Ceramic Craftsfolk Show and Sell Unique Wares
The annual show is ideal for handmade holiday gifts
BY Christine R. Gonzalez
Coastal Carolina Clay Guild Show and Sale Nov. 3rd -5th
Dozens of well-known community ceramicists will feature their latest creations during the annual Coastal Carolina Clay Guild (CCCG) Holiday Show and Sale at the Hannah Block Community Arts Center at 120 South 2nd Street in Wilmington, Nov. 3-5.
The unique pieces of art, many of which are functional items such as serving platters, will be great Christmas gift ideas, teacher or hostess thank-you gifts, or items to enhance any den, office or kitchen.
CCCG president Shannon Gehen, an art teacher at Hoggard High School and an experienced ceramicist, is planning to purchase from some of her favorite co-artisans.
“There’s a big array of art that will be on display. Some are full-time potters. It’s a big cross section of what Wilmington has to offer, and we won’t know what wares will be there until the day of. There are some potters attending that I plan to buy from for my own collection,” Gehen says.
The show kicks off with a wine and appetizer reception on Friday, Nov. 3 from 5-8 p.m. Local folk-Americana singer/songwriter CB Johnson will perform. The sale continues the next two days from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The guild hopes to have other musicians provide ambiance on those days.
Pottery lovers are welcome to enjoy the beauty of the works on display without purchasing any.
“It is such a nice setup of all the clay works in our area. It reminds me of a museum or art gallery,” Gehen says. “That’s why we call it a show. You can go and not feel obligated to buy something, although that is very nice. You can see cool and unique stuff.”
Prices for items vary according to the size and the time and materials put into a piece. Small ornaments may sell for $5 to $10, custom handmade mugs around $25 to $35, and large complicated vases or figurines in the hundreds of dollars.
“You’ll have a lot of mugs and bowls and dishes, things that you can purchase to use in your home that elevate your everyday life. They’re not just like your boring IKEA mug,” Gehen says. “There will be items that are not necessarily functional, but you can have them in your home for art’s sake.”
Only CCCG members may display at the event, but membership is easily obtained. The guild does invite University of North Carolina Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College pottery students to sell their work at the November event.
The Coastal Carolina Clay Guild is a regional nonprofit formed in 2007. Members include potters from Raleigh, the Outer Banks, Jacksonville and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The CCCG website lists about 135 members, with links to many artists’ work.
Meetings are open to the public and are typically scheduled every other month. The next meeting is Oct. 22, 2-4 p.m. at Hannah Block. For more information, visit www.coastalcarolinaclayguild.org.