May 2013

Local Potters in Greenwood and Edgefield Counties in SC Host the 2nd Annual Heritage Trail Pottery Tour & Sale May 3-5

Local potters in the Greenwood and Edgefield County areas of SC are collaborating to host the second Annual Heritage Trail Pottery Tour & Sale, a series of events from Fri., May 3 through Sun., May 5, 2013.

The Pottery Tour & Sale kicks off Friday evening with a reception at The Museum in Greenwood, SC, from 5:30-7:30pm, during which the public will have the opportunity to meet participating potters and view samples of their work. The weekend events also include pottery demonstrations and kiln openings at five host studios with over 25 potters selling their recent work.

The Tour takes place Sat., May 4, from 10am-5pm and continues on Sun., May 5, from noon-5pm.

The tour is a joint effort of the Greenwood Area Studio Potters (GASP) and the Edgefield Area Clay Guild (EACG). Both groups were formed by current and former students of the professional pottery program at the Edgefield campus of Piedmont Technical College.

The guilds created the tour as a response to increased community interest in pottery and also to provide a chance to “gain a greater understanding of the craft, to be able to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces and to also educate our communities about the outstanding pottery heritage in this area” said GASP President Dohnna Boyajian.

The pottery community, especially in Edgefield, has been evolving for over 200 years. According to local research, Edgefield’s first pottery was called Pottersville and was started by Abner Landrum in the early 1800s. Pottersville is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Properties. The Groundhog kiln, similar to those of Pottersville, was recently constructed in Edgefield and will be opened during the Heritage Trail Pottery Tour & Sale on Sat., May 4 at 9am. Old Edgefield Pottery resident potter, Justin Guy will be on hand to discuss the kiln and the heritage of pottery in and around Edgefield.

All activities during the Heritage Trail Pottery Tour & Sale are free of charge and are meant to provide a variety of options for the public to pick and choose from. For a detailed schedule of events or to receive the official Heritage Trail Pottery Tour brochure visit

(www.facebook.com/HeritageTrailPotteryTourSale)

or e-mail to (bellhousepottery@gmail.com). Greenwood and Edgefield counties are both located along the SC National Heritage Corridor.

In 2012 this project was funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.

Participating potteries and potters include:

Bell House Pottery (host), Laura Bachinski, located at 221 Epworth Camp Road East in Ninety Six, SC. Guest potters - Bob Taft (Greenwood); Donna & Jim Conley (Ninety Six); Diane & Tim Miller (Johnston); Delores Newson (Greenwood); Edna Ruff (Abbeville), and Barbara Warner (Hodges).

pARTners in CLAY @ Wyatt Farms (host), located at 550 Center Street in Greenwood, SC. Coop potters - Robert Bassett (Greenwood); Dohnna Boyajian (Ninety Six); Beverly Burton (Greenwood); Phyllis Collins (Greenwood); and Hannah Poe (Greenwood).

PK Pottery (host) Pam Kadlec, located at 79 Wood Duck Drive in Edgefield, SC. Guest potters - Michelle Clark (Johnston); Sandy Stachurski (Greenwood); James Manning (Greenwood); and Susie Burton (Greenwood).

Turtle Rock Pottery (host) Beth Thornton, located at 248 Meeting Street Road in Edgefield, SC. Guest potters - Donna Hallman (N. Augusta); Renata Copeland (Edgefield); Jean Stafford (Evans, GA); Laurie Hallman (N. Augusta); Jennifer Vas (N. Augusta); Paula Bowers (Saluda); and Levi Wright (Augusta, GA).

Old Edgefield Pottery, Justin Guy (Trenton), located at 230 Simpkins Street in Edgefield, SC.

For further information call Dohnna Boyaijan at 864/554-0336 or e-mail to (dcollinsboyajian@gmail.com).

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