Carolina Arts Unleashed

I was surfing our blog links and came across an image I found from the 32nd Annual Student Art Show, on the blog Art Dispatch - the Voice of the Jacksonville Council for the Arts… Dispatching art news, events, and info to artists and art lovers in Jacksonville, NC, and Eastern North Carolina. The exhibit is on view through Mar. 26, 2010, at the Council for the Arts gallery in Jacksonville, NC, featuring selected works by junior high and high school students.

It said on the blog that this is the only county-wide (that’s Onslow County, NC) art contest available to all middle school and high school students. Art departments of every school: public, private, home-schooled and base (Jacksonville is a military community) were invited to select and enter 8 pieces of student work. This annual show is noted for its originality, colorfulness and innovation- an eye into the soul of a young artist. Many of the students have their work selected each year, so we are able to follow their developing talent. Pat Boni, was this year’s judge, she has a masters in Art Education and taught in Onslow County for 15 years.

I found this image by Mollie (Abbey*) Pittman, from KCE Art School. It was on the link for the Wall of Winners… Annual Student Art competition showcased at the Arts Council.

Cat-a-Lisa, by Mollie (Abbey*) Pittman,
from from KCE Art School - Merit Award

To me, it’s hard to imagine where Pittman will be after school - if she sticks with art or is diverted to some other interest - boys, politics, business - whatever. But a lot of gifted students in school don’t always follow through on a career in art and can you blame them? It’s not like this country rewards artists like they do other professions or treats them like sports or entertainment idols.

Maybe this art exhibit at the local arts council gallery is the event where Mollie (Abbey*) decides to be an artist. Maybe not - who knows, but artists who have already made that decision years ago are not getting the love from their communities during these hard times. It seems the arts are one of the first things cut when budgets are being trimmed - at school districts, at newspapers, at city and county councils and at the state government level. And, unfortunately in many average people’s minds - as they are attending less art performances and buying less fine art.

Hopefully America’s love affair with the arts will return sometime. I hope it’s soon. And, maybe Mollie Pittman will become the next Jasper John, director of the MOMA, head of the National Endowment for the Arts, that starts putting more money into the arts. Who knows?

But for now, I hope she’s enjoying being in this exhibit and her Merit Award for her fine work of art.

* The reason I’ve added the name (Abbey) behind Mollie - it was listed both ways on the blog.

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Well, I hope no regular reader of Carolina Arts Unleashed needs to be reminded that the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, is keeping the doors open by fundraising events as funding from local, regional, state or national government sources is not cutting it. Without these fundraisers and the support of those people who participate in these fundraisers - those doors would be closed.

So, it’s important to support these events - if you’re a pottery lover, history lover, art lover, or just a person who appreciates the fact that thousands of years ago some creative folks discovered a way to turn - what most thought was just dirt - into vessels which: kept people from having to walk to the stream, river or lake every time they were thirsty, made it possible to store fluids and foods for a period of time, and made it possible to eat food on a surface which kept the junk of the world out of our food.

It’s called pottery. Some of you still use some of these products - everything isn’t made of plastic - yet. And, I for one, hope that day never comes.

So, my pitch is for as many of you that can - go to this event, spend lots of money and if you can’t go - bid by phone. If you can’t afford to do either, see if you can become a member. And, if you’re one of those folks with the bothersome problem of having so much money you just can’t think of enough ways to reduce your tax burden - write the NC Pottery Center a big check and if that doesn’t help your situation out enough - write one to Carolina Arts too. We’re here to help you good folks.

One final note - you can preview the auction offerings on Friday, Apr. 23, 2010, from 10am -5pm and Sunday, Apr. 25, 2010, before the auction starts.

