Carolina Arts Unleashed

I was sent this update on the Celebration of Seagrove Potters festival.

by Jennie Lorette Keatts

After only five and half months of planning and execution, the Celebration of Seagrove Potters, in Seagrove, NC, went off without a hitch, exceeding attendance estimates and putting big smiles on the faces of the participating artists. Over 400 attended the opening night Gala and over 5000 attended the potters market Saturday and Sunday. The Steering Committee kicked into gear in early June, drawing in community support from potters, clay workers and community members, to create a very successful event.

Opening on Friday night (Nov. 21, 2008) with the Gala Preview Party, attendance in the historic Luck’s Cannery exceeded 400 people. Dr. David Jones, Director of the NC Zoo and, his wife, Janet were in attendance. Dr. Jones stated, “I think the thing that really impressed me, apart from the numbers attending and the huge effort that had obviously gone into organizing it, was to see all those potters in one place. The sheer kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, sizes and designs was just mind blowing. I’m used to seeing the work of one or two artists together in a single setting but to see fifty potters (and a (pottery) jeweler) under one roof was extraordinary.” And he was not alone in those comments!

Booths were open for sales, the jazz band entertained, White Rabbit catering provided a delectable buffet and guests enjoyed sodas, wine and beer. Coordinated by volunteer Nan Revel of Asheboro, the event was festive and enjoyable. At 8:00 PM the collaborative auction began with the Jugtown collaborative piece bringing in the top amount at over $1000. Several other pieces, such as the Ben Owen/Michael Mahan piece signed by participating artists and a teapot by Pam Owens and Jennie Lorette Keatts also brought very high amounts. Bidding was competitive and friendly, sales at the booths were good. Paul Ray of Ray Pottery stated “Sheila and I have been doing around 20 shows per year for the last 7 years. Many of them have a gala or preview night. The Celebration Of Seagrove Potters gala was, by far, the classiest we’ve seen. The food, band, and especially the pots were all superior! The gala was a good indicator of the rest of the weekend, great! It gave us a great sense of pride in our community to see how we were able to come together and work for a common cause.” A sentiment held by many!

Saturday morning (Nov. 22, 2008) started with a line at the door and it just kept going. Over 3600 people visited the Celebration on Saturday alone, making the exhibiting artists quite happy. Throughout the day potters demonstrated, the Kids Area was open for learning and working with clay, as well as Kids Priced pots in the Kids Only booth, which raised $1000 over the weekend and will be donated to the Westmoore and Seagrove Elementary schools. Dr. Terry Zug and Pam Owens of Jugtown gave talks related to the history of Seagrove. And sales were strong through out the show. Sid Luck, an exhibitor, demonstrator and educational talk leader, stated, “I am overjoyed with the success of the Celebration Of Seagrove Potters. It exceeded my expectation.” This thought was echoed throughout the show by exhibitors and customers alike. Sid’s specially designed beanpot with the Luck’s pinto bean logo, inscribed on the bottom a tribute to Ivey B. Luck, Alfred Spencer and H. Clay Presnell, founders of the historic Luck’s cannery, brought $2100 at the Saturday auction! Sunday continued in the same line, with education, demonstrations and sales.

Bonnie Burns of Great White Oak Gallery headed up the volunteer committee. “The event could not have gone on without them. It was heartwarming to see how many people volunteered their time and efforts to ensure that the Celebration was seamless.” Seagrove is a close knit and caring community, as evidenced by the volunteers and artists alike. In the midst of such success, unfortunately one of the family of Seagrove artists suffered a tragedy. Saturday night, Chris and Lisa Luther lost their shop and studio to fire. Fortunately, another potter passing by saw the fire and notified authorities before the fire could spread to their home. The potters and artists pulled together to support one of their own, from covering their booth, to donating pots and items to the Seagrove Potters Relief Fund booth, to giving hugs and support when needed.

