Exhibition at Sand Hills Community College

There was a bright spot in our life last week! Jeff and I were invited to participate in an exhibition at Sandhills Community College in Southern Pines, NC. Sandhills is Jeff's alma mater and it was exciting for him to go back and see how the college has grown and changed since the late 70's.

Our work is being show along with large scale paintings by Bucky Benson. The show is in the Hastings Gallery, located in the Boyd Library building. It's a really nice space, and Jeff was able to set up the pedestals and pottery.

This show is the first collaborative effort between the college and the Arts Council of Moore County. The exhibition runs until November 1, 2018. Please stop in if you are in the area.

Hastings Gallery of Art, Katharine L. Boyd Library at Sandhills Community College

3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst, NC 28374

Free Admission

Southern Pines in Autumn

Jeff and I drove to Southern Pines today and packed up our show at the Campbell House Gallery. We were very happy with the positive responses to our work and the sales that backed it up.

While Jeff went back into the gallery for one final sweep, I snapped some photos of the surrounding gardens.

 It's truly an amazing setting that epitomizes the beauty of North Carolina.

I am not sure if I like the magnolia blossoms best, or the seed pods that come in Autumn...

I always say that I wish I could hang on to fall and make it last for 12 months, but then it wouldn't be so special would it?

Show opening

Our exhibition at Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines, NC opened last night. There was a great turn out and we enjoyed meeting new people as well as visiting with friends and family.

This is Jeff's latest sink from the kiln. He has two on display at the show.

Remember the BIG bowl we worked on this summer? Here it is, finished and SOLD. I am feeling a little sad that we didn't get to spend any time with it. It came out of the kiln and packed for the show. I will get over the sadness quickly. Money has a way of doing that when it comes to making pots. 

These bowls came out of the kiln and into boxes as well. I am liking the translucent glaze over the sgraffito and plan to do more. I am looking in to buying some darker clay bodies for a brown/white contrast.

Jeff and I were pretty stressed getting this show together so soon after our New Hampshire trip. We somehow managed to pull it off! The show runs through September 26th. If you are in the area be sure to check it out.

Treasures of the Earth - Opening

Last night the Treasures of the Earth Pottery Sale and Exhibition opened at the Cleveland County Arts Council in Shelby, NC. It's a unique exhibition as the artists set up their own displays and leave them there for the entire month. The reception was well attended, despite the pouring rain. There were quite a few red dots by the end of the night and we felt we were off to good start.

Ron Philbeck's display is across from us. It was nice to see his new pots in person, for more about them click here.

We unloaded the kiln the night before the show. It was a good firing and there was no time to take photos before some of the pots were sanded, priced, and boxed. I have quite a few of the blue and shino flower bowls with handles. What didn't go to the show will get listed on Etsy this weekend.

The square soap dishes came out great. I am using a new wax and was a little worried about the rims.

I had a few ginkgo leaf vases in this firing, I wish I could have gotten a better picture of this one.

It was fun to leave town for the day. Jeff and I have rarely left the home and studio since before the holidays. If you are in or nearby Shelby, NC be sure to stop in at the Cleveland Arts Council to see Treasures of the Earth, info about the show is over there on the right sidebar.

Today it's back to everyday life. We have enough pots glazed to load and fire the kiln again this week.

vase finder

Jeff and I both have pots in the Vase Finder show again this year. It is a totally on line show run by Charles Blim in Nevada. There are no entry fees and it's an invitational show. Either Charlie invites you or he asks you to invite someone. John was in the show the last year he was working. After John died, Charles invited me and asked me to invite someone... of course I invited Jeff.
Charles Blim is passionate about ceramics and maintains a wonderful site dedicated to it. We have never met but when John died he immediately called from Nevada to offer his condolences.

This year John Glick was the juror. Samantha Henneke of Bulldog Pottery, here in Seagrove, won an honorable mention in the show. Her vase is stunning. A link to the show is here.

To the left of Jeff's pot, in the show, is our League of NH Craftsmen colleague, David Orser. Quite a few Orser pots live comfortably in our home.

My vase in this year's show came from our first Seagrove wood firing. It was sold a few months ago to a collector.

The studio is calling... I have some bowls that need decorating. Happy Tuesday to all!

perceived value

i am going to have work in an exhibition next month. the host gallery asked if the participants would donate a mug for a fundraising event to benefit the art center associated with the gallery. this fundraiser would be held during the exhibition. the admission price would include an evening of live music, coffee, desserts AND a handcrafted mug.  admission price:

TEN BUCKS.

i have to say i was in shock... why would a fine arts & crafts gallery, in an affluent town, charge only $10 for a fundraiser where everyone takes home a handcrafted mug?
needless to say i made some phone calls and went on a rant. i felt the gallery was sending out the message to the public that the value of a handcrafted mug must be only $10. i would rather give the organization $10, keep my mug and sell it for $22. thankfully, the other exhibitors felt the same way. i heard today that the fundraiser has been canceled.