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The potters who are participating in the Celebration of Seagrove Potters festival in November are also part of a special exhibition at the Arts Council of Moore County in Southern Pines, NC. For more info go to the Exhibition page.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 27, 2008

CONTACT: Jennie Lorette Keatts, jennie@jlkjewelry.com
Susan Greene, sbz@rtmc.net

CELEBRATION GALA, FOR THE FIRST TIME, OFFERS ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES

September 27, 2008, Seagrove, NC-

Friday, November 21st through Sunday, November 23, 2008, potters of Seagrove will present the Inaugural Celebration of Seagrove Potters Show. This premier exhibition and sale of Seagrove pottery and clay works, to be held indoors at the historic Luck's Cannery in Seagrove, includes over 70% of the authentic Seagrove artists, artists that live and work in the area that defines the town of Seagrove, NC.

The Show offers a special opportunity to meet the Seagrove artists under one roof, and to learn about and purchase their work. There is excitement in every booth at the show where the exhibits embrace a striking variety of forms and functions. Seagrove is the largest working community, in the country, of potters and clay artists and offers something for everyone. The event will offer not only the authenticity of Seagrove pottery, but also the opportunity to participate in historical and educational programs. In addition, children will have a special area dedicated to them. They will be able to try their hand in clay, purchase specially "Kid Priced" pieces of pottery and more. A donation from the proceeds of the children's area will be given to the arts programs of our local elementary schools.

The event will kick off with an opening night Gala Preview Event. Guests will have the opportunity to browse and shop, while enjoying food and beverages, including North Carolina wines, live jazz music and for the first time ever, an opportunity to view and bid on collaborative pieces of artwork at a special auction held at 8 PM during the Gala Preview Event.

The Gala Preview Party, which is open to the public, will be held on Friday, November 21st, 6:30 PM to 9 PM. The Seagrove artists collaborative auction will begin at 8 PM. Tickets are $35 and are available on line at www.CelebrationofSeagrovePotters.com. Tickets are limited and must be purchased before November 7, 2008.

To commemorate the Gala event, Seagrove artists have come together to work outside their regular arena, partnering to create pieces that will be one-of-kind and highly collectable. Some of the pieces will include a tile presentation created together by: Bonnie Burns of Great White Oak Gallery; Laura Avery of Avery Pottery and Tileworks; Susan Smith of Smith Pottery; Samantha Henneke of Bulldog Pottery; Meredith Heywood of Whynot Pottery; Alexa Modderno of Seagrove Stoneware; Stephanie Martin of Dean and Martin Pottery; Carol Gentithes of Johnston and Gentithes ART Pottery and Sheila Ray of Ray Pottery. Sandi Barden of Living Water Studio has created two pieces that will go to Bonnie Burns and Jennie Lorette Keatts for completion. Family pieces include a fabulous jar created by Vernon, Pam, Travis and Bayle Owens at Jugtown Pottery, a gorgeous platter by Gordon Ray of Cagle Road Pottery and his son Paul Ray of Ray Pottery. Many studio partners will team up to create pieces together. Finished pieces will be posted on the Gala page of www.celebrationofseagrovepotters.com, so check in often.

The show continues at 9 AM on Saturday, November 22. 4 PM starts the show auction of pieces donated by participating artists. Sunday visitors may attend from 10 AM to 4 PM. Food and beverages will be available both days.

Dates and hours for the 2008 Celebration of Seagrove Potters are: Saturday, November 22. 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, November 23, 10 AM to 4 PM; General admission is $5.00. Children under 12 are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door. The Luck's Cannery is located at 798 NC HWY 705 - Pottery Highway. It is ½ mile south of the traffic light in Seagrove.

Special thanks to our 2008 sponsors: Randolph County Tourism Development Authority, CommunityOne, Embarq, Skutt Kilns, Williams Supply, Advisors Financial Center, Richard and Susan Garkalns, Insurance Associates of the Triad, Randolph Arts Guild, STARworks, Zimmerman Winery, Asheboro Elastics, Cagle Survey and Prevo Drugs Seagrove.

The Celebration of Seagrove Potters was formed in June 2008, by Seagrove potters, to exist as a venue that showcases only the potters of the actual Seagrove community. These Seagrove potters are a self-governing group that work together to protect the unique and authentic pottery community that has taken generations to build, and to be their own advocates in representing themselves and the community in which they live, as they define it.

For more information visit www.CelebrationofSeagrovePotters.com.

