Posts Tagged ‘Bakersville NC’

It’s International Museum Day? And a Look Over the Hump Toward the Weekend

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

I’ve been seeing some chatter on Facebook about International Museum Day – a day where apparently museums around the world are celebrating with reduced or free admission, but not many in the Carolinas. From what I’ve seen, about a handful of NC museums are offering free or reduced admission, but I haven’t seen any notices by museums in SC about this day.

I don’t blame them – it’s not much of a celebration when you’re giving up some of your revenue – even if it’s just for a day. Times are hard in the Carolinas as far as arts funding goes – especially in SC. Our Governor would like to cut all funding from the state budget for our museums. Shame on her.

We at Carolina Arts support our art museums in the Carolinas – every month. Our May 2011 issue of Carolina Arts (www.carolinaarts.com) features 10 articles about exhibits at Carolina museums. We listed info for 37 museums in our gallery listings and about a dozen more for facilities which just didn’t have museum in their name. Yet, we had one paid ad in that issue from the Spartanburg Art Museum.

In better times we had a lot more ads from these museums and we hope if better times return they’ll be supportive again, but we’re not going to leave them hanging in between.

Maybe International Museum Day should be a day when the public goes out of it’s way to visit museums – and pay full price admission. Now that would be something for the museums to celebrate.

Coming This Weekend

The inaugural Celadon Fine Arts Festival presents the highest caliber of fine art and crafts, for the knowledgeable and discriminating audience that resides, visits, and revels in the Lowcountry creative experience. Entry is $5 per car, and Saturday the 21st is Family Day, complete with entertainment and food.

The festival is located in the beautiful Celadon Community on Lady’s Island, across the bridge from historic Beaufort, SC. Artists, collectors, and visitors will be surrounded by oak trees, ponds, and the distinguished architecture that is Celadon, while enjoying concerts and other delights during the three-day event, May 20-22, 2011.

The Celadon Fine Arts Festival is produced by the Celadon Community Arts Trust Association and ARTworks, the Arts Council of Beaufort, Port Royal & the Sea Islands of South Carolina.

For more info or to view a full list of participants visit (http://www.beaufortcountyarts.com/celadon1.htm#gallery); call 843-379-2787; visit (www.ArtWorksInBeaufort.org) or visit (www.CeladonFineArtsFestival.org).

The 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, SC, is presenting a free tour of Columbia area artist’s studios with the 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios weekend, Saturday, May 21, 10am-6pm and Sunday, May 22, noon-6pm, throughout Richland and Lexington Counties.

Participating on the tour are the following artists: Alicia Leeke, Amanda Ladymon, B. Alex Smith, Becky Hyatt Rickenbaker, Beth West, Cindy Alpert Saad, Clark Ellefson, David H. Yaghjian, Diane Gilbert, Eileen Blyth, Gail Cunningham, Grace L. Rockafellow, Howard Hunt, Jan Swanson, Jeff Donovan, Jefferson Jay Hubbell, Judy Bolton Jarrett, K. Page Morris, Karen Langley, Kathryn Van Aernum, Laura Spong, Letitia “Tish” Lowe, Linda Coleman, Lucinda Howe, Mallory Phillips, Mary Bentz Gilkerson, Mary Elliott Williams, Michel McNinch, Nini Ward, One Eared Cow Glass, Pamm Collins, Patrick Parise, Peggy Nunn, Porter O’Brien Dodd, Regina Moody, Richard Lund, Rob Shaw, Robert Clark, Suzy Shealy, Sylvia Ady-Potts, Tam Hicks, Tim Floyd, Tyrone Geter, Vicki Corley, and Whitney LeJeune.

For further info call 701 CCA at 803/238-2351 or visit (http://www.columbiaopenstudios.org).

And, of course if you’re heading to the Mountains or need an excuse to head to the hills, you could take in Michael Kline Pottery’s 3rd Annual Spring Kiln Opening on May 21 & 22, 9am-5pm, in Bakersville, NC.

Kline is one of the hottest potters in the Carolinas this month with several shows going on and he and his pottery are even being imported to Seagrove for an event next weekend. Imagine that – Seagrove bringing in a potter from the outside for an event.

Michael Klein Pottery is located at 4062 Snow Creek Road in Bakersville, NC. For info or directions call 828/675-4097 or e-mail to (michael@klinepottery.com). Or to get the latest update tune into (http://michaelklinepottery.blogspot.com/).

If none of these events tickle your fancy, check out our May issue of Carolina Arts at (www.carolinaarts.com) – there are 71 pages about exhibits and events going on throughout the Carolinas.