Here’s their pitch:

The North Carolina Pottery Center, partnering with Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd (LLAES), is pleased to announce, the 11th annual, Going, Going, Gone to Pots!, fundraising auction on April 25, 2010. In addition to an outstanding selection of contemporary and vintage pottery, the auction will offer pottery related items, such as books, posters and photographs. These items will be available for viewing on three web sites; (www.auctionzip.com), (www.ncpotterycenter.com) and (www.llauctions.com), which will offer national exposure of the items, artists and the North Carolina Pottery Center. The new expanded preview period, which opens later this month, also provides an option facilitated by LLAES, Ltd., for absentee and advance telephone bidding for persons unable to attend the live auction.

The North Carolina Pottery Center’s Board of Directors and the auction/fundraising committee, encourages and appreciates the public support that enables us to maintain our mission of promoting public awareness and appreciation of the history, heritage, and ongoing tradition of pottery making in North Carolina. We cordially invite you to participate in this vital and necessary fund-raising event. Your support allows us to ensure the continued success and viability of the North Carolina Pottery Center.

Along with our partner, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, the following sponsors have generously committed their support to the North Carolina Pottery Center’s auction: Total Communication, Community One Bank, the Pinehurst/Southern Pines/Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Umstead Hotel, Energizer, Pugh Funeral Home, Insurance Associates of the Triad, Cabot Cheese, the Duck Smith House B&B, The North Carolina Zoological Society, Total Wine, Westmoore Family Restaurant, with others joining daily.

The Auction is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, April 25, 2010. The auction begins at 5pm, but the doors of the NC Pottery Center will open at 3:30pm with a preview, appetizers and local, traditional bluegrass music. There is no admission and everyone is welcome!

The North Carolina Pottery Center offers educational opportunities to statewide schools and individuals, changing historical and contemporary exhibitions, demonstrations, and information about statewide potters. The NCPC is a private nonprofit entity, funded primarily through memberships, grants, fundraisers, admissions, and appropriations.

The NC Pottery Center is open Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am to 4pm, ADMISSION (excluding free special events): $2- adults, $1 - students (9th through 12th grades), free - children through 8th grade, and free - NCPC members. The Center is handicap accessible. Groups and tours welcomed.

For further information and details call 336/873-8430, e-mail to (info@ncpotterycenter.org) or visit (www.NCPotteryCenter.org).

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We have received some photos of some of the older pots on view in the exhibit, Fire in the Valley: Catawba Valley Pottery Then and Now, which is on view at the NC Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, through Jan. 30, 2010. I originally made the entry on Dec. 2, 2009, you can go back by scrolling down the page, but you can also get there by clicking this link. These images will give readers a better picture of the entire exhibit, but it’s still better if you go see it yourself.

Thanks to the NC Pottery Center for sending us these images.

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Well, as I mentioned in an earlier blog entry I picked up a flyer about this pottery festival at the Whynot Pottery booth at the 2009 Celebration of Seagrove Potters in Seagrove, NC. It was just another example of how these potters network. Promoting one festival at another and besides it will also benefit the NC Pottery Center - something of interest to all Carolina potters and me. And once again it shows how far reaching the Pottery Center is - here they are involved in an event all the way up in Hickory.

NC Legislators - don’t pay attention to anything the Bobbsey Twins of the pottery world tell you - check out the facts on the NC Pottery Center. You’ll be surprised at what’s the truth.

So, after I got home from Seagrove I checked out the website for the 13th annual Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival, which was actually the website for the Catawba County Historical Association, where I found this press release.

The 13th annual Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2010, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center, I-40, Exit 125 in Hickory, NC, from 9am until 5pm.

The Festival is a fundraising event for two non-profit institutions, the Catawba County Historical Association and the North Carolina Pottery Center. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under and are available at the door. Ticket holders will be entered into a drawing for door prizes.

Friday night, March 26, 2010 is the Preview Party from 7-10pm. A southern-style supper, live entertainment, and the early buying opportunity make this a popular event. Advance tickets are required and must be purchased by March 19, 2010. Tickets are $40. No Preview Party tickets will be sold at the door. Please call 828/324-7294 for purchase information.

