s their press release:


Blue Ant by Samantha Henneke, porcelain, molybdenum crystalline glazes

On Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, from 9:30am-5:30pm Seagrove potters Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke will have a fresh variety of pottery in their shop for the holiday season. Visit them at their Bulldog Pottery studio, located at 3306 US Hwy 220 Seagrove, NC, for lively conversation about their recent work and light refreshments. There are always new creative endeavors in the works at Bulldog Pottery, where Bruce and Samantha let their muses inspire them from one series of experiments to another. Their interests are diverse and they are always developing different glazes and color combinations to facilitate their ideas. Whether they are designing their functional Moka glaze pottery, decorative molybdenum crystalline vases, or glazed porcelain wall hangings, they enjoy coming up with new twists.  Follow their ceramic progress and the most recent happenings in their studio at their blog, Around and About with Bulldog Pottery found at (www.bulldogpottery.blogspot.com).


Spider Yunomi by Bruce Gholson, porcelain, molybdenum crystalline glazes

Bulldog Pottery studio is a collaborative environment that provides them with support to help express themselves as individuals, as well as, a working team. They brainstorm for ideas by formulating and testing clays, glazes, surface treatments, and playing off of each other’s intuition about the materials and processes. Bruce Gholson has been fascinated with fishing, fossils, reptiles and insects since childhood. Recent interests have included Chinese scholar stones, arrowheads, and the materials and geology of our region. Samantha Henneke is inspired by their home garden, and the interplay of activity and color between plant, insect and animal life forms.

Once the holiday season goes into full swing, and the Celebration of Seagrove Potters has taken place on November 19-21 in Seagrove, Bulldog Pottery will not be alone in keeping up production in the studio through December. Seagrove and Bulldog Pottery enthusiasts will have plenty of new pottery to choose from. The reality is that many industrious Seagrove potters are still making pots for December and will have an abundance of pottery coming out of their kilns after the famous “Celebration of Seagrove Potters” event. Bulldog Pottery is located, 5 miles south of the town of Seagrove, NC, on Business 220 (right off of future Interstate 73/74).

For more information about Samantha and Bruce’s holiday kiln opening call them at 336/302-3469, e-mail to (bulldog@bulldogpottery.com), or visit (www.bulldogpottery.com).

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A Look at the Seagrove, NC, Area Calendar – the Center of NC Pottery

Friday, November 5th, 2010

That “Center of NC Pottery” thing is more about a geographical description. We know there is pottery going on all over North Carolina, but it sounds good saying it. We definitely hear more from the potters in the Seagrove area. But if you ever want to know what’s going on or being planned in Seagrove, just check the site of the Seagrove Area Potters Association at (http://www.discoverseagrove.com/).


From Westmoore Pottery

First up is the Westmoore Pottery: Heritage Day, taking place on Nov. 13, 2010, 9am-5pm. In November of each year, Westmoore Pottery marks the anniversary of its founding in 1977 (33 years this year!) by celebrating both their own and North Carolina’s pottery heritage. The focus this year will be on styles made by North Carolina’s non-Moravian potters who were working in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The official Westmoore Pottery scrapbooks will also be hauled out for the day. Westmoore Pottery is located at 4622 Busbee Road in Seagrove. For further info call 910/464-3700, e-mail at (westmoore@rtmc.net) or visit (www.westmoorepottery.com).

Of course the exhibit, Pottery from the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild, is still on view at the North Carolina Pottery Center in “downtown” Seagrove through Nov. 13, 2010, and then from Nov. 23, 2010 through Feb. 12, 2011, the Center will be offering the exhibit, Collectors Eye, Series I: Seven Perspectives, featuring works from the collections of Monty Busick, Steve Compton, Bragg Cox, Leon Danielson, Joe Foster, George Hoffman, and Joe Wilkinson.

The NC Pottery Center is always a good first stop when visiting Seagrove.

To finnish off the month of November, you have the 3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters which takes place at the historic Luck’s Cannery in Seagrove on Nov. 19 – 21, 2010. For further information e-mail (contact@celebrationofseagrovepotters.com) or visit (www.celebrationofseagrovepotters.com).

I’ve heard that there is another pottery festival going on in Seagrove at the same time and dates as the Celebration, but I don’t know anything about it – they haven’t contacted me about it so I have nothing to say about it.

