September 2011

McDowell Arts Council Association in Marion, NC, Features Works by Maggie Jones and Freeman Jones

The McDowell Arts Council Association in Marion, NC, will present an exhibit of works by Maggie and Freeman Jones of Turtle Island Pottery in Old Fort, NC, on view from Sept. 2 - 29, 2011, in the MACA’s Art Gallery. A reception will be held on Sept. 15, from 6-8pm.

View a wide variety of functional, decorative and sculptural, stoneware ceramics made by the Jones, potters in Old Fort since 1984. The couple met in Arizona in 1976 and moved to Freeman’s home in Etowah, NC, in 1977. They both taught pottery classes at Blue Ridge Tech in Flat Rock, NC.

Together the Jones have made Turtle Island Pottery a workable business and raised their two children in Old Fort, moving there in 1984. One of their children, Jesse, helped with the production during his school years and now Molly is creating her own ceramic art.

Since 1980 Turtle Island Pottery has produced a very popular line of functional stoneware in the mountains of WNC. The pottery has become very recognizable with its opaque white glaze and hand brushed decorations of blue flowers with green and yellow accents and dragonflies. The pottery has found its way all over the world.

From 1984 to 1989 Turtle Island Pottery was produced and sold in a building owned by the Jones on Main Street, Old Fort. When the building was sold in 1989 the studio was moved to the Jones’ home. In 2007 a showroom was opened up in a small house on Bat Cave Road just two and one-half miles south of I-40.

Although the popular, functional “dragonfly and blue flower” pattern is still produced, the Jones’ also produce more decorative, sculptural forms influenced by antique art pottery from the art nouveau style and the arts and crafts movement. The forms have been stretched, altered, manipulated and details added to the point where each piece is an individual sculpture. Works are reproduced in a theme, yet; there are still no two works alike.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the MACA at 828/652-6810 or visit (www.mcdowellarts.org).

[ | September 2011 | Feature Articles | Carolina Arts Unleashed | Gallery Listings | Home | ]