Do you have a piece of pottery of unknown background? Representatives from the North Carolina Pottery Collectors’ Guild will be available to offer expert opinions on the possible background and history of individual collectors’ pieces.

In addition to the 110 pottery and antique vendors from all over the Southeast, this year’s festival will feature a pottery exhibit prepared by Dr. Terry Zug, retired University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor and author of Turners and Burners: The Folk Potters of North Carolina.

The speaker this year is Stephen C. Compton, a native of Alamance County, NC. Compton holds an A.B. in anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.Div. from Duke University, and D. Min. from Emory University and currently is the district superintendent for the Sanford District of The United Methodist Church. He formerly served as president of the board of directors for the North Carolina Pottery Center and was a founding member and first president of the North Carolina Pottery Collectors’ Guild.

An avid collector of North Carolina pottery for nearly twenty years, Compton has assembled a group of about 1,000 pieces of pottery dating from the 18th century to the present, including utilitarian earthenware, stoneware, and art pottery. Objects from his collection have been displayed in numerous exhibits and publications. Publication of a book edited by him, North Carolina Earthenware: Origin of a Ceramic Tradition, is pending.

For further information on the Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival (http://www.catawbahistory.org/catawba_valley_pottery_and_antiques_festival.php), please contact 828/322-3943 or 828/324-7294.

For advance tickets to the Friday Night Preview Party ($40 per - required by Mar. 19, 2010) send check or money order to: CVPAF, PO Box 2583, Hickory, NC 28603

This announcement might seem a little ahead of time, but it never hurts to plan ahead and many Yankees (I’m originally from Michigan) who read this will be looking for any excuse to head south after a couple of months of winter weather. And, I’m sure we’ll have more details to offer about this festival as we get closer to the date of its happening.

Plus, I’m always looking for ways to show that Carolina Arts has an expanded vision of the overall pottery community in the Carolinas. Get the hint you other potters and pottery areas? You feed us the info - we spread it around.

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Bloggers Note: We have received some images of the older pots in this exhibit, sent to us by the NC Pottery Center (Thanks!). We hope you enjoy them - they make this entry a whole lot better.

On my way to the Celebration of Seagrove Potters Gale Preview in Seagrove, NC, which was held on Nov. 20, 2009, I stopped in at the NC Pottery Center to see the exhibition, Fire in the Valley: Catawba Valley Pottery Then and Now, which will be on view through Jan. 30, 2010.

I can’t imagine a trip to Seagrove or even a trip near Seagrove without a stop at the NC Pottery Center - unless I have already seen the exhibit they are presenting and even then, I can still think of a reason to stop by - just to make sure it is still there.

In 2008, many people came together to help keep the doors of the NC Pottery Center open in the face of financial doom, and fundraisers have keep the doors open during 2009. It will take continual efforts by supporters to keep those doors open into the future. You can make donations on the Center’s website, take out a membership there, and even order one of the many fine books about NC pottery from their Museum Shop. The battle to save the NC Pottery Center is not over - keep the money coming.

But above all - go there and see what a wonderful resource center it is in presenting the story of North Carolina’s pottery heritage - which continues today.

This is not an exhibit review. I’m a long way from being able to review any pottery exhibitions. I’m not sure I’ll ever get there, but I’m learning more and more about pottery all the time. This entry is meant to get you to go see this exhibit and for many of you - to go visit the NC Pottery Center.

I’ll start with an excerpt from an article presented in Carolina Arts in our Dec. 09 issue about this exhibit: For most North Carolinians, the Seagrove, NC, area is the Mecca of pottery production, the place that most embodies historical continuity and native artistry. But just 100 miles due west of Seagrove is the Catawba Valley, the site of North Carolina’s other great pottery tradition. During the 18th century, numerous families, most of German origin, settled what are now Lincoln and Catawba Counties in the western Piedmont. The Catawba River encircles this region, and its South Fork, which meanders through the heart of both counties, has provided superb clays for the potters’ wheels. (See a complete article about this exhibit at Carolina Arts.)

