| For more information about this article or gallery, please call the gallery phone number listed in the last line of the article, "For more info..." |
April Issue 2009
Seagrove, NC,
Potters Fire Up NC Pottery Center Kiln for Support and Open Individual
Kilns for Spring Event
Following the very successful Celebration of Seagrove Potters in Nov. 2008, the potters of Seagrove, NC, are again preparing for a community event showcasing the authenticity of the pottery capital of the US.
On Apr. 4, 2009, a group of Seagrove potters will gather at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove to jointly fire the double chambered wood kiln. This will offer visitors an opportunity to watch the process, as well as view potters demonstrating the process of creating pieces of work. Takuro Shibata, Director of STARworks Ceramics in nearby Star, NC, states "STARworks Ceramics is excited to donate our local clay mixed here in Star for the potters to use to make pieces to be fired in the kiln at the NC Pottery Center. This is a community event and using local clay is an element that makes this firing unique to Seagrove."
These events will coincide with the ending of the exhibit, The Family Business: 175 Years of Pottery by the Owen/Owens Families, at the Pottery Center. Members of the Owen/Owens families will be performing their wonderful mountain music and there will be an opportunity to have your exhibition catalog signed by the exhibition participants from 1-4pm. This day will offer a variety of events from educational to historical, all designed to offer the visitor a first hand experience of authentic Seagrove.
Pam Owens, NC Pottery Center board member and Jugtown potter states, "The state of North Carolina is amazing for it's pottery and this day will showcase not only a longstanding family tradition that spans North Carolina, but also an authentic Seagrove experience. The community kiln firing complements this exhibit and is a wonderful coming together of potters and a sharing of knowledge and ideas, an opportunity for the public to experience the community spirit of the Seagrove Potters and support the North Carolina Pottery Center."
The experience doesn't end on the 4th though. On the 18th and 19th of April, 2009, Seagrove potters are planning kiln openings and special events in their shops. The Celebration of Seagrove Potters web site (www.celebrationofseagrovepotters.com) and the Seagrove Area Potters Association web site (www.discoverseagrove.com) will showcase all the events taking place in Seagrove over this weekend, aptly dubbed the Celebration of Spring in Seagrove, which quite aptly coincides with Earth Day!
The kiln that was fired at the NC Pottery Center on Apr. 4 will be unloaded during the week of Apr. 18 and each participating potter will donate one of the pieces to the Pottery Center's fund raising auction taking place on Apr. 18, 2009. The annual fund raising auction 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. The Live Auction starts at 5pm, all the events are free and open to the public.
The Celebration of Seagrove Potters is a gathering of diverse clay artists joining forces to showcase the traditional and contemporary pottery of the historic Seagrove community. Our goal is to maintain the authenticity of Seagrove pottery by working together in a community effort to promote the historical, educational and artistic aspects that can be experienced when visiting Seagrove, and to draw customers to the shops to have a first hand Seagrove experience. Our first joint event was the Celebration of Seagrove Potters, held on Nov. 21-23, 2008, which was a resounding success. Visit our blog (www.CelebrationofSeagrovePotters.blogspot.com) to view our final presentation of the event. Seagrove potters working together to bring people to Seagrove!
For further information
check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Center at
336/873-8430 or visit (www.ncpotterycenter.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2009 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2009 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.