This festival was about unity, sharing and working together for the benefit of each other. That is what the Seagrove community is really about, for the most part. A group of artist concerned about the welfare and continued well being of their fellow artists and potters, about maintaining the integrity and authenticity of their work, and this event was a catalyst to really develop it further and keep that going. If that were the only result, this would be a success, but given the overall numbers and comments from customers, exhibitors and volunteers, the Celebration of Seagrove Potters truly shone brightly and showcased the pottery shops of the area in a new light. We could not have asked for a better show!

For further information e-mail Jennie Lorette Keatts at (jennie@jlkjewelry.com) or Susan Greene at (sbz@rtmc.net).

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I did not get to attend this first time event in Seagrove, NC, although I wanted to. I did the next best thing, I kept in touch by reading the blogs of the various blogging potters who were getting ready for this event - and reports of how things were going - hours after they happened.

Over the last four or five months I have been watching the events unfold during this rebirth of unity between Seagrove area potters. Outsiders were trying to divide this small community of artisans in a power play for control - threatening the existence of the NC Pottery Center and many of their financial futures.

The majority of the Seagrove potters banded together to help save the NC Pottery Center from closing its doors (see other blog entries) and forged a new path to the future in creating the Celebration of Seagrove Potters festival - which took place last weekend.

The opening Gala was a sellout, the festival attracted 5,000 happy shoppers, but like all communities - where there is celebration - tragedy is not far behind.

Lisa and Chris Luther of Chris Luther Pottery were one of the 60 participating potteries in the Celebration of Seagrove Potters festival. Chris Luther is a fourth generation potter of the Chriscoe pottery family of Seagrove, NC. In some of the blogs there are pictures of Chris at the festival with a big smile on his face standing in or near his booth - filled with potential customers. There were a lot of smiles on potters’ faces in those pictures.

Putting on this first year festival was a lot of work and took a lot of time in preparation, so many of those smiles were smiles of relief with a hint of strain mixed in. On Saturday night, after the second day of the festival, Chris and his wife were at a fellow potter’s home helping celebrate a 50th birthday when the phone rang and another potter on their way to the party spotted flames coming from their pottery studio. Luckily other potters in the area helped make sure those flames didn’t reach the Luthers’ home, but the studio could not be saved.

This was the second fire to burn down a potter’s studio since I started covering the plight of the NC Pottery Center. Early on the studio of Whynot Pottery had burned down and following the story of their recovery has been intertwined with the story of the Pottery Center’s recovery. So here in the middle of this small community of potters celebration - tragedy strikes again.

I don’t know Chris and Lisa Luther - I’ve never met them and their names never came up while following these recent events, but I feel like I know them - they were part of all that’s been going on in Seagrove.

Linda and I also experienced a loss to fire. Before we were in the business of doing this arts newspaper we ran a custom photo processing business for almost 16 years - back in the days when custom processing meant doing it by hand - before digital photography. When we stopped that business to concentrate on the arts newspaper full time I always felt I had the greatest hobby photography lab in existence - just a short walk away from our house to our backyard garage. It was the best kind of darkroom - the kind you didn’t have to take down every time you finished to recover a part of your home - once I closed the door I could be printing photos in a matter of minutes. The equipment was the best you could have - some they just didn’t make anymore. I looked forward to spending many an hour back there - not printing someone else’s photos, but mine.

Because our son was very young then we had also stored our growing pottery collection back there and most of our photo collection - negatives and all - in safe keeping from eager sticky hands.

One night we were woken up by someone driving by to tell us our garage was on fire. The local volunteer fire department was there quickly, but what the flames didn’t destroy their water hoses finished off.

To this day I can’t go through some things pulled from the destruction - which might be salvaged without getting sick to my stomach. It’s not even easy writing about it. I lost more than 20 years of photography in that fire. We lost a lot in that fire - most couldn’t be replaced by insurance and insurance isn’t meant to replace memories.

So when I read about the success of the potters in Seagrove and then started reading about the Luther’s tradegy - it hit home. You wonder why life is like that. Why in the middle of celebration does tradegy have to come knocking, in our case, or the phone rings in their case?