Daniel Seagle c. 1830

Works by Michael Ball

What we have here is an exhibition of the old - some pieces dating back to the 1830’s and the new - works being made by contemporary potters in the Catawba Valley today. In an informal setting, you might not be able to identify the old from the new - except for subtle hints - the traditions of this area are strong even in today’s potters. You could probably place pots made in three different centuries next to each other and the average viewer couldn’t tell the difference - not to say that each individual potter didn’t have their own style. And, there are examples which show that these potters could step away from tradition at times - to express themselves in different ways. (The older pots were under plexiglass, making it hard to photograph.)

Isaac Lefevers c 1850

David Hartzog c 1850

Many might think viewing parts of this exhibit that these are just a bunch of - plain old pots - like the kind I was used to seeing on my grandparents farm back in Michigan - some collecting rain water for watering plants or filled with umbrellas or walking canes near a door. Pots that are no longer used for their original functions, but nonetheless have lasted longer than modern containers. These pots were mostly made for function too.

Works by Kim Ellington

The central figure in making this exhibit possible in showing the Then and Now of Catawba Valley pottery is Burlon Craig, who was born in 1914 and lived to the age of 88, before he died in 2002.

In the 1980’s, Burlong Craig was almost the last of the Catawba Valley potters, but he taught or more exact - let others observe him and the techniques involved in producing the areas style of pottery - leading to a whole new generation of Catawba Valley potters including: Michael Ball, Kim Ellington, Walter Fleming, Luke Heafner, Jeff Young, and Bob Hilton. All have works in this exhibit.

“Clown Face” by Jeff Young

The contemporary works presented in this exhibit by this next generation of potters might not seem so contemporary compared to pottery made today - especially seen by me that evening at the Celebration of Seagrove Potters Gala Preview. But in comparison to the works shown in the historical part of this exhibit - there are many signs of how these potters have expressed themselves differently, yet some pieces are the same shapes, but with a little fancier pattern of glazes. The Catawba Valley traditions are still held strong. There are even a few examples where Burlong Craig worked outside the box of tradition.

Although my tastes in pottery lean toward color and texture - I could see the merits to having some simpler - more traditional pieces. The more you looked at some of these works the more elegant they looked.

“Handled Rundlet” by Michael Ball

Of course like any exhibition on any subject - the limitations of space and the public’s attention span limits telling the whole story. Getting a fuller, richer, picture of the Catawba Valley pottery of North Carolina is up to you. You need to visit the potteries operating there, attend a local festival, read books that have been written about the area and its potters, and visit websites offering other information.

John Goodman c. mid 19th century

One such website is Catawba Valley Pottery of North Carolina. This website was created to serve as an informational and educational tool concerning Catawba Valley Folk-Art Potters and their wares. You can read a history of Catawba Valley Pottery at this link.

The 13th annual Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2010, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center, I-40, Exit 125 in Hickory, NC, from 9am until 5pm. The Festival is a fundraising event for two non-profit institutions, the Catawba County Historical Association and the North Carolina Pottery Center.

And, info about the Burlon Craig Pottery Festival can be found at this link.

If any of this interest you I hope you’ll make the effort to go see this exhibit and check out the NC Pottery Center as well as potteries in Seagrove. But, I hope you’ll also think about making a trip to the Catawba Valley too. We want you to enjoy the pottery of both Carolinas - all of it.

In closing, I’d like to voice my opinion, once more, that we in South Carolina would be so lucky to have such a facility as the NC Pottery Center in SC - not just to show off our state’s pottery heritage, but to show off any areas of the visual arts. I hope that one day soon the citizens of NC and its leaders in the NC Legislature realize what they have and take measures to preserve it well into the future. The story of NC’s pottery legacy is still in the growing process - there will be a lot more to tell in the future.