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Crimson Laurel Gallery in Bakersville, NC, Features Works by Five Ceramic Artists

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

I think we need a new category – Pottery Exhibitions or something like that – or a whole new offering from Carolina Arts which keeps our readers up on all that is clay in the Carolinas. What do you think?

Here’s the press release:


Say, notice that quilt square?

Crimson Laurel Gallery in Bakersville, NC, will present the exhibit, Contiguous, featuring ceramic sculptures by Cristina Cordova and Jerilyn Virden, and What’s in a Line, featuring ceramics by David Eichelberger and Tom Spleth, on view through Aug. 31, 2010.

Cristina Cordova’s provocative new sculptures are haunting yet beckon those who come upon them to look closely and try to understand their suffering and longings.  Through the primary vehicle of the figure, she is in constant search for a presence. These new works will include materials never before seen in Cristina’s sculptures.


A work by Cristina Cordova from her website.

Jerilyn Virden looks to primitive objects that have a contemporary relevance. She pares down forms and exaggerates isolated elements, thus accentuating their sense of generosity and strength. Virden will also be introducing new surfaces and forms for this exhibition.

David Eichelberger is captivated by the dialogue in his work between simplicity and complexity. He uses clean, graceful lines to capture qualities he finds in the organic world. This will be his first exhibit of post-graduate work.

Tom Spleth’s slip cast porcelain cups are made complete with tiny script capturing select and provocative messages. Spleth will also be showing his vase forms that are recognized for the simplicity of their truly unique forms. Combined, these two artists demonstrate the importance of the “line” in ceramic design.

And, our online exhibition is, Ceramic Sweets and Small Works, featuring ceramics by Jason Bige Burnett.

New works by Burnett, aka Cakeboy, involve print processes and visual narratives that are simultaneously personal and universal. Burnett’s new forms both investigate multiple surface techniques and explore imagery that is influenced by the glitz and glam of carnivals, pop culture, and commercial design.

For further information call the gallery at 828/688-3599 or visit (www.crimsonlaurelgallery.com).

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Michael Kline’s Spring Kiln Opening Takes Place Saturday, May 8, 2010

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Yes, Michael Kline’s Spring kiln opening takes place Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 9am – 5pm, at Kline Pottery located at 4062 Snow Creek Road in Bakersville, NC. But, before we get to that…

I first met Michael Kline through his blog, Sawdust & Dirt, News from the pottery shop of Michael Kline, during the effort to save the NC Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC. Kline was one of the blogging potters helping to spread the news about the effort to save the NCPC. And, then I met him, in person, during the first “Cousins in Clay” event held last year and again this year, at Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove. He is a model of a socially networking artist, talented potter, skillful teacher through his blog, and nice guy – an important factor in my book.

Our first conversation centered on two basic themes: how do we turn this blogging thing into something that is financially beneficial – for him selling more pottery and for me gaining new audiences for our supporters (advertisers), as well as the paper in general, and second, expanding my coverage of the effort to save the NC Pottery Center and highlighting Seagrove pottery to other pottery areas around the Carolinas. That conversation was the inspiration for our Blog Category – Not About Seagrove Pottery – a sort of inside joke about my focus on Seagrove.

As of today, the count for entries for the Not About Seagrove Pottery is (25 including this one) and the count for About Seagrove Pottery is (27), but it should be noted that some of those 27 also share the Not About Seagrove Pottery category, so we might be closer to even. But I’ll take this moment to say that we need to hear from those folks in the greater pottery community of the Carolinas outside of Seagrove and I don’t want anyone to take their eyes and ears off the NC Pottery Center – it still needs all our support to keep the doors open and expand its offerings. They are not out of the woods yet and may never be in this economic climate.

OK, here’s a bit of info about the kiln opening I found on Kline’s FaceBook page:

Please join us in our first annual Spring kiln opening with over 400 new pots from the kiln to add to your collection!

Get away to the mountains where the landscape will be bursting with the bright colors of fresh flowers, green leaves and the thick carpet of new grass! Take a deep breath of the clean mountain air and take in the beautiful vistas from the front porch steps of the pottery. The lawn will be filled with new pots!

There will be a preview on the evening of May 7, 2010, where you can browse the entire collection and enjoy the company of other collectors with refreshments.

On Saturday morning the sale begins at 9am and continues until 5pm or until the pots last. Come early to get the pots you like!

Visit the website to join the mailing list and receive announcements via e-mail or regular post.

Back to me – Kline is also a member of the Potters of the Roan group. I found this description on that website which also highlights and makes links to the other members.