Well, I’m sure the Luthers will be looked after - they may live in a small community but that community has a big heart and strong will - we’ve seen that in the last months. And, fire is part of a potter’s life - it gives, but it can take too. Like I’ve said before here - don’t mess with potters.

If you want to lend a helping hand - I’m not sure at this point what you can do, but when we find out we’ll let you know. I did read about a Potters Relief Fund booth which was at the Celebration of Seagrove Potters festival, but didn’t see anything about it on the festival’s website.

The Chris Luther Pottery website is (www.chrislutherpottery.com), The pottery address is: Chris Luther Pottery, 4823 Busbee Road, Seagrove, NC 27341. More details later.

Update: We now have the address for the Potters Relief Fund in Seagrove, checks should be marked for Chris Luther. The address to send checks is: The Potters Relief Fund, c/o Caldwell-Hohl Art Works, 155 Cabin Trail, Seagrove, NC 27341, or call @ 336-879-9090. Checks should be made out to the Potters Relief Fund.

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This was an interesting catch phrase to promote one of the seasons of the NBC TV show - Heroes. I’ve never watched that program, but I liked the phrase. I’ve used it before in commentary as it shows how interconnected we all are - one person to the next, one person to the environment, one person to the economy, etc.

Like - save your environment - save the planet; save a hungry child - save the next world leader; and save one species - save mankind. Of course some people have been saying - save the banks - save the economy or save US automakers - save millions of jobs. It just goes to show that not all combinations make sense. With some things it’s save them once - save them again and again and once more for good measure.

I’m offering the phrase - save the NC Potter Center - save Seagrove potters too.

Not too long ago we told you how the financially strapped NC Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, battled to raise $100,000 to keep its doors open. The Center with the help of potters around the Carolinas and pottery lovers raised almost $125,000 in three months during a downturned economy. This was hopefully a temporary situation as it is hoped that the State of NC will eventually take the NC Potter Center under its financial wing - much like it did the troubled Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, NC, last year. But, we have all seen recently what a difference a few months can make.

A lot of that help came from local Seagrove area potters - donating pots for auctions, raffles, and for benefit sales - as well as blogging to get the word out and keeping people informed about the fundraising efforts. A lot of other people helped too.

But, now these same potters are preparing for their biggest financial event of the year - for themselves - the first annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters, taking place Nov. 21 - 23, 2008, at the historic Luck’s Beans cannery in Seagrove. The event starts off on Friday night with an opening Gala which will offer attendees a first chance at special auction items and first chance to purchase from participating potters - over 60 in all. Check out the website for complete details, there will be a lot of stuff going on. There is also a link on that site for accommodations in the area.

This will be a special weekend in Seagrove offering the beginning pottery collector a great introduction and the seasoned collector a chance to update their collections with the newest pots - straight from area kilns - still warm. Believe me, from what I have read about some of the preparations for this important weekend - some pots might be downright hot.

It will also be a great time to visit the recently saved Pottery Center. Admission is free this weekend, but you can still make a donation. And, from what I’ve heard - there may even be another pottery festival going on at the same time in Seagrove.

The important thing is that this holiday shopping season is going to be a critical time for all artists. It will determine how well the holidays and their future year will be. Support them if you can and end up with some beautiful art created by a Carolina artist.

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Don’t mess with a North Carolina potter! Or their Pottery Center. At least that’s the word I have for anyone doubting the importance of the NC Pottery Center located in the small community of Seagrove, NC. I have just received word that $100,000 + has been raised to save the NC Pottery Center.

It was just three months ago when I decided to stop by the Pottery Center to see an exhibition of pottery by Native American Indians in hopes of doing a review for my new blog on my way to Greensboro, NC. It was an excellent show and while I was there almost an hour -  no where did I see or hear any indication that the Center was in the middle of an area-wide controversy or financial trouble. It wasn’t until I arrived in Greensboro that a friend asked me about the troubles at the Pottery Center based on a newspaper article he read there in Greensboro.