And, there are a lot of people all over the world who are interested in that story. I know by the amount of folks who have been following my blog entries about Seagrove, NC pottery and its potters.

Fire in the Valley: Catawba Valley Pottery Then and Now will be on view through Jan. 30, 2010.

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(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.)

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After our elation over the University of Michigan football victory over the Irish (don’t even mention that Carolina Panthers’ game) and frustrations over messed up Beatles’ CDs - it’s back to the business of bringing you news about the visual art community in the Carolinas.

It seems that the pottery community in Seagrove, NC, including the North Carolina Pottery Center, is much more significant - statewide and nationwide - than a few individuals would like the NC Legislature to know. Cream will always rise to the top no matter how much you stir the pot. Of course if you stir it too much - you get butter. And, who doesn’t like butter? Butterrrr.

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at 8 pm, PBS TV, will air a nationwide broadcast of a brand new episode of the Peabody award-winning series, Craft in America, that features two well-known North Carolina potteries. Craft in America producer, Carol Sauvion, explains why. “North Carolina pottery has inspired and influenced potters from all over the world,” says Sauvion, “It is authentic, original, and powerful in its simplicity. By including Jugtown and the Hewitt pottery in its new episodes, the Craft in America series showcases their significant contribution to the history of craft in America.”

Jugtown potters, Vernon and Pam Owens, and their children Travis and Bayle, and Mark Hewitt in Pittsboro, NC, are proud to represent the state’s pottery tradition in this stunning documentary that serves as a tremendous affirmation of North Carolina’s role in shaping the ceramic heritage of United States.

Vernon and Pam Owens

Both Pam Owens and Mark Hewitt are on the board of the North Carolina Pottery Center (NCPC) in Seagrove, NC, and have helped organize a series of simultaneous “viewing parties” across the state on Oct. 7, 2009, to coincide with the broadcast, and to raise funds for programming at NCPC.

Mark Hewitt

These “viewing parties”, described as, “a collective group hug for all the potters and pottery lovers across the state,” demonstrate a remarkable show of support from North Carolina pottery guilds and patrons across the state. This support acknowledges the camaraderie among North Carolina potters, and validates the role that the North Carolina Pottery Center plays in promoting public awareness and appreciation of the history, heritage, and ongoing tradition of pottery making in North Carolina.

Eight pottery Guilds, from the coast to the mountains, are hosting “viewing parties” for their members and supporters, including the Coastal Carolina Clay Guild in Wilmington, NC, the North Carolina Pottery Collectors Guild and the Triangle Pottery Guild (both in Raleigh, NC), Durham Clayworks, Carolina Claymatters and Carolina Clay Connection in Charlotte, NC, and the Potters of the Roan in Bakersville, NC, and Penland, NC. There will also be a gathering at UNC-Asheville in Asheville, NC.

The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, NC, is partnering with NCPC, Craft in America, and UNC-TV, to host a Gala Dinner, Dessert and Viewing Party.

In addition, there are seven parties being held at the homes of NCPC patrons in cities across the state – in Edenton, Fayetteville, Seagrove, Asheboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Pittsboro.

Visit (www.ncpotterycenter.com) or phone 336/873-8430 for more information about attending one of these events. To contact Jugtown Pottery visit (www.jugtownware.com) or phone 910/464-3266, and to contact Mark Hewitt visit (www.hewittpottery.com) or phone 919/542-2371.

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The doors of the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, were kept open due to the efforts of many last year, but - and I hate to be the one to tell you this - the Center is not yet saved, and the cavalry in the form of the NC Arts Council, a.k.a. the State of North Carolina - is nowhere in sight.

The State of North Carolina is not in the same shape it was a few years back when the plan to take over operations of the Pottery Center was first hatched. And, it may be several years before the State gets back to where it was before the bottom dropped out. So, Plan B is in effect - fundraising to keep the doors open.

There are still a few who would like to see the doors of the Pottery Center closed. For what reason - I can’t understand. From the perspective of someone who lives in South Carolina, we would love to have such a facility for any part of the arts here.

