Mars Hill University’s Weizenblatt Gallery will host an exhibition of works by the Potters of Madison County. The Potters, all living and/or working in Madison County, North Carolina, have unique styles which have been carefully developed and widely recognized for their exceptional beauty and quality.
In the last decade, the quiet mountain towns and townships of Madison County, North Carolina have attracted an ever growing community of artists and craftspeople. Madison County’s rich rural and agricultural history and its inhabitants’ collective respect for tradition and craft make a natural setting for the production of handmade functional and sculptural ceramics. The Potters of Madison County was created in order to unite, acknowledge and support the skilled and diverse group of men and women currently creating work there.
The Potters consists of Julie Covington, Josh Copus, Becky Lloyd, Jim and Shirl Parmentier, Rob Pulleyn, Barry Rhodes, Joey Sheehan, and Shane Mickey. Their styles, methods, and output are as varied as they are beautiful. Julie graduated with a degree in Fine Art from UNC Asheville and “aims to create simple, sturdy tableware that looks and feels pretty good and is equally at home on an intimate dinner table or on the floor of an old pickup truck.” Josh also has a fine arts degree from UNCA and co-founded Clayspace Co-Op to promote members’ artistic growth and success.
Becky’s work features delicate and intricate black and white patterns called sgraffito. Jim and Shirl have been making decorative ceramics together for over 35 years. Rob creates works that are sculptural, often with a hidden functional ability. Barry’s small sculptural works are in many collections, including the Mint Museum in Charlotte. Joey’s decorative work can be functional, figurative, or both at the same time. Shane’s work is rooted in functional design while expressing ideas of spontaneity. All the Potters have had their work in galleries, museums, and exhibits around the country.
The exhibition will run from Wednesday, October 23 through Thursday, November 14, 2019. There will be a reception on Wednesday, November 6, from 6-9 p.m. Weizenblatt Gallery is in the Moore Fine Arts Building on the campus of Mars Hill University. It is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and admission is always free. For more information, contact Skip Rohde, the gallery director, at (828) 273-6476.