Once we’ve filled ourselves with turkey and we wake up from that big nap, our thoughts turn to holiday gifts. The Seagrove area potters are there for you with kiln openings and other events.


Joseph Sand Pottery

Back in August we brought you news about a new pottery opening – not in Seagrove, but in the area between Randleman and Asheboro – just up the road from Seagrove or on the way, if you’re traveling on Hwy. 220 (the future I-73 & I-74) – Joseph Sand Pottery. Joseph Sand was hosting his first kiln opening and we hear it was a big success. His next kiln opening is on Dec. 4, 2010, (9am to 5pm) and Dec. 5, 2010, (noon to 5pm). They will have many of the same kind of items for sale again, including an array of large, sculptural vases.


Pottery by Joseph Sand


A peek inside the monster kiln at Joseph Sand Pottery

Joseph Sand Pottery is located at 2555 George York Road in Randleman, NC. For further info call 612/518-4051, e-mail at (joseph@jsspottery.com) and on the web at (www.jsspottery.com). He and his wife Amanda also offer a blog found at (www.sandceramics.blogspot.com).


From Westmoore Pottery

Westmoore Pottery (4622 Busbee Road, Seagrove, NC) will also be offering a Holiday Open House on Dec. 4, 2010, from 9am to 5pm. Join the folks at Westmoore Pottery as they celebrate the holiday season. The shop will be decorated for the holidays, and a kiln load of pottery will be unloaded, including special pieces made just for this day. Refreshments will be served. For further info call 910/464-3700, e-mail at (westmoore@rtmc.net) or visit (www.westmoorepottery.com).

Also on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, from 9:30am-5:30pm Seagrove potters Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke will have a fresh variety of pottery in their shop for the holiday season. Visit them at their Bulldog Pottery studio, located at 3306 US Hwy 220 Seagrove, NC, for lively conversation about their recent work and light refreshments. For more information about Samantha and Bruce’s holiday kiln opening call them at 336/302-3469, e-mail to (bulldog@bulldogpottery.com), or visit (www.bulldogpottery.com).


From Thomas Pottery

Thomas Pottery at 1295 S. NC 705 Hwy. in Seagrove will have its 2010 Holiday Kiln Opening on Dec. 4, 2010, from 10am-5pm & Dec. 5, 2010, from 1-4pm. Thomas Pottery welcomes you to see their most popular hand-painted log cabin snow scene dinnerware with accompanying serving pieces. Angels, candle holders, holiday trays and an array of tree ornaments will be offered. During this special event, tours of the studio and refreshments will be served. For further info call 336/879-4145, e-mail at (scottandbobbie@thomaspottery.com) or visit (www.thomaspottery.com).


A look inside Seagrove Stoneware

A little later in the month, Seagrove Stoneware at 136 W Main Street in Seagrove will host its Annual Kiln Opening & Gallery Sale on Dec. 11 & 12, 2010. Join them for their annual kiln opening and gallery sale featuring new work, one of a kind pieces, and special discounts in their gallery. For further information call 336/873-8283, e-mail at (artists@seagrovestoneware.com) or visit (www.seagrovestoneware.com).

Of course whenever you’re in Seagrove, there are 24 potteries that participated in the Seagrove Potters for Peace 2010 fundraiser for Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute. Since August of this year, the group has raised nearly $6000. These galleries have sold a lot of special items for this cause, but there are still plenty of items left to purchase. Check this link to see which potteries have items left. For more information and a list of participating potters, go to (www.seagrovepottersforpeace.com) or call 910/464-5661.

There you go. This is what I know is going on, but I bet there is always something else going on that I don’t know about. And like I said above – check out the site for the Seagrove Area Potters Association at (http://www.discoverseagrove.com/).

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Seagrove Potters for Peace Raise Money for Greg Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute

Saturday, October 30th, 2010

The Seagrove Potters for Peace 2010 fundraiser for Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute has raised nearly $6000 so far.

That’s enough money to buy school uniforms for over 1100 children, or pay the annual school fees for nearly 300 students.

“Our kick-off weekend in August was very successful” stated organizer Beth Gore of Cady Clay Works. “ We sold three times as many pottery items as last year, but we started with five times as many so there are still pieces for sale. We’d love to wind up this event and put all the money to work building schools.”