So here’s a press release about the fundraiser.

The North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, has planned an exciting, educational and free day for the public on Saturday, June 20, 2009, from 10am-4pm. Visitors from near and far, young and old are invited to spend the day at the Center to be entertained and educated about the history, heritage and ongoing tradition of pottery making in North Carolina, one of the state’s most well-loved and treasured art forms.

The “Pots from the Attic” Fundraiser runs all day and features a collection of over 200 highly unique pieces. Shapes and sizes vary from crocks to candle holders to sugar bowls and Rebecca pitchers as well as marked souvenir pots from the past tourist trade. A majority of pots were donated from the collection of Dr. Everette James. NCPC board member, Pam Owens from Jugtown commented, “I know I speak for the whole NCPC Board in expressing our gratitude to Everette James for the donation of his historic, and well known pottery collection from the Saint James Place Museum in Roberson, NC. There are many wonderful study pieces in the “Pots from the Attic” Fundraiser. We look forward to a full and interesting day of events on June 20.”

Mark Hewitt, accomplished Pittsboro, NC, potter and VP of the NCPC describes the collection like this. “In many ways pots are like people, we give them human associations by describing their feet, bellies, necks, and lips. Pots, like people, are also fragile. Over the course of a lifetime, we all get chipped and banged about, but carry on, somehow tougher for our experiences. Likewise the pots in this sale have been slightly damaged, but they still retain their core beauty, somehow made more real by their flaws. The pots in the sale have been well-loved. There are examples of all types of North Carolina pottery, from utilitarian to art ware, small pieces and large. The sale includes many hidden treasures, rare stamps, and familiar gems.”  The range of pots includes those from Cole Pottery in Sanford, Jugtown, Ben Owen-Master Potter and North State among many others. This is a great opportunity to begin or add to an existing collection in a very affordable way.  All pots are priced to sell.

There will also be live Celtic Music inside the main building from 1:30 - 3:30pm with Michael Mahan and Will McCanless.

In tandem, a reception and book signing of The Living Tradition: North Carolina Potters Speak takes place from 2-4pm. The recently released book includes intimate interviews with 23 of North Carolina’s most distinguished potters. With illuminating interviews conducted by Michelle Francis and Charles “Terry” Zug III, resplendent photography by Rob Amberg, editing by Denny Hubbard Mecham, and publishing by Goosepen Studio & Press, this is the culmination of a documentary project by the North Carolina Pottery Center to promote and preserve North Carolina’s unique pottery making history. The funding for this distinctive project was made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museums and Library Sciences, a national organization. Featured artists from the book attending the reception include; Ben Owen III, Pam and Vernon Owens, Hal and Eleanor Pugh, Caroleen Sanders, Mark Hewitt and interviewer Terry Zug. Refreshments will be served. All proceeds from The Living Tradition and the “Pots from the Attic” Fundraiser directly benefit the North Carolina Pottery Center. Sample pages can be viewed at (www.NCPotteryCenter.com).

A full day can easily be spent at the Center with individuals and families free this Saturday to take in the significance of the permanent historical section, beginning with the Native American pottery exhibit and artifacts, through the tools and functional pots of the agricultural era, to the movement toward art pottery and to the more contemporary pots of today. Two large display cases hold samples of approximately 85% of the local Seagrove community potters. The Center rotates exhibits every 3 to 4 months and the current exhibit is Dan Finch and the Dan Finch Studio Potters on view through Aug. 1, 2009. Visitors are welcome to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the outdoor tables underneath the grove of 100-year-old oak trees, and wander the charming rural grounds. Here one can explore the outside groundhog kiln and double chambered wood-firing kiln designed and built by potters Ruggles and Rankin (also featured in The Living Traditions book) during a teaching event.

