As we settle into the autumn season, American Folk presents Vessels of Abundance featuring heirloom pieces from eight of our resident potters!
The show opens right here on our website Wednesday October 2nd at 11AM and for one hour the entire collection will be available for previewing before telephone sales begin promptly at 12PM. To make a purchase on opening day, simply give us a call: 828-281-2134
The magic of pottery is that each piece has an intrinsic practical value as an object that holds and contains, but also as an embodiment of value and plenty in many other ways. Our regional potters have an abundance of natural resources with which to create their wares: the richness of the local clays, the bounty of wood available for firing their kilns, and the generosity & welcoming nature of our pottery community.
Kate Waltman and Shawn Ireland are two potters featured in Vessels of Abundance that are drawing from both the rich pottery heritage of North Carolina, as well as deep wells of inspiration outside the local tradition.
In recent months, we have welcomed Kate Waltman back into the fold of our folk art family, and it has been an absolute pleasure to have her work arranged around the gallery once more. Kate works with locally processed clay from the Piedmont region of NC, boldly carving each piece with organic patterns inspired by ArtDeco design, and firing in a wood-fired kiln. Her forms are often drawn from ancient Greek and Minoan pottery.
Having spent time living in Italy, Shawn Ireland has always been captivated by the style and decorative elements of ancient Etruscan pottery. His creations tend to have a beautifully archaic look, as though you are handling a relic. Using wild clay and mineral additions to impart a deep sense of place to his clay and glazes, Shawn’s pottery has a rustic charm, yet very refined style. His work has been included in American Folk’s offerings since its earliest days.
Vessels of Abundance also features new work from Chad Brown, Winton & Rosa Eugene, Wayne Hewell, Joel Huntley, and Ben J. North. The show will be on view in the gallery Friday October 4th – Wednesday October 23rd.
An evening reception will be held in the gallery on Friday October 4th from 5-8PM. This event is free and open to the public.
Join us as we celebrate the bounty of heirloom pottery being created by our folk art family!