The twenty-four participating potters designed one-of-a-kind, specially signed pieces for this event that are unique and collectible, donating half of the purchase price to CAI. The potters hope that customers will buy these special pieces for Christmas gift giving. “It’s an opportunity for your gift dollars to work three ways,” says Gore. “Each purchase helps peace efforts by educating youth, supports a North Carolina potter, and is a special gift for a loved one.”

Mortenson’s efforts to build schools and educate youth in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been recognized world-wide, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, and are endorsed by the US military who turn to him for advise. “After all,” says Gore, “what could be a more appropriate Christmas present than the gift of peace?”

For more information and a list of participating potters, go to (www.seagrovepottersforpeace.com) or call 910/464-5661.

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Cady Clay Works in Seagrove, NC, Offers Annual Gallery Gala – Nov. 6, 2010

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Cady Clay Works will hold their annual Gallery Gala on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, from 9am to 5pm. Featured works will be wood-fired pottery by John Mellage and Beth Gore and “Images of North Carolina” paintings by Winston-Salem, NC, artist Fe de la Torre.

Over 600 new wood-fired pottery pieces from the annual firing of the wood kiln will be available. New designs include vases, platters, plates, bowls, birdhouses, bird sculptures, candlesticks, carafes, pitchers, mugs, tumblers and goblets.

Each piece of pottery is made by hand on the potter’s wheel by John Mellage or sculpted from slabs of clay by Beth Gore. They work in both stoneware and porcelain clay with subtle glaze accents. The wood-firing process itself completes the decoration of each piece, adding wood-ash drips and color flashing from the flame path.

Fe de la Torre’s paintings are reflections of her daily North Carolina life – chickens in her father’s farmyard, children playing in the surf at the beach, a young girl with her pony. They are full of energy.

Refreshments will be served and studio and kiln tours area available for a “behind the scenes” view of the pottery process.

Cady Clay Works is located in the Westmoore community, just south of Seagrove NC.

For more information, contact Cady Clay Works at 910/464-5661 or visit (www.cadyclayworks.com).

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3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters Takes Place in Seagrove, NC – Nov. 19 – 21, 2010

Monday, October 18th, 2010

It’s not too early to plan to attend this event. This is probably just the first of info we will bring you about the Celebration of Seagrove Potters. But this will give you the basics so you can plan to be there. They’re planning so you can plan. And this is a big event – not to be missed by any serious collector. The auctions offer unique collaborative works you won’t be able to get anywhere else but at this event.

Here’s the info:

Planning for the 3rd Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters is underway and the participating artists are all busily working on special pieces for the Celebration, as well as on collaborative pieces to be auctioned on Friday night, Nov. 19, 2010. Last year’s event, the 2nd Annual Celebration was a resounding success drawing over 400 people to the Friday night Gala and over 5,000 from NC and many surrounding states to the two day sales event. The event generated a total measurable financial impact of $485,214.

The Celebration is unique in that it is a showcase of the artists of Seagrove, NC, an area that covers the three county corner region of Randolph, Moore and Montgomery counties. Over 90 of the Seagrove potters that earn their living making pottery in the local Seagrove community will be participating in the annual event. Seagrove pottery has long been known for it collectability and the Seagrove name is recognized worldwide.


Work from Chad Brown Pottery

Located in the central piedmont, the town of Seagrove is at the intersection of NC Business Highway 220 and NC Highway 705, which in 2002 was designated as Pottery Highway because it runs through the heart of pottery country. Seagrove potters are located throughout the countryside, all around these two major roads, and are all easily accessible from them. The shops are diverse and interesting, and all worthy of a visit and most will be open throughout the Celebration weekend.

The Celebration of Seagrove Potters will again be held indoors at the historic Luck’s Cannery, on NC 705, Pottery Highway, located a half mile south of the traffic light in Seagrove. The Celebration potters admire and plan to continue the spirit of the original Luck’s Cannery – people of the Seagrove area working together to provide a future for their community.


Work from The Hutch Pottery

The Celebration of Seagrove Potters will open on Friday evening, Nov. 19, 2010, at 6pm with a Gala Preview Party. Meet the artists and enjoy the opening night festivities of this fabulous event as visitors have the first opportunity to browse and purchase from the thousands of pieces, sip a favorite beverage and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, while listening to the jazz band of Joe Robinson. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to preview a select collection of unique collaborative pieces. This highly successful venture, teaming Seagrove artists, to produce highly collectable one-of-a-kind pieces was very popular in prior years. This artwork will be auctioned at 8pm on Friday evening. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. They may be purchased on-line at (www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com). Gala ticket price includes admission to the event on Saturday and Sunday as well.