I went online and found his concerns were true. There was big trouble in Seagrove. And, as I researched the issue I learned that all of the fuss was being caused by a few individuals who were more interested in a power grab than what was good for Seagrove, the Pottery Center and the potters in the area. Based on some of the outlandish claims being made by these individuals - which I knew to be untrue from my own experience in dealing with the Pottery Center I decided to stand on the side of local potters in Seagrove and the Pottery Center. It was just a ridiculous notion that we could loose this marvelous ten year old center because of the back-room dealings of a few.

And, I wasn’t the only person who couldn’t imagine losing this wonderful center of pottery history and resource center for contemporary pottery in not just Seagrove, but North Carolina, and the Carolinas. In three months, during what could be easily termed as the worst economic time in the US - hundreds, and perhaps even thousands of people put their money in the kitty to help save the NC Pottery Center.

Leading the charge was the Board of the NC Pottery Center and local potters networking with potters in North Carolina and eventually potters everywhere. And, the public responded by sending in checks, making electronic donations, purchasing pots that were donated to help benefit the Center, buying raffle tickets and making auction bids.

There is no doubt that a few individuals did more in this effort. Dr. Everette James and his wife Nancy Farmer donated part of their pottery collection to be auctioned off to benefit the Pottery Center. Leland Little Auction and Estate Sales, Ltd. in Hillsborough, NC, donated their services for that auction which raised $35,000. An anonymous NC couple offered a $10,000 challenge contribution to cap the Pottery Center’s fund drive once the Center raised $90,000 in honor of Drs. Everette James and Nancy Farmer. I’m sure there where others who deserve mention, but I just don’t have their names at this time. But everyone who made a contribution - no matter how small or even if it was in just spreading the word - they made a difference. They saved the NC Pottery Center - for now.

The ultimate goal is for the State of North Carolina to take over operation of the NC Pottery Center under the North Carolina Arts Council - a state arts agency. But, under the current economy - that might take some time yet, so the fight might not be over just yet. A fundraising goal has been met, but the long-term future is still unknown, but it does look brighter today.

Another contributing factor in the fundraising effort was blogging potters around the Carolinas. When the call when out for help - the word spread fast and far. I had a hard time keeping up with all the things that were going on and I eventually came to rely on Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery in Seagrove, who was blogging on her own blog (http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/) and eventually set up another blog - Potters for the NC Pottery Center  (http://pottersforncpc.blogspot.com/). She had lots of help from others who were feeding her info or helping with the blog. And, what’s really amazing is that during all this mess - she and her husband, also a potter, were dealing with rebuilding their studio which burned down in July.

Also let’s don’t forget that there were a few victims during this battle to save the Pottery Center. First and foremost was the loss of the Center’s director, Denny Mecham. The Center’s board in an effort cut expensive had to cut Mecham’s position to a part-time level and then all together. Mecham was unable to wait and see how the fundraising effort would go, and  took a position as the new executive director of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, Mississippi. Talented people don’t have to wait too long for good job offers. The Potter Center’s exhibition schedule was also adjusted, putting major shows on the back burner. And, although some say all publicity is good - it’s not always good for everyone. The anxiety levels of area potters caught up in the controversy has taken its toll - causing some to take sides in a very small community.

What have I learned from all this? One - Potters have a strong network and sense of community. Two - If you work hard for something - a good cause - people will respond and help, even in tough times. Three - the power of the blog in spreading the word about issues. And, Four - just another reminder - the arts are important to people.

Although the $100,000 goal has been met - if you’re so inclined and have the funds - I would still advise anyone to make a contribution or participate in one of the still ongoing fundraisers. It won’t hurt and I’m sure it can be put to good use.

Now, go visit the Center you helped save. The doors are open.

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It is sometimes hard to imagine the level of generosity that has been going on in the effort to keep the doors open to the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC. It moves so fast at times that it is hard to keep up with the figures, which is now over $80,000 - according to my last report $80,549. But, I’m sure that figure has been surpassed by now.