Day-long demonstrations are held on Saturdays in the Center’s Educational Building by local potter Chad Brown. He is a 5th generation potter; his great-great grandfather was William Henry Chriscoe, a portion of whose original log cabin pottery studio now resides in the Smithsonian Museum. Brown is an up-and-coming potter to watch on the Seagrove scene, having worked as a journeyman potter for numerous studios and assisting many local potters with their wood firings. His decision to pursue his own pottery full-time this year was rewarded last month when he received the “The Award of Excellence” at The Arts in the Park show in Blowing Rock, NC. Sid Luck of Luck’s Ware, coordinator of the 2008-09 TAPS (Traditional Arts Program for Students) said, “I was most fortunate to have Chad as an assistant in the TAPS program this year. He is an excellent potter, has a great rapport with students and is very dependable.” TAPS is an afterschool collaboration between the NC Arts Council, the NC Pottery Center, and Seagrove Elementary School. Its purpose is to provide public school students with the knowledge and practices of the Seagrove traditional pottery culture. Mark Hewitt remarked, “Chad Brown has quietly established his presence as one of the most talented younger potters in Seagrove. We all enjoy Chad’s humor and good nature, and know how much he contributes to the NCPC with his patient, insightful demonstrations and his warm, generous personality. His beautiful pots reflect who he is.”

Opened in 1998 in Seagrove, the NCPC mission is to promote public awareness of North Carolina’s remarkable pottery heritage. The Center welcomes and informs visitors to the Seagrove area, enriching their experience through exhibitions and educational programs, and promoting potters working today across the state. The NCPC is a private nonprofit entity, funded primarily through memberships, grants, admissions, and appropriations. The Center’s hours are Tue.-Sat., 10am to 4pm, Admission (excluding free special events) is $2 - adults, $1 - students 9th through 12th grades, Free - children through 8th grade, free - NCPC members. Handicap accessible. Groups and tours welcomed. For further information and details call 336/873-8430, e-mail (to ncpc@atomic.net) or visit (www.NCPotteryCenter.com).

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First off is the Cousins in Clay event on June 6 & 7, 2009, at Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove featuring works by Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke of Bulldog and invited guest and “clay cousin” Michael Kline from Bakersville, NC.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and add to your pottery collection or begin one. The event begins Sat. June 6 at 9am and continues through 5pm. On Sun. June 7 you can come by at 10am and stay till 4pm, but if you do that - you should buy something. And, why wouldn’t you - all three potters make wonderful works of art - and functional too.

On June 20, 2009, from 10am - 4pm at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove you can come shop at the Pots from the Attic Fundraiser, a once-in-a-lifetime sale of slightly worn pots. I wondered what that meant so I asked and was told, “this could be anything that is chipped, broken, repaired, or just heavily used with signs of wear. Most of the pots for this event will be from the Dr. Everette James Collection with some other pots from various donors. This will be an outright sale of pots, so folks can browse around and see the pieces and prices and take them home that day.” Sounds like a deal. The good Dr. is once again coming to the aid of the Pottery Center.

You might want to come early for the best selection, but you also might want to stick around until 2pm when a booksigning for The Living Tradition - North Carolina Potters Speak, will take place till 4pm. This book includes interviews by Michelle Francis and Charles “Terry” Zug III of 20 of North Carolina’s most distinguished potters with photographs by Rob Amberg, all edited by Denny Hubbard Mecham, the Pottery Center’s former director.

The potters included in the book are: Paulus Berensohn, Jennie Bireline, Cynthia Bringle, Charles Davis Brown, Kim Ellington, Mark Hewitt, MaryLou Higgins, Nick Joerling, Ben Owen III, Vernon Owens, Pam Owens, Jane Peiser, Hal Pugh, Eleanor Pugh, Will Ruggles, Douglas Rankin, Caroleen Sanders, Norman Schulman, Michael Sherrill, Tom Spleth, Hiroshi Sueyoshi, Tom Suomalainen, and Neolia Cole Womack.

