Meet the Makers and Celebrate ArtWeek at the POTTERY INVITATIONAL 2018

WORCESTER, MA - Over twenty potters will be featured in the upcoming POTTERY INVITATIONAL 2018 at the Worcester Center for Crafts held May 4-6 at the Center on Sagamore Road. Admission to the Center and to the Pottery Invitational is free of charge all weekend.
2018

Teapot by Stuart Gair

Meet the makers at this special exhibit and sale of handcrafted pottery on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Twenty-two of the region's most talented ceramic artists have been chosen by curators Holly Walker (Vermont) and Sarah Heimann (New Hampshire) to display their work in the Worcester Center for Crafts Gallery in this pop-up kind of show. The artists accompany their work for the weekend so people can discover the how's and why's of making incredible ceramic work--and maybe start a collection!

Included in this year's Pottery Invitational are Susan Dewsnap (Auburn , ME); Jerilyn Virden  (Greensboro, VT); Kathy King (Belmont, MA); Gertrude Graham Smith  (Bakersville, NC); Jody Johnstone  (Swanville, ME); Tom White (Northfield, MA); Brian Taylor (Brewster, MA); Colleen McCall (Elmira, NY); Tom O'Malley (Forrestdale, RI); Michael McCarthy (MA ); Seth Rainville (New Bedford, MA); Autumn Cipala (Thomaston, ME); Brenda Quinn (NY); Normandy Alden (West Winfield, NY); Nick Seidner (Middletown Springs, VT); Stuart Gair (MA); Linda Casbon  (Brooklyn, NY); Diane Rosenmiller (Middletown Springs, VT); David Eichelberger (Floyd, VA); Noel Bailey (VT); and curators Sarah Heimann (Lebanon, NH) and Holly Walker (Randolph, VT).

In their Curators Statement, Heimann and Walker say, "In our choice of established and early career ceramic artists, we underscored excellence and integrity of work. We anticipate a dynamic exhibition, exemplifying the current breadth of approach and aesthetics in the ceramic field. We look forward to lively conversations sparked by this diverse group."

Friday night, the exhibit is open from 5:30-8:30pm and will feature a special "Sip & Shop," an informal opening for the Invitational complete with beverages and treats, and some off-the-cuff remarks from the curators. Music will be provided by Jose Castillo, a guitarist who was awarded a Worcester Arts Council Fellowship in 2015.

Saturday, the Invitational is open from 10am-5pm. Demonstrations by the Craft Centers' Artists in Residence are scheduled at 11 and 2 and will give the public insight into the process of creating functional pottery. Demonstrations will occur in the Center's fully-equipped Ceramics Studio down the hall from the Krikorian Gallery.

Cups by Gertrude Graham Smith

Pop-up talks by the artists will occur at regular intervals during the weekend to give the "inside" insights to participants. Artists will be commenting on other artists'
work, giving you an additional perspective on what makes a good pot!

Sunday, the Invitational is open from 11am-4pm. Coffee Klatch, a free meet-the-artist coffee tasting occurs 11am-1pm. Coffee will be courtesy of  Armeno Coffee Roasters with pastries for purchase by On the Rise. Buy your favorite handmade mug, fill it with some brew and talk to the artist who created it-what could be better? 

The 2018 Pottery Invitational has many of its events listed as part of ARTWEEK an award-winning innovative festival featuring hundreds of unique and creative experiences that are hands-on, interactive or offer behind-the-scenes access to arts, culture, and the creative process. "The Craft Center's Pottery Invitational is proud to be a partner with ArtWeek," said Executive Director Honee Hess. "Having the Pottery Invitational listed as an ArtWeek partner is high praise for the quality work that is on display."

In addition to the 22 artists and their works, visitors to the Pottery Invitational will have their choice of olive boats for purchase on Friday night and a chance to win a Raffle Bowl-each artist will donate a bowl to be raffled off to benefit the Worcester Center for Crafts.

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More about the Worcester Center for Crafts & the Invitational:

Work by Holly Walker

The Pottery Invitational was started at the Worcester Center for Crafts in 2003 as a way to expose the community to the work of regional and national ceramic artists, and to assist artists in creating a new market for their work. Based loosely on an event held at the renowned Art School at Old Church in Demarest, NJ, the Worcester Center for Crafts Pottery Invitational has grown into the Center's premiere large-scale educational event for the public around the work of clay artists.

"The Pottery Invitational is part of Worcester's creative economy," said Honee Hess, executive director of the Crafts Center. "It markets the work of artists who sell their work. People come from far and wide, stay in hotels and eat in local restaurants, and we move closer to our mission -- sustaining crafts as an important part of our community and society." An appreciation of all things hand-made is good for artist, business, and the community.

Work by Sarah Heimann

The Worcester Center for Crafts (WCC) is one of the oldest non-profit institutions for craft study in the United States. Founded in 1856 as the Worcester Employment Society to help immigrant women produce and sell handcrafted wares to support their families, the Center evolved into New England is leading center for craft education, exhibition, and entrepreneurship. In 2004, the organization expanded and opened the New Street Glass Studio - an off-campus, 8,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, multi-studio glass facility. The WCC offers the only comprehensive glass studio program in New England available to the public. Through an affiliation begun in 2009, the WCC is home to the Worcester State visual arts studios.

The Craft Center's mission is "to sustain craft as a vital part of our community" by providing high-quality craft education and training, by supporting craft artists in their professions, and through advocacy and public education initiatives including adult education classes and workshops, youth education and outreach programs, exhibitions showcasing the work of established and emerging artists, artist residencies, lectures, family events, studio rentals, Gallery Store, and major events. The WCC is a member of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and receive funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For more information or to arrange a photo opportunity, please contact Honee A. Hess, Executive Director of the Crafts Center at hhess@worcester.edu.

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About ArtWeek:

ArtWeek works to spotlight how the creative economy is thriving in Massachusetts by offering unique and affordable neighborhood-based events that provide increased access to art, culture, and creativity.Through community and artistic collaborations, this festival provides experiences in dance, folk and traditional arts, fashion, media arts, spoken-word, poetry, writing, contemporary visual arts, music, opera, theater, design, film, and much more. Presented by Highland Street Foundation and produced by the Boch Center, ArtWeek is a 10-day innovative festival featuring hundreds of unique and creative experiences that are hands-on, interactive or offer behind-the-scenes access to artists or the creative process. This annual award-winning festival was born in Boston in 2013 and has since expanded to serve communities all across Massachusetts. www.artweekma.org
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SCHEDULE FOR POTTERY INVITATIONAL 2018

FRIDAY
5:30PM                 Show Opens Free to the public
                             Sip & Shop*: cash bar, nibbles & informal curator talks
8:30PM                 Show closes for the day

SATURDAY
10:00AM               Show opens free to the public
11-12:30PM          Artist-in Residence demos in the Ceramic Studio
2-3:30PM              Artist-in Residence demos in the Ceramic Studio
5:00PM                 Show closes for the day   (work to right: Holly Walker)


SUNDAY
11:00AM              Show opens free to the public  
11:00-1:00PM      Coffee Klatch*: free meet-the-artist coffee tasting provided by 
                             Armeno Coffee Roasters with pastries for purchase by On the 
                             Rise. Buy your favorite hand-made mug; fill it with some brew and talk to the artist  who created it.
11-12:30PM          Artist-in Residence demos in the Ceramic Studio
2-3:30PM              Artist-in Residence demos in the Ceramic Studio
4:00PM                 Show closes.

Work by Tom White