The latest infusion of funds arrived after last Sunday (Sept. 28, 2008) at Leland Little Auction and Estate Sales, Ltd. in Hillsborough, NC. The auction raised over $34,000 for the North Carolina Pottery Center. The auction featured 191 fine examples of NC pottery donated by several prominent collectors throughout the state. The sale centered on a substantial collection of Art Ware pottery generously given by Dr. Everette James. Leland Little also donated their services to the Pottery Center.

The fundraising campaign is now in the homestretch, raising the final $10,000 to reach the $90,000 mark where another generous donor will chip in $10,000 to cap off the campaign effort.

Many other fundraising efforts are still scheduled, check in with the blog, Potters For The North Carolina Pottery Center (http://pottersforncpc.blogspot.com/) for full details.

One such fundraiser will take place at the upcoming Spruce Pine Potters Market taking place on Oct. 11-12, 2008, from 10am to 5pm, at the historic Cross Street Building, 31 Cross Street, Spruce Pine, NC. For further info on this event visit (www.sprucepinepottersmarket.com).

Potters participating in this event include: Shane Mickey, Will Baker, Lisa Bruns, Stan Andersen, Nick Joerling, Gay Smith, Claudia Dunaway, Jim and Shirl Parmentier, Terry Gess, Becky Gray, Michael Kline, Jon Ellenbogen & Becky Plummer, Michael Hunt & Naomi Dalglish, Lindsay Rogers, Melisa Cadel, David Ross, Norm Schulman, Linda McFarling, Courtney Martin, Ken Sedberry, Jenny Lou Sherburne, Jane Peiser, Mark Peters, Ron Slagle, Cynthia Bringle, Mark Tomczak, Joy Tanner, Michael Rutkowsky, Tzadi Turrou, Liz Zlot Summerfield, Pam Brewer, and Peter Rose.

Many of these potters will have designated pieces in their spaces at the Market where the proceeds will be donated to the North Carolina Pottery Center. This is just another example of one of the many opportunities where you can buy a beautiful piece of pottery - for yourself - and at the same time help keep the doors of the NC Pottery Center open and help continue the story that the Center tells of the history of pottery and history of North Carolina and regional pottery and potters.

Linda and I just added a piece made by Courtney Martin to our pottery collection when we were at last year’s fall crafts fair of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild in Asheville, NC. It’s nice to know she is one of the potters who will offer work to benefit the Pottery Center. I guess what goes around does come back around.

How many opportunities will you have in your lifetime where a $25 electronic donation made on the Pottery Center’s website (http://ncpotterycenter.com) can make a difference? Where buying pottery you wanted can help keep a great facility open and continue to be a great asset in the greater Carolina art community. If everyone reading this does just a little on their part, the Center will be saved. There are many ways to participate, just make sure you do. And, I’ll thank you in advance.

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I last posted info about the effort to save the NC Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, on Aug. 18, 2008. So it’s time to update you readers on what has happened since then.

The last time I gave an update on money raised it was on Aug. 11, 2008, and at that time $30,000 had been raised. As I post this the current amount raised is $41,983.89. That’s almost half way to their goal of raising $90,000. The remaining $10,000 will be donated by a NC couple to cap off the goal of raising $100,000. That’s a glass half-full view. See, I can be positive at times.

A whopping $2,325 of that money was raised by Mark Hewitt’s raffle for a 2-gallon jar, of his creation. 116 tickets were purchased for the raffle, (if you’re doing the math - one person paid $25 instead of $20 for their ticket) with all the proceeds to benefit the NC Pottery Center. The lucky winner was Greg Sims of Durham, NC. Sims now has helped save the Pottery Center and won a jar worth $350. If he only purchased one ticket for $20 - that’s a very nice investment - on both levels.

Another development is that Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery has started a new blog for information about the effort to save the NC Pottery Center - it can be found at (http://pottersforncpc.blogspot.com/). You’ll get the very latest info on this blog. You can learn about other raffles and opportunities to purchase pottery and help the NC Pottery Center keep it’s door open.