An image from last year’s Gala auction – Ben Owen holding a
work he and Will McCanless created

Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, the show is open from 9am to 6pm and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010. A second fundraising auction will be held at 4pm, Saturday. Food and beverage vendors will be set up including 3 Kings Barbeque, Marco Enterprises, and Pacific Rim Noodle House among others. A special Kids area (only kids allowed in to buy Seagrove pottery at kids prices!) will raise funds to be donated to local schools art departments, demonstrations and educational opportunities will be available, and much more. Watch the web site (www.CelebrationofSeagrovePotters.com) for upcoming information.


Work from JLK Jewelry and Jugtown Pottery

The following Seagrove potteries and artists will be participating: Avery Pottery & Tileworks, Ben Owen Pottery, Blue Hen Pottery, Bluestone Pottery, Bulldog Pottery, Caldwell-Hohl Artworks, Chad Brown Pottery, Chris Luther Pottery, Country Pots, Cross Creek Pottery, Crystal King Pottery, David Stuempfle Pottery, Dean & Martin Pottery, Dirtworks, Dixieland Pottery, Donna Craven Pottery, Dover Pottery, Fat Beagle Pottery, Fireshadow Pottery, From the Ground Up, Gingerbread House Pottery, Great White Oak Gallery, Hatfield Pottery, Hickory Hill Pottery, Jeff Brown & Michelle Hastings Pottery, JLK Jewelry at Jugtown, Johnston & Gentithes Art Pottery, Jugtown Pottery, King’s Pottery, Koepnick Pottery, Kovack Pottery, Lantern Hill Pottery, Latham’s Pottery, Luck’s Ware, Lufkin Pottery, McCanless Pottery, McKay Pottery, Nelda French Pottery, Nichols Pottery, Old Gap Pottery, Ole Fish House Pottery, “Original” Owens Pottery, Pebbles Pottery, Pottery by Frank Neef, Potts Pottery, Ray Pottery, Riggs Pottery, Rockhouse Pottery, Seagrove Stoneware, Studio Touya, The Hutch Pottery, Thomas Pottery, Tom Gray Pottery, Triple C Pottery, Turn & Burn, Uwharrie Crystalline, Westmoore Pottery, Whynot Pottery, Windsong Pottery, and Zehmer Pottery.

Visit (www.CelebrationofSeagrovePotters.com) to learn more about the festival and potters and find links to the individual pottery pages.


Work by Syd Luck

The Celebration of Seagrove Potters festival has received strong support from potters and the community at large. Special thanks to our 2010 Sponsors: Amicks Superstore, Century Link, Community One, First Bank, Insurance Associates of the Triad, Life 103.1, Mistletow Meadows, NC Zoological Society, Our State Magazine, Progress Energy, Pugh Funeral Home, Randolph Electric, Richard and Susan Garkalns, STARworks, The Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, and Village Printing with more coming on board each week.

For further information e-mail (contact@celebrationofseagrovepotters.com) or visit (www.celebrationofseagrovepotters.com). You can also learn more at the Seagrove Area Potters Association website at (http://www.discoverseagrove.com/).

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I went to see the Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story Exhibit in Southern Pines, NC

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

As a final act of my October delivery of Carolina Arts, I detoured from my normal pathway home and visited the Arts Council of Moore County’s Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines, NC, to see the exhibit, Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story, on view through Oct. 29, 2010.

You can read about this exhibit at this link to a previous posting.

It’s been some time since I have been to the Campbell House Galleries – about 7 or 8 years. It was one of those areas of the Carolinas we had to drop from our area of coverage for the printed paper and delivery of the paper – due to a lack of support.  So in this case – out of coverage – out of mind.

Carolina Arts was a media sponsor of this exhibit, so it just seemed natural that I would go see what we were promoting – even if I didn’t already want to see the exhibit. After all, how many times do you get to view pottery works by 50 potters from throughout the Carolinas, the US, and around the world. My guess is not often in a few hours drive from Bonneau, SC, and in this case I just had to make a 50 mile detour.