The book was published for the North Carolina Pottery Center by Goosepen Press and is available at the NC Pottery Center for $29.95, (cloth, 192 pages) and on this day between 2 - 4pm you can get your copy or copies signed. They’ll let you buy as many copies as you need - Christmas is right around the corner.

The interviews intimately reveal the “aspirations and attitudes” of clay-working in a contemporary, diverse tradition. From the “fast nickel” or the “slow dime” and the practicalities of pricing and selling, to technical discussions of kiln building, clay processing, throwing, glazing, and firing, to the spirituality of the creative process and the medium of clay as a “reflection of life,” potters from across the state vivify the struggle and reward of their lives and work.

Luminous photographs by Rob Amberg complement the artists ’ own words – revelatory of character and ripe with anecdote – in this culmination of a documentary project by the North Carolina Pottery Center to promote and protect North Carolina’s unique pottery-making history.

The book’s description is not in my words - as if you couldn’t tell, but I believe them - the Pottery Center is a first-class operation.

Now, if you haven’t figured it out yet or you’re new to this blog - I’m a big fan of the North Carolina Pottery Center and the potters of Seagrove - all 100 + of them. I like other potters too, in other parts of the Carolinas, but as long as they need me - I’m trying to be their biggest fan and that’s going to take a lot if I’m even hoping to get close to how big a fan Dr. Everette James is, which might not be possible.

Well, if people from all over the Carolinas and beyond, if there is such a place, would start traveling to Seagrove and taking lots of pots home with them (after paying for them) and told people in Seagrove that I made it sound like they were really missing out on something - maybe then - some people might think I’m as good as the “good Dr.” But, that would take a lot of people. I’d settle for second-best fan.

So, what if you just can’t go to Seagrove? I’m thinking. The concept just doesn’t compute, but I guess if it’s not possible, the Pottery Center can take orders for the book if you call 336/873-8430 or e-mail to (ncpc@atomic.net).

All proceeds from The Living Tradition and the Pots from the Attic Fundraiser directly benefit the North Carolina Pottery Center - if you use this link you can even go download sample pages from the book.

If you don’t need a book or a pot - you can go to the website and make a donation to the Center.

As far as the Cousins in Clay event - I hear it’s even possible to go to the websites of potters (links above) and see works there and purchase them by credit card and have them shipped to your door. You all know how to use credit cards, don’t you? Well, I mean our American readers know what that’s all about.

I guess that would be OK, but I still have a hard time getting my head around why you can’t go to Seagrove. What else are you doing in June? Cutting grass? You know there’s no NFL Europe anymore.

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On the 18th and 19th of April, 2009, Seagrove potters are planning kiln openings and special events in their shops for the Celebration of Spring in Seagrove. Many of these same Seagrove potters who participated in an April 4th kiln firing at the NC Pottery Center in Seagrove will be donating one of their pieces to the Center’s fund raising auction taking place on Apr. 18. The event titled, Many Faces for the Center, is the 10th annual Benefit Auction, and is a crucial event for the Pottery Center with proceeds from the auction helping to keep this very important museum and educational center open and operating. A Silent Auction will be held from 2:30-4pm. A Live Auction starts at 5pm, all the events are free and open to the public.

From what I understand from reading some of the Seagrove potter blogs, many of the works to be offered during the auctions are already on display at the NC Pottery Center and you can see a list of auction items on the Center’s website at (www.ncpotterycenter.com). Many items are from beyond the Seagrove area from some of the best potters in the region.

I’m looking forward to experiencing some of the magic and talent that makes Seagrove such a treasure in the Carolina art community and matching some faces with some blogs. The trip will get me in the mood for Artista Vista in Columbia, SC, on April 23, 2009, but that’s another blog entry altogether.

For further information about this event you can visit he Celebration of Seagrove Potters website at (www.celebrationofseagrovepotters.com) or the Seagrove Area Potters Association website at (www.discoverseagrove.com).

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