The BIG event taking place this month will be a benefit auction hosted by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales (www.llauctions.com), on Sept. 28, 2008, in Hillsborough, NC. Dr. Everette James, an eminent NC pottery collector and Board member of the NC Pottery Center, has generously donated a substantial collection of NC pottery to be put up for bid. Other noted collectors from around the state have joined the effort, donating treasured antique NC pots for this auction. A second auction, held at the NC Pottery Center in Seagrove, will be held in the spring of 2009. It will feature contemporary North Carolina pottery.

On a good news/bad news event, Denny Mecham, who was the executive director of the NC Pottery Center has been hired as the new executive director of the future Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, MS. “This is a new Frank Gehry-designed museum”.

It didn’t take long for the search committee in Biloxi to select Mecham out of 40 applicants. Seagrove’s loss is Biloxi’s gain, but I’m sure the folks in Seagrove are happy Mecham was discovered to be the talented and experienced asset - they knew.

Let’s just hope that the powers that be in NC realize, before it’s too late, what could be lost if the NC Pottery Center is also allowed to slip away. Of course you people out there can have a lot to say about that possibility too. You can make a donation toward the $90,000 goal, you can become a member of the NC Pottery Center, you can participate in one of the benefit auctions, raffles, or by purchasing a piece of pottery where the proceeds will be donated. You can also help by spreading the word about the effort to save the NC Pottery Center - knowledge is power.

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Well, you just never know where something like this will go. I’m referring to the effort to raise $100,000 to save the North Carolina Pottery Center from having to close its doors after ten years of operation in Seagrove, NC. You can see other postings here under the heading NC Visual Arts (listed to the right).

I received an update on the fundraising effort from both Michael Kline of Michael Kline Pottery in Bakersville, NC, and Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery in Seagrove, NC, at about the same time. That tells you how the networking is going on this effort - nothing happens without folks all over Seagrove, the Carolinas, and now the nation - hearing about it.

The latest news is that AKAR, a gallery in Iowa City, IA - that’s Iowa - way out in the mid-west, is holding a benefit to raise money to help the NC Pottery Center. The gallery has images of items (mostly pottery) posted on their website (www.akardesign.com) where 100% of profits will go to the NC Pottery Center. This includes pottery by artists from Wisconsin, New York, Nebraska, and Arizona, as well as works by artists from Canada and Australia.

If you’re wondering how a gallery in Iowa gets involved in this effort - well there is the internet to thank, but it more likely has to do with the fact that Michael Kline is having an exhibition there and he has been very active in trying to help the Pottery Center, but the gallery didn’t have to help out because of that. They’ve represented other potters from this area - so they may be protecting their interest in Carolina potters or just see the importance of the Pottery Center. The important things is - they are doing something to help.

It’s the networking of people that is driving this effort. Take Meredith Heywood, on July 8, 2008, lightning struck a tree near their studio space sending an electrical surge into their building’s wiring, starting a fire which gutted the building. In the middle of her troubles, she is spending a lot of time spreading the word around about the Pottery Center’s problems. Her husband, Mark Heywood has been offered workspace at STARworks, a business incubator located in Star, NC, just down the road from Seagrove. So he’s been working off-site. They have also received a lot of help from the pottery community around Seagrove. It all comes down to people helping people.

But, for many people, no matter what is going on in their lives right now - saving the Pottery Center is on the top of their to do list. And, now we have people in Iowa helping too. What next?

I want to tell you about another fundraiser I overlooked in my last posting. Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove, NC, operated by Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke, is offering a Fossil Fish Jug by Bruce Gholson (15 3/4″ x 10 3/4″ x 10 3/4″) for $600 (shipping included) at (www.bulldogpottery.com). All proceeds will be donated to the NC Pottery Center.

The North Carolina Pottery Center is also calling for e-mails of support to be presented to the NC General Assembly. A few lines of what the Center means to you or to the pottery community as a whole would be appreciated. Send them to Anna Niles at (annan@ncleg.net). Please put in the subject line: support for the NCPC. E-mails can be addressed: To the NC State Legislators.

