Posts Tagged ‘Seagrove Potters for Peace’

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

Friday, November 5th, 2010

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


From Westmoore Pottery

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

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

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

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

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

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


Joseph Sand Pottery

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


Pottery by Joseph Sand


A peek inside the monster kiln at Joseph Sand Pottery

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


From Westmoore Pottery

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

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


From Thomas Pottery

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


A look inside Seagrove Stoneware

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

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

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

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

Saturday, October 30th, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Seagrove Potters for Peace – Turning Stoneware into Schools in Seagrove, NC

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

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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