WORCESTER, MA - Nineteen nationally known ceramic talents will be on display May 13-15, 2016 in the Worcester Center for Crafts Krikorian Gallery's live exhibition, THE POTTERY INVITATIONAL. Ceramic work by the 19 artists will be on display accompanied by the artists themselves, a nod to bringing pottery in all of its forms to the public with the makers who can discuss it. This year's show will also include demonstrations by artists on the making of ceramics and by a local flower arranger and a chef on using handmade pottery in everyday life.
Held over the course of one night and two days, the Pottery Invitational is organized by two guest curators who invite a selection of artists to participate. This year's curators are potters Aysha Peltz and Todd Wahlstrom who work in Whitingham, VT.
Artists included in the show include Ingrid Bathe (New Castle, ME), Julie Crosby (Trumansburg, NY), Hayne Bayless (Ivoryton, CT), Kyla Toomey (Waltham, MA), Colleen McCall (Elmira, NY), Nicole Aquillano (Boston, MA), Lucy Fagella (Greenfield, MA), Michael Connelly (Philadelphia, PA), Todd Wahlstrom & Aysha Peltz (Whitingham, VT), Tom O'Malley (Forestdale, RI), Sarah Heimann (Lebanon, NH), Holly Walker (Randolph VT), Tom White (Northfield, MA), Robbie Heidinger,
(Westhampton, MA), Rob Cartelli (South Newfane, VT), Maureen Mills (Portsmouth, NH), Normandy Alden (West Winfield NY), and Robbie Lobell (Coupeville, WA).
Friday, May 13
5:30-7 pm, the Pottery Invitational kicks-off with a Benefit Preview Whiskey Tasting that features handcrafted whiskey served in whiskey tumblers made at the Craft Center's New Street Glass Studio. Provided by Austin Liquors, the whiskey tasting will give guests an opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists; shop & collect with first dibs; and enjoy handmade chocolates by Stewarts Chocolates of Holden and locally made cheese from Westfield Farms of Hubbardston. A limited number of reservations for this benefit are available; admission to the Benefit Preview is a $35 donation to the Crafts Center per person; click here to reserve online or call 508.753.8183, x 301. Benefit attendees take their whiskey glass home with them at the end of the evening.
At 7 pm on Friday night, the Pottery Invitational opens to the public free of charge and reopens on Saturday from 10 am-5 pm and on Sunday from 11 am-4 pm.
As part of bringing Pottery to the People, two demonstrations show how easy it is to incorporate hand-made ceramics into everyday life. On Saturday, May 14 at 3 pm, Sarah Ribeiro of the Worcester Garden Club will demonstrate arranging flowers in handmade ceramic containers. On Sunday, at 1 pm Elaine Pusateri-Cowan owner and chef de cuisine of the soon-to-open UXLocale in Uxbridge will show how handmade ceramics can complete the presentation of food. All events are free. The Invitational is accompanied by a small catalog of the show that highlights the artists' biographies and includes a statement from the artists on their work and working methods.
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.
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 it's WOO card program, and receive funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
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SCHEDULE
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FRIDAY, May 13
5:30 Show opens with Benefit Preview celebration. $35.00 pp. Mingle with the curators and artisans while enjoying a "Whiskey Tasting" (in a free hand-blown glass by New Street Glass) sponsored by Austin Liquors and enjoy handcrafted cheeses by Westfield Farms of Hubbardston MA and chocolates by Stewarts of Jefferson, MA.
7:00 Show opens, free to the public
8:30 Show closes
SATURDAY, May 14
10:00 Show opens, free to the public
11-12:00 AIR demos in ceramic studio
11:45 Pop up talk in Krikorian Gallery by Hayne Bayless
12:00-1:00 lunch in multimedia for potters
1-2:00 AIR demos in ceramic studio
3:00 Flower Styling demo by Sarah Ribeiro, illustrating the use of handmade pots in the home for flower arranging
4:15 Pop up talk in the Gallery by Maureen Mills
5:00 Show closes
SUNDAY, May 15
11:00 Show opens, free to the public
11:00-12:00 AIR demos in ceramics studio
1:00-2:00 Food Styling demo by Elaine Pusateri illustrating the use of handmade pots for serving and entertaining
2:00 -3:00 AIR demos in ceramics studio
3:00 Pop up talk by Aysha Peltz
4:00 Show closes
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