On Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, twenty-three Seagrove area potteries, a jeweler and a soap-maker will sell specially signed artworks as a fundraiser for American Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools, which chronicle his efforts to combat terrorism by educating impoverished and illiterate children in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mortenson’s mission earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2009. His efforts have been recognized by the US military, who have invited him to the Pentagon in an advisory capacity, and are supported by donations from thousands of individual servicemen.
BUY A POT, BUILD A SCHOOL
A small purchase makes a big difference. Buy one vessel and you have provided a school uniform for one child, two vessels and you have paid a child’s school expenses for an entire year. Over 900 cups, tumblers, teabowls, pendants and soaps have been donated for this sale. Copies of Mortenson’s books will also be available for sale at some potteries.
Last year’s first Seagrove Potters for Peace event was an overwhelming success, selling out before noon. This year’s event features twice as many participants and many more vessels. There will be no early sales, but any remaining items can be ordered by e-mail or telephone on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010. All items will be for sale at the individual potteries. A list of participating potters and more information can be found at (www.seagrovepottersforpeace.com). Free Seagrove area maps can be requested at (www.discoverseagrove.com).
Participants include: Abela So (items for sale at Whynot Pottery), Avery Pottery, Ben Owen Pottery, Blue Moon Pottery, Cady Clay Works, Caldwell-Hohl Artworks, Chris Luther Pottery, Chrisco Pottery, Crystal King Pottery, David Stuempfle (items for sale at Cady Clay Works), Dean & Martin Pottery, Dirtworks Pottery, Dixieland Pottery, Dover Pottery, Freeman Pottery, From the Ground Up, Great White Oak Pottery, JLK Jewelry at Jugtown, Jugtown Pottery, Old Gap Pottery, O’Quinn Pottery, Seagrove Stoneware, Thomas Pottery, Tom Gray Pottery, and Whynot Pottery. (There may be more at this point.)
A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO TERRORISM
It’s easy to feel helpless, and hopeless, about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no end in sight and no clear solution to combating terrorism. Educating children in these countries provides an alternative to recruitment by terrorist organizations, dilutes the power of religious extremists and creates hope for a better future.
GET INVOLVED
You can help Greg Mortenson lay the foundations for this long-term solution to terrorism by attending the Seagrove Potters for Peace fund-raiser, buying his books and sharing them with others, donating to Central Asia Institute (www.ikat.org), or by organizing a “Pennies for Peace” campaign at your local school or church (www.penniesforpeace.org).
RELATED EVENT
The Randolph Friends of the Library will hold a community discussion about Afghanistan and Mortenson’s work on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at 7pm, at the Randolph Arts Guild, 123 Sunset Ave in downtown Asheboro, NC (about 12 miles from Seagrove, just off Hwy. 220). The discussion will be led by Dr. Jeff Jones, associate professor of Russian and world history at UNC-Greensboro. All ages are welcome. Copies of Mortenson’s books and a variety of pottery vessels will be for sale. Change will be collected for “Pennies for Peace”. Refreshments will be served.
For further information contact Beth Gore at Cady Clay Works by calling 910/464-5661 or e-mail to (cadyclayworks@yahoo.com) or (seagrovepottersforpeace@yahoo.com).
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