Vol. 16, No. 3 March 2012 - Carolina Arts

In the Grove with Rhonda McCanlessPottery country is in full-swing again,not that it ever really rests. Even in theslow months of January and February,Seagrove potters are still making potsevery day even if they’re not holding kilnopenings. March, however, is filled withmany special events and activities.The 19th Annual Kovack PotterySpring Event takes place March 10through March 18, 2012. Craig andMichelle Kovack spend months creatingspecial numbered, limited-edition piecesthat come with signed certificates ofauthenticity. These pieces, as well as theircertificates of authenticity, will only beavailable during the event.This year, the event will feature festivalfavorites, new items and door prizes.Visit Kovack’s website (www.kovackpottery.com)to print a 10% off coupon forthe event. The coupon can also be printedfrom Kovack Pottery’s Facebook page.The shop specializes in decorative functionalwares, wheel-thrown by Craig andhand-painted by Michelle.Work by Bruce GholsonWork by Samantha Henneke“Daffie Days” are here again at BulldogPottery. “Daffie Days,” Bulldog’sspring kiln opening, will be held March30 through April 1, 2012. Potters BruceGholson and Samantha Henneke createdthe annual event to welcome the beginningof spring and celebrate the flowersthat come with it. An array of Gholson andHenneke’s studio art pottery, including avariety of elegant vases will be availableduring the event. The potters will be onhand to discuss their most recent work andoffer tasty treats to those who visit.Bulldog Pottery specializes in flowingglazes, including their molybdenum crystallineglazes that feature diamond-shapediridescent crystals. To find out more aboutGholson and Henneke, visit their blog,“Around and About with Bulldog Pottery”(www.bulldogpottery.blogspot.com).History buffs may be pleased to knowWestmoore Pottery will host the New AmstelMilitia reenactment group for a 17thcentury reenactment on March 31, 2012.The group will be dressed in full periodPage 26 - Carolina Arts, March 2012garb and will portray individuals from theDutch colonies at New Amsterdam andNew Amstel in the 17th century. Theywill use historically accurate replicas of17th century pottery made by Westmoorepotters David and Mary Farrell, who arewell-known for their historical pottery.Photo from the New Amstel MilitiaThe Farrells will be available duringthe event to discuss and answer questionsabout the past uses of available wares,methods of production and other topics ofinterest. More information can be foundon their website (www.westmoorepottery.com).The North Carolina Pottery Center(NCPC) has announced two special eventdays that coincide with the “What’s Upstairs?”exhibit that began last month. OnMarch 10, 2012, the NCPC will release anew catalog of Alamance County historicalstoneware. The text is by potter andcurator Mark Hewitt.Two catalogs will be released on April14, 2012. One highlights pieces from theNCPC’s permanent collection, with textby exhibit curator, Steve Compton. Theother catalog is a rare grouping of 19thand 20th century grave markers, with textby Dr. Charles Zug.Both events are open to the publicand will be held from noon to 2pm. Thecatalogs will be for sale. Curators willsign catalogs and answer questions. Visitorsare encouraged to bring in old NorthCarolina pottery pieces to learn moreabout them from the experts. More informationcan be found on the NCPC website(www.ncpotterycenter.org).Several Seagrove potters will participatein the 15th Annual Catawba ValleyPottery and Antiques Festival on March24, 2012, at the Hickory Metro ConventionCenter in Hickory, NC. This juriedevent will feature more than 115 vendors.Seagrove’s Daniel Johnston will be thespecial guest speaker this year. The lecturewill begin at 11am. More information canbe found on the festival’s website (www.catawbavalleypotteryfestival.org).Last but not least, congratulations arein order for Seagrove potters, Ben OwenIII and David Stuempfle. Owen receivedhonorable mention in the Arts & Culturecategory of Southern Living’s “Heroes ofthe New South,” featured in the March2012 issue of the magazine. Stuempfleis featured in the March issue of MarthaStewart Living. A behind the scenes photoblog about the story can be found on theMartha Stewart website (http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com).Rhonda McCanless is editor and publisherof In the Grove, a monthly newsletterabout Seagrove, NC, that focuses onpottery news. Click the link to see the latestissue. Rhonda can often be found at her husband’spottery shop, Eck McCanless Pottery(www.eckmccanless.webs.com/), located at6077 Old US Highway 220 in Seagrove,NC. She can be reached at 336/879-6950or by e-mail at(professional_page@rtmc.net).You can contact us by calling 843/825-3408 or by e-mail at - info@carolinaarts.comTable of ContentsDiscover one of Seagrove’s newest pottery shops...Artworks Gallery in Winston-Salem,NC, is presenting a two-person exhibit ofhandmade paper collages by E. Faye Collinsand oil paintings by Lucy Spencer, onview through Mar. 31, 2012. A receptionwill be held on Mar. 11, from 2-4pm.Eck is a second-generationSeagrove potter who has spentnearly 20 years perfecting hiscraft. He specializes inAgateware, Crystalline andStoneware.6077 Old US Hwy 220Seagrove, NC 27341(336) 873-7412www.EckMcCanless.webs.comArtworks Gallery in Winston-Salem, NC, Offers Works byE. Faye Collins & Lucy SpencerLucy Spencer, Conversation, oil on canvas, 8” x 10”Collins’ collages reflect her interest inthe details of plant, especially the leaves,related shapes, and colors. Spencer’spaintings include birds in trees and fancifullandscapes, ranging in size from verysmall to very large.Collins says that collage is a mediumthat allows the composition to be reformedand refined to the maker’ssatisfaction before the pasting down. Sheis an avid gardener and patron of trees,an admirer of tomatoes and nature, and anovice birder.Collins is a native of the GuilfordCollege area in Greensboro, NC, whereshe resides today. She has a BFA and aMFA in painting and printmaking from theUniversity of NC in Greensboro. She hasstudied at Kent State Blossom Festival,Penland and Arrowmont craft schoolsSpencer earned her BFA from theUniversity of Georgia, and her MFA fromthe University of NC at Greensboro.She taught art for 30 years in Guilford,Alamance, and Forsyth Counties, andoperated the Ark Gallery in her home inGreensboro for 3 years.E. Faye Collins, Circle Ritual, collage and handmadepaper, 26” x 16”For further information check ourNC Institutional Gallery listings, call thegallery at 336/723-5890 or visit (www.Artworks-Gallery.org).The deadline each month to submit articles, photos and ads is the 24th of the monthprior to the next issue. This will be Mar. 24th for the April 2012 issue and Apr. 24 for theMay 2012 issue. After that, it’s too late unless your exhibit runs into the next month.