Handcrafted: North Carolina Clay
Nick Joerling. "Serving Dish." Clay. 3.5 x 25.5. x 7 inches. Courtesy the artist.
Handcrafted: North Carolina Clay is guest curated by founder emeritus of BRAHM and North Carolina potter, Herb Cohen. North Carolina has long been recognized for its skilled potters and iron-rich red clay. Potters throughout the state would pull their material directly from the earth and use this clay to form jugs, jars, bowls, platters, and vases, all by hand. Then and now, these utilitarian vessels exist with a sense of humanity, history, and purpose unique to the craft-enriched past of the south. These traditions have both persisted and expanded in potteries and clay studios across the state. Handcrafted presents ceramic vessels and sculpture made by over 40 contemporary North Carolina potters and artists. The works are functional and decorative with a broad range of scales, techniques, concepts, and forms. Together, this exhibition takes a look at the diversity of contemporary ceramics in our state, as well as the stories and relationships these artists have with their work and one another.
Exhibiting artists in Handcrafted: North Carolina Clay include Steve Abee, Michel Bayne, Glenn Bolick, Lula Owens Bolick, Cynthia Bringle, Lisa Clague, Herb Cohen, Josh Copus, Cristina Córdova, Donna Craven, Adrienne Dellinger, Susan Filley, Carol Gentithes, Terry Gess, Mark Hewitt, Lynn Jenkins, Nick Joerling, Daniel Johnston, Fred Johnston, Kate Johnston, Matt Jones, Eric Knoche, Stacy Lambert, Leah Leitson, Jeannine Marchand, Bob Meier, Ben Owen III, Bayle Owens, Pamela Owens, Travis Owens, Vernon Owens, Jane Peiser, Akira Satake, Pat Scull, Ken Sedberry, Jenny Lou Sherburne, Eric Serritella, Liz Summerfield, Charlie Tefft, Kathy Triplett, and Julie Wiggins.
Special thanks to Herb Cohen, Carol Gorelick, Bill Little, Clayworks, Inc., Cynthia Bringle Pottery, Jugtown Pottery, and Penland School of Crafts, as well as Barbara Laughlin, Monkee’s of Blowing Rock, Mast General Store, Jane Conlan, Joan Zimmerman, Dayn & Suzanne McBee, Richard & Polly Gambill, and Lee Rocamora & John Thompson for their support of this exhibition.