I have to say for me the North Carolina Pottery Center represents a dream that one day in South Carolina we will have art facilities like this showcasing the talents of artists in our state.

In my 20 plus years of covering the visual arts in South Carolina, and over the last 12 plus years of covering visual arts in both North and South Carolina, the one thing I can say which differentiates the two states is North Carolina’s superior support of their art community - both traditional and contemporary.

We have nothing that compares with facilities like the Folk Art Center in Asheville, the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, and the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, just to mention a few.

But no facility tells the storied history of North Carolina’s Piedmont area’s tradition of handmade pottery like the Pottery Center - covering that tradition from pre-historic Native Americans to artists working in the 21st century.

The temporary exhibitions presented there have featured not only potters from the Seagrove area, but potters from all over North Carolina, the world, and SC. The last exhibit I saw at the Center included works showcasing Rock Hill, SC’s Catawba Indian potters.

For ten years the small community of Seagrove and the surrounding region have carried the weight of the Center on their shoulders. It would be a shame and a tragedy to loose this jewel of the NC art community, the Carolina art community and our nation when saving it as a state facility would take such little funding compared to the rewards the facility gives in return to the state - in tourism and documented cultural history.

If you have had some contact with the NC Pottery Center - either as an artist, visitor or arts administrator - I urge you to send a few lines of support in an e-mail to show your support.

And, don’t for get to make a donation on the Center’s website at (www.ncpotterycenter.com).

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I’ve got some updated news about the effort to save the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC. Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery in Seagrove has written to tell me that the Center has almost taken in $30,000 in donations toward their $100,000 goal. Every contribution adds up. She also told me that a NC couple has offered a $10,000 challenge contribution to cap the Pottery Center’s fund drive once the Center has raised $90,000. They hope that this challenge will encourage many others to “reach” for that $90,000 goal as soon as possible. They are making this challenge contribution in honor of Drs. Everette James and Nancy Farmer.

That leaves $60,000 yet to be raised. It would only take 2,400 people to make a $25 electronic donation on the Center’s website (www.ncpotterycenter.com). Or, as I’ve said before - a few sugar daddies or momas could make a few BIG donations.

There are now several different ways to help save the Center springing up all over. The next big opportunity is an upcoming auction of over 200 pieces of pottery at Leland Little Auction & Estates Sales (www.llauctions.com) in Hillsborough, NC, on Sept. 28, 2008, starting at 2pm. This auction fundraiser for the NC Pottery Center will feature the legendary collection of Art Ware pottery of Dr. Everette James, as well as Catawba Valley pottery, Eastern Piedmont salt-glaze, and other Art Ware pots donated by many well-known collectors and potters from across the state. An illustrated catalogue will be posted online prior to the auction.

There is now an eBay auction link on the Center’s website where you can make bids on donated pottery to benefit the Center. And, potter Mark Hewitt is raffling a two gallon salt-glazed jar, valued at $350 - at $20 a chance. The drawing will be held on Aug. 31, 2008, at 5pm. Details are at (www.hewittpottery.com). A $20 ticket could win you a $350 value.

So now there are many fun ways to help save the NC Pottery Center. You can buy a raffle ticket, wage a bidding war on eBay or attend a live auction, but to the good folks at the Center - that $25 electronic donation is mighty exciting. And, you can do that right now. I know I felt a bit of excitement when I made our contribution there.

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Not just waiting on the kindness of strangers and friends, the Board of the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, has cut the full-time position of its director, Denny Mecham, to a part-time position. Mecham has agreed to stay on until she finds another job.

Tim Blackburn, who is head of the Center’s board of directors said the position cut is not a reflection on Mecham’s performance as Director, but one of the only ways they can cut expenses.

Board members are trying to raise $100,000 in an effort to keep the Pottery Center open this year, hoping that the state of North Carolina will soon take over operation of the Center (Saving NC Pottery Center).

Since sending out a fundraising letter, several weeks ago, the Center has received almost $19,500 and another $12,000 has been pledged, but more is needed soon.