The trip to the Galleries was a little fuzzy at times, but before long familiar roadways and landmarks became clear. Not that much had changed. Many of the art galleries where I used to drop off papers were still there. And, the Arts Council has good signage out to mark the way to its facility.

So here I was viewing this exhibit on the Monday after the opening. As always, delivery of the paper comes first.

I have to admit that I didn’t get to enjoy the exhibit as if I was going there on a cultural adventure one afternoon. After four days of 12 to 16 hours of driving a car around the Carolinas at night – a final stop to view an exhibit is hardly what I would call a leisurely visit. I felt rushed by my own internal clock counting the seconds away before I finally reached home to crash. And, at this point I was still a good 3 to 4 hours away from that moment.

But, like a butterfly in a field of flowers I fluttered from one group of pottery to the next amazed at how much more interesting the next group of pottery could be – as if I’ve never seen a display of pottery before. The display was excellent and the diversity in styles, forms, and techniques was never-ending. I think I went through the entire display at least twice – a few times discovering new wonders overlooked at first glance.

I would had done anything to have had eight hours of sleep and to be there with Heywood, the show’s organizer and curator, to explain all or at least to answer my endless list of questions that were popping up.

If only I had the life that some people think I do as editor and publisher of a visual arts newspaper – seeing all the shows, attending all the openings, drinking till late hours of the night discussing issues with artists, and hob-knobing with art administrators. But, then who could get any work done doing that – I’d have to work at a state arts agency for that kind of life, but I jest. They must do some work sometime.

I took some pictures, but they’re not very good and they’re not like being there in front of the actual works. All they can do is give you a glimpse at what the exhibit looked like. I don’t even want to single any works out as it would be fruitless to highlight any while it is the group as a whole that makes this exhibit so wonderful. It’s the connections all these potters have to each other through their informal blogging network – spread throughout the world. They are all brothers and sisters in clay and blogs.

In the words of Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery in Seagrove, NC, “It is hoped that the exhibit will give a glimpse into the unique community of 50 working potters who are separated by distance, but brought together through the common language of clay and the written word in a digital world. These potters share their lives, skills, thoughts, triumphs and defeats through an on-line medium called a blog or web log.”

If you like pottery – go see this show, If you want to see how small the world can really be with today’s technology – go see this show and check out the blog book on display with the exhibit. If you just want to go see a well organized visual art exhibit – here’s a good choice. And, if you’ve got the time – Southern Pines can be interesting to discover too.

Oh, and I almost forgot. If you want to add some unique additions to your pottery collection – you’d better hurry – there were already a lot of red dots on tags – the Monday after the opening.

You can make your own connection with these bloggers by visiting Heywood’s blog at (http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/). At the top of her blog page is a link to the other 50 blogs. Of course, after this month, that link might not be there, but the blogging will go on and on.

How can you take the recommendation of someone who represents a media sponsor of an exhibit? All I can tell you is – the resources of Carolina Arts are limited – very limited – we can’t just do this for anything like some publications do to be a good community partner. We’re very selective.

For further information call the Arts Council of Moore County at  910/692-4356 or visit (www.mooreart.org).

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The Big Clay and Blog Exhibit to be Shown at the Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines, NC, is Almost Here

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

I’m sure some of you can’t wait until this exhibit has come and gone and I know one of those people is Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery in Seagrove, NC. This was all her idea, and I’m sure she’ll be more careful about expressing those ideas out loud in the future. It’s been a lot of extra work and worry for her, but like all good things – nothing good comes easily.


Work by Angela Walford of Adelaide, Australia

I’m sure Meredith has ended many a day in the last months thinking – “Why didn’t I just stick to my day job?” But thank your lucky stars that there are people like Heywood in this world – they bring us the little extras in life which many times makes the difference. The difference that inspires someone else to do something extra. The difference that makes someone go the extra mile – the difference between do and didn’t.

So what did she do? Well, Meredith Heywood made the pottery “world” a little smaller and brought a taste of it to the Carolinas. And, all you have to do to experience it is go see the exhibit in Southern Pines, and if you can’t do that – at least explore the link mentioned at the bottom of this blog entry.


Works by Emily Murphy of Minneapolis, MN

But if you really want to participate you can click the link to go to the Arts Council of Moore County’s Clay and Blog Online Gallery – where you can buy pottery by participating artists.