Roan Mountain is one of the highest and most beautiful portions of the Appalachian Mountains. It is also home to the Potters of the Roan, a guild of nationally recognized as well as emerging professional potters who have formed a guild to share resources and promote our work. Connected by geography, creative commonalities, and friendship, the Potters of the Roan represent a rich diversity of styles and talents. Our studios are open to the public year round and surrounded by the breathtaking natural beauty of Roan Mountain – famous for its vast views, extensive balds, and natural rhododendron gardens. We invite you to travel the scenic roads of Roan Mountain, visit our studios, and experience the unique landscape that inspires our work.

Go to Kline’s kiln opening, but if you can’t make it, visit his blog – you can buy his works there and if you’re ever in that area of North Carolina – pay him a visit and sit on that porch and find out for yourself that he was telling the truth about those beautiful vistas.

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Coming Events in the North Carolina Pottery World – Dec. 2009

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

New info added at bottom 11/25/09

We have received some notices about pottery events which will be taking place in North Carolina this December. So here’s a rundown of what we have received at this point.

UNC Asheville’s Art Department will hold its annual holiday ceramic and art sale from 4-7pm on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, and 10am-2pm Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in UNC Asheville’s Tucker Cooke Gallery, located on the ground floor of Owen Hall in Asheville, NC. The sale is open to the public.

A wide variety of functional and decorative items crafted by UNC Asheville students will be on sale with prices beginning at $5. Proceeds will benefit the Art Department.

For more information, call UNC Asheville’s Art Department at 828/251-6559 or visit (www.unca.edu/art).

Did you see that folks – prices starting at $5!!!

Courtney Martin and John Geci will be opening their studios in Bakersville, NC, as part of the Toe River Arts Council’s TRAC Studio Tour, being held Dec. 4, 2009, from noon-4pm and Dec. 5 & 6, 2009, from 10am-5pm. Maps can be downloaded at the Tour website (www.toeriverarts.org).

The two will be offering new works in glass by John Geci and works from Courtney Martin’s kiln opening. Special guest artist Zack Noble will be joining them for the Tour event.


Courtney Martin

If you can’t make it to the tour event, Martin and Geci will conduct an online sale on Dec. 9, 2009, beginning at 9am on Esty – for further info check back at Martin’s website at (www.courtneymartinpottery.com).

For further info call 828/467-1414 or 828/467-4956.

Linda and I purchased a work from Courtney Martin at one of the fall Crafts Fairs of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in Asheville, NC. Of course that was before the economy crashed. But you don’t have a struggling arts newspaper so you can buy in our place.

On Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, Molly Lithgo and Jim Rientjes, who own and operate Earthworks Pottery Studio in Greensboro, NC, will offer their Annual Holiday Open House & Studio Show, from 9am-5pm, at 636 South Cedar St., in Greensboro. That’s off the Elm Street area in Greensboro.

Both artists are passionate about working with their hands, but each present a separate vision about working with clay.

Lithgo is primarily a wheel thrower and is inspired by nature and organic form. These decorative pots easily exemplify her love of color and the drawing process. She also enjoys manipulating the wet clay by altering the pots after they are thrown.

Rientjes is primarily a handbuilder and is inspired by geometric shapes and massive form. He also enjoys surface decoration created by various texturing tools and found objects. His poured glazes interact with one another and flow together into beautiful abstract patterns.


Molly Lithgo

Lithgo and Rientjes each use rich red earthenware clay to produce functional pieces for daily enjoyment. Both support and believe that choosing to use beautifully handcrafted items enriches daily life.

For further info call 336/275-1202, e-mail to (mlithgo@triad.rr.com) or visit (www.mollylithgo.com).

I know this stuff as I took it right off their website.

New – added 11/25//09

In association with The Artery, the new UNC-Chapel Hill student art gallery, the UNC-Chapel Hill Art Department will present the Third Annual Student Holiday Print & Art Sale – one day only, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, from 9am to 9:30pm.

Here is your opportunity to purchase original student artworks at very reasonable prices. You will find great art gifts for the Holidays including etchings, ceramics, screenprints, photographs, drawings, digital works, and paintings.

Come visit our new gallery space at 137 East Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill, NC (or just follow the signs through the Bank of America building atrium) and see what UNC’s best young artists have been up to.

For further info contact: Mike Sonnichsen, Lecturer, Print & Photo Labs Coordinator
UNC Department of Art by e-mail at (msonic@unc.edu) or check (http://thestudentartery.blogspot.com/).

So there you go some info about upcoming pottery events in North Carolina.

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