For Immediate Release
August 20, 2008
Contact: Jennie L Keatts jennie@jlkjewelry.com, Susan Greene sbz@rtmc.net

CELEBRATION OF SEAGROVE POTTERS ANNOUNCES PARTICIPANTS!

Seagrove -- The Celebration of Seagrove Potters was formed in early June when a group of Seagrove Potters decided to organize a event that showcased the potters of the actual Seagrove area. Many factors led to this decision, the most important being the desire of many Seagrove artists to work together to protect the unique and authentic pottery community that has taken generations to build. This festival will be held November 22-23, 2008 and will offer shoppers a one-stop, indoor shopping opportunity to purchase clay work made only in the area defined authentically as Seagrove. Seagrove potters, and their work, are the reason that customers come to shows and this date was chosen so that the customers that expect to find Seagrove pottery, at this traditional time, will find the majority of it there under one roof.

Over 70% of the Seagrove potters that earn their living making pottery in the local Seagrove area will be participating in the inaugural event. The town of Seagrove is at the intersection of NC Business Highway 220 and NC Highway 705, which in 2002 was designated as Pottery Highway because it runs through the heart of pottery country. Seagrove potters are located throughout the countryside, all around these two major roads, and are all easily accessible from them. The shops are diverse and interesting, and all worthy of a visit. The Celebration of Seagrove Potters will be held at the historic Luck's Cannery, on NC 705, Pottery Highway, located a half mile south of the traffic light in Seagrove.

The planning and implementation of the Celebration of Seagrove Potters festival has become a strong example of community unity and teamwork. Many committees are working together to bring a professional and creative event to life. Local companies, such as Zimmerman Winery, are providing sponsorship to make the event festive and enjoyable. Seagrove potters are nationally known, and the majority of those recognizable names will be exhibiting, and are working together to make this festival a success. Over 60 people, both potters and community members, are committed to working on the production of the festival, with more coming on board each week.

The Celebration of Seagrove Potters will open on Friday evening, November 21 at 6:30 PM with a Gala Preview Party. Meet the artists and enjoy the opening night festivities of this fabulous new event as visitors have the first opportunity to browse and purchase from the thousands of pieces, sip a favorite beverage and enjoy hors d'oeuvres. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to preview a select collection of unique collaborative pieces. This is a first time venture, teaming Seagrove artists, to produce highly collectable one-of-a-kind pieces. This artwork will be auctioned at 8:00 PM on Friday evening, with the proceeds being donated to a local charity, soon to be named! Tickets will be limited and information will be available soon, on line at www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com.

Saturday, November 22 the show is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 23. A second fundraising auction will be held at 4:00 PM, Saturday, with proceeds going to additional non-profit and charitable organizations, soon to be announced. Food and beverage vendors will be set up, a special Kids Tent (only kids allowed in to buy Seagrove pottery at kids prices!) will raise funds to be donated to the Seagrove and Westmoore schools, demonstrations and educational opportunities will be available, and more. Watch the web site www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com for upcoming information.

Special thanks to our 2008 sponsors: Randolph County Tourism Development Authority, CommunityOne, Embarq, Skutt Kilns, Williams Supply, Advisors Financial Center, Richard and Susan Garkalns, Insurance Associates of the Triad, Randolph Arts Guild, Starworks, Zimmerman Winery and Asheboro Elastics.

The following Seagrove potteries and artists will be participating: Avery, Ben Owen, Blue Stone, Bulldog, Cagle Road, Caldwell-Hohl, Chad Brown, Charlie Riggs, Chris Luther, Country Pots, Cross Creek, Crystal King, Daniel Johnston, David Stuempfle, Dean & Martin, Dirt Works, Dixieland, Donna Craven, Dover, Fireshadow, From the Ground Up, Gingerbread House, Great White Oak Gallery, Hatfield, Humble Mill, Jakes, JLK Jewelry, Johnston & Gentithes, Jugtown, King's, Kovack, Lantern Hill, Latham's, Living Water Studio, Luck's Ware, Marsh, McCanless, McKay, Nichols, Old Gap, Old Hard Times, Old House, Ole Fish House, Original Owens, Pat Newby, Pebbles, Potts, Ray, Rockhouse, Seagrove Stoneware, Smith, Studio Touya, Taylor, Thomas, Tom Gray, Triple C, Turn & Burn, Uwharrie Crystalline, Whynot, Windsong, Zehmer.

Visit www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com to learn more about the festival and potters and find links to the individual pottery pages.

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