Artist, Rikki Taylor
Clay Gets Its Day at the Folk Art Center
For more than two decades, the first Saturday in June has been set aside to celebrate Clay Day, a time when members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s (SHCG) ceramic community and the public get together at the Folk Art Center for demonstrations and hands-on activities. This year’s event is from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. on June 4, and it will be bigger and better than ever. Thirty potters will be sharing their love for clay, and there will be opportunities for you to get involved, too.
SHCG member Rikki Taylor, who will travel from her studio in Knoxville to help introduce people to the pottery wheel, says, “Interacting with clay is as mesmerizing as it seems. Rekindling human’s relationship with natural materials (like clay) brings forth the most authentic parts of a person. It is expression and exploration at its finest.” Also throwing clay on the wheel will be artists from the local education center, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts.
At the annual “ring of fire,” raku artists Gary Clontz, Steven Forbes deSoule, Lynn Jenkins, and John Turner will be on hand to help those who’d like to make their own raku pots. Raku is a ceramic firing process that uses flames and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. Pots will be available for $10, and purchasers can glaze them and watch as they’re fired.
Other artists helping with Clay Day’s education component are Hugh Bailey (SHCG member for 57 years), Judy Brater, Sue Grier, Judi Harwood, York Haverkamp, Cat Jarosz, Christine Kosiba, Kelsey Schissel, and Doc Welty.
Also on Clay Day, the hill behind the Folk Art Center will be filled with booths, where you’ll find ceramic wares offered for sale by SHCG members and invited guests from outside our region.
“Asheville has yet to offer locals and visitors a true pottery festival,” says artist Joe Frank McKee. “With the already established focus on ceramics for Clay Day, we decided to empower this community with the added element of a marketplace.”
A range of styles and techniques will be showcased by the following SHCG vendors: Brant Barnes, Travis Berning, Paveen “Beer” Chunhaswasdikul, Doug Dacey, Laurey-Faye Dean, Joe Frank McKee, and Tom Seelos, along with nonmembers Mike and Karen Baum (Ohio), Tony Holman (Texas), Jim Reinert (Mississippi), Larry Spears (Indiana), and Tony and Mindy Winchester (Iowa).
Clay Day is a free event that will take place at the Folk Art Center, located at Milepost 382 of the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of the Highway 70 entrance in east Asheville. While there, stop by the Allanstand Craft Shop, as well as three exhibition galleries. Around the Center are hiking trails, picnic tables, grassy areas for relaxing, and plenty of parking. For more information visit, craftguild.org or call 828.298.7928