The reduction of the Director’s position from full-time to part-time is an example of the willingness of the Board to do whatever it takes to keep the Center’s doors open.

It’s a heck of a way to celebrate the Center’s ten year anniversary, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to stay alive.

Hopefully others who read about the Center’s problems will do what they can do to help them stay alive a little longer - at least until the cavalry arrives.

You could be part of the scouting party with early relief in the form of a donation (NC Pottery Center).

About the same time we were posting my blog entry about a recent visit to the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, Martha Waggoner, an Associated Press writer was releasing a story about the financial problems of the Pottery Center. The headline hitting papers throughout the Carolinas was, “Supporters: NC Pottery Center needs $100,000″.

I had no idea where my little impulsive visit to the Pottery Center was going to lead me. First, I didn’t know about the dueling pottery festivals until I left Seagrove and arrived in Greensboro, NC, and now days later I’ve learned that the Center could close in a few months if $100,000 isn’t raised soon.

Golly Dark Knight - what’s a blogger to do?

I also saw the latest Batman movie while I was in Greensboro. The Caped Crusader and the Joker have come along way since their TV days, but that’s another dark tale, for another day.

This AP report was spawned by a letter signed by board members of the NC Pottery Center stating the Center’s current financial situation - which was not good, but not hopeless.

It seems that the board of the Pottery Center entered into an agreement in 2007 with the NC Department of Cultural Resources to transfer the Center’s assets to the State and operate the Center through the North Carolina Arts Council, but the funding was cut from the latest NC State Budget. The letter to hopeful supporters is a plea for donations which will help the Pottery Center hang on until that funding can be reinstated into the State Budget - hopefully in the next legislative session.

My only indication of financial need when I was at the Pottery Center was when I asked if they had a handout on the exhibitions - so I didn’t have to write down artist’s names for correct spelling. The person I asked laughed and said they just didn’t have money for any printed materials. I didn’t think much of it - that’s the story all over the art community. But otherwise, the Center was in tip-top condition - no signs of lacking on the upkeep of the facility - even after ten years.

I guess the State of NC didn’t think it could handle taking on two visual art institutions in the same year, in that the State of North Carolina just took over operations of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, NC. It is now a state-run facility operated in conjunction with the NC Museum of Art.

These are tough times for the arts. It’s tough times for everyone - except a few - about 1% of our population. They have been tough times since the year 2000. I wonder what happened that year and has continued through today? I wonder.

Well, the North Carolina Pottery Center needs help. For ten years it has been serving the traditions of Seagrove potters and potteries, NC’s pottery heritage, and the story of handmade pottery. It’s too important to lose now. The letter mentions how you can make a donation in increments of $25 on the Center’s website and it also mentions other forms of fund-raising which will be announced in coming weeks - if not sooner. But, there is nothing like cold hard cash to cure financial problems.

I know how tough it is to think about making a donation to another part of the arts while we’re all hurting - we’re hurting too, but it just seems like we can’t keep going backwards losing all that has been accomplished - just because times are bad. This is when the art community has to stand together and those who enjoy the fruits of that art community to step up and be counted.

If you can’t give money, maybe you can give art that can be used to raise money. Perhaps you can organize a fundraiser in your town or city. One of the Center’s problems is that Seagrove is such a small community - it can only give so much. A fundraiser there can just draw a limited amount of people. They really need money to be raised from and generated in communities - elsewhere.

You can even help by spreading the word that the NC Pottery Center needs help - help now. You never know who will and can respond to this plea, but they just don’t know of the need. A few folks from that 1% could solve this problem themselves, but it may take a lot of folks like you and me. They need an Obama type internet fundraiser - lots of little donations - all at the same time.

The Pottery Center’s website has the posted letter, a link to make electronic donations, info on how and where you can send checks, and a lot of info about what they have been doing in the last ten years - which gives you a snapshot of what this Center could continue to do in the future - with our support.

Finally, when I do these visits I usually go unannounced - it’s easier that way. The next time I just might ask - How you doing? Got any problems worth mentioning? It might save me some time.

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