Here’s an article we offered in the Oct. 2010 issue of Carolina Arts, plus a few photos of some of the pottery with a link to the potter’s blog.

Arts Council of Moore County in Southern Pines, NC, Offers Exhibit of Blogging Potters


Work by Hitomi Shibata of Seagrove, NC

The Arts Council of Moore County in Southern Pines, NC, will present the exhibit, Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story, featuring works by clay artists from throughout the world, on view at the Campbell House Galleries, from Oct. 1 – 29, 2010.

The exhibition was organized and curated by Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery in Seagrove, NC. It is hoped that the exhibit will give a glimpse into the unique community of 50 working potters who are separated by distance, but brought together through the common language of clay and the written word in a digital world. These potters share their lives, skills, thoughts, triumphs and defeats through an on-line medium called a blog or web log.


Works by Hollis Engley of E. Falmouth, MA

Heywood offering the following about how this show came about. “Two years ago I was planning a show with a friend who is a collector. We had planned to pull together a show from the prospective of the maker, buyer and collector. My friend’s life became very busy and we had a fire at our pottery studio. For me during the ups and downs and trials of the fire, I found great strength through writing about what we were going through on my blog. But what pulled it all together for me were the comments which came back from the readers. The positive reinforcement that I needed was out there. I was not alone. I was also touched at how sharing the potters were. They were willing to share what they have learned and encourage other potters to step out and try new things.”


Work by Jim Gottuso of Louisville, KY

“I found that different potters blog for different reasons. The blogs run from very personal to very business- like, but none of them are without that personal element. The blogs are like daily or weekly diaries into the life of a potter. Some make me laugh and some make me think. But what I found was a real connection between me and what was being written.”


Work by Michael Mahan of Seagrove, NC

The idea to organize an exhibit featuring works by these blogging potters evolved and before Heywood knew it, the blog connections had spread from Seagrove throughout the US, into Canada and Europe – going as far away as Australia.


Works by Tracey Broome of Chapel Hill, NC

The exhibition includes works by the following artists and bloggers: Blanie Avery, Seagrove, NC; Tim Ayers, Lewisville, NC; Zygote Blum, Stockton, CA; Tracey Broome, Chapel Hill, NC; Kyle Carpenter, Asheville, NC; Meagan Chaney, Ocala, FL; Joe & Christy Cole,Mineral Point, WI; Barbara Edwards, Berkeley, CA; Hollis Engley, E. Falmouth, MA; Carole Epp, Saskatoon, Canada; Dan Finnegan; Fredericksburg, VA; Doug Fitch, Devon, United Kingdom; Bruce Gholson & Samantha Henneke, Seagrove, NC; Jim Gottuso, Louisville, KY; Tom Gray, Seagrove, NC; Peter Gregory, Otago, New Zeagland; Patricia Griffin, Cambria, CA; Mark & Meredith Heywood, Seagrove, NC; Kari Weaver Hopkins, Burnsville, NC; Paul Jessop, Ilminster, United Kingdom; Michael Kline, Bakersville, NC; Po-Wen Liu, Greensboro, NC; Chris Luther, Seagrove, NC; Michael Mahan, Seagrove, NC; Renee Margocee, Charleston, WV; Jeff Martin, Boone, NC; Hannah McAndrew, Castle Douglas, United Kingdom; Jennifer Mecca, York, SC; Pru Morrison, Brisbane, Australia; Emily Murphy, Minneapolis, MN; Ron Philbeck, Shelby, NC; Brandon Phillips, Abilene, TX; Gary Rith, Ithaca, NY; Mel Robson, Brisbane, Australia; Cindy Shake, Anchorage, AK; Kitty Shepherd, Granada, Spain; Hitomi & Takuro Shibata, Seagrove, NC; Judy Shreve, Johns Creek, GA; Annie Singletary, Black Mountain, NC; Alex & Nancy Solla, Trumansburg, NY; Linda Starr, Lecanto, FL; Joy Tanner, Bakersville, NC; Judi Tavill, Rumson, NJ; Julia Wilkins, Mountain West, UT; and Angela Walford, Adelaide, Australia.

You can make your own connection with these bloggers by visiting Heywood’s blog at (http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/). At the top of her blog page is a link to the other 50 blogs.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Arts Council at  910/692-4356 or visit (www.mooreart.org).

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