River Arts District Studio Stroll This Weekend!

November Fun & Frolic!

Already a week into November, yet the real fun only begins later this week! In a nutshell (well, as much of a nutshell as my rambling allows..):

10-Week Adult Clay Classes at The Village Potters

I've started taking student registrations for my beginner and beginning classes. My classes will be available on an open enrollment, meaning that although there are start/end times to each session, new students may start my classes at any time when space is available, and their 10 weeks will begin on the date they start. For class descriptions and fee/registration information, check out the website!


Studio Stroll at The Village Potters!
Saturday-Sunday, November 12-13, 10am-6pm
If you've been by to visit the new studios, gallery and teaching center, you should come by again this weekend and see how much has changed! More of us have moved in, we're putting in a special area for our featured artists and adding new works from Village Potters to the Gallery, and the Teaching Center is getting ready to be in full swing! We'll be open later on Friday night to welcome preview guests, and we'll have demo's in front over the weekend. As well, you'll be able to decorate your own holiday ornament and enter to win some fabulous door prizes that we'll be giving away the following weekend (see below).

The Village Potters Grand Opening Celebration!
Saturday, November 19, 6-8pm

In a way, it feels like I've been celebrating every day since I moved into this fabulous new space with these incredible people, so it only makes sense that we needed to make a special event to share it with family and friends. We'll have live music, incredible edibles that include a chocolate fountain and nacho bar, fire dancing and the drawing for our door prizes: a beautiful piece of hand made pottery by each of the Village Potters. If you can't make it for Stroll weekend (or even if you do!), I hope you can make it to this great celebration!

And I know it's sneaking into December, but it's less than 30 days away and as much a part of my November madness as anything:

Holiday Home Show!

Sunday, December 4, from 12-4pm

Did you know that November 25-December 4 is National Buy Local Week? More like a week plus a day or two, but I'm not quibbling, as pretty much every day is Buy Local for me so I'm always glad to see a broader acknowledgement!
I'm thrilled to once again join talented jewelry designer Stephanie Onel in an intimate, warm setting to showcase our work. We'll be at the beautiful home of Kristin Fellows in north Asheville for a festive afternoon of a little nosh, a little bevvie, a lot of laughs and some pretty darn good jewelry and pottery! I'll have some specially packaged gifts that are perfect for teachers, office or host-giving among my offerings. Check our Facebook event page for details, or email me if you need directions.

So much to do in the neighborhood(s) this weekend!

We're in that time of year in Asheville when there's always something happening, and this weekend is a perfect example!

My apologies in advance for what I'll inevitably leave out - feel free to comment and add your event to the list - here's a sampling of what's happening ... you'll find me at some and wishing I could go to others:

You'll find me tomorrow at the Rocket Club for the 2nd Saturday Artist Market.  This month we've got a couple of new artists and for the first hour or so you'll also find live music at the door!  We'll also be collecting as usual for MANNA FoodBank - check out the Market Blog for details.  And I think I've mentioned that you can get the best bloody mary in town here.

Those who follow me on Facebook may also know that I'm having a little 'Lori needs a new car' sale at this month's Market.  Yes, my faithful volvo, George Bailey, has gone to the great volvo farm where he can run free.  You'll meet his heir, Harvey George, in a future post.  For now, you'll find deals on all sorts of pretty potteries as I try to create a budget from which I may fund Harvey's addition to the family.  Come by and check out the premium gifties available with certain purchases!

Right down the street from the Rocket Club, the E-W-A's newest member, 444 Gallery Cafe, will celebrate their Grand Opening.  In addition to the great deli sandwich menu, featuring house-roasted meats, breads from West End Bakery, coffee from Dynamite Roasting in Black Mountain and wicked good cake from Short Street Cakes, they also offer the work of more local artists on an ongoing basis.  And, word has it that a certain musician who will play in front of the Rocket Club may also play at the cafe.  You'll just have to come see to find out!  444 Gallery Cafe is also having drawings all day for great prizes - food, coffee, gift certificates toward the purchase of some of the art and more!!

Backing up a bit, on Friday, you would have found me at Echo Gallery at Biltmore Park, where the show "Threads" closes this weekend. Some of the guest artist work has already been taken down, but you've still got time to see fabulous work by Jen Swearington and Libby & Jim Mijanovich.  And mark your calendars because next Friday Echo Gallery will open a new show featuring and celebrating the work of member artists Genie Maples, Barbara Fisher, Susan Finer, and Cindy Walton.  It's called 'Paint'. :)

If you don't want to wait to see new work by Genie and Barbara, then head down to the River Arts District for Studio Stroll - everybody's been working hard, making new pretties and cleaning up their spaces.  You'll find demonstrations, performances and some mighty fine hand crafted work in just about every medium imaginable!  Not playing favorites, but Echo Members Genie Maples, Barbara Fisher, Laurie McCarriar, Anna Koloseike and Dawn Dalto all have studios in the RDA.  As well, you'll find current and former guest artists Heather Tinnaro, Alex Stevens and Barbara Zaretksy in their respective studios and/or galleries too!

Now if you're bugging out of town to avoid the heat, you should head up to the Toe River Studio Tour - follow the link and go for me, I'll be basking in the warmth of east-west-asheville artist love but I'm already making plans for the fall Tour!

So that's a lot to do and I've only mentioned a few possibilities - there's also a great event tonight at Harvest Records, then over the weekend you'll also find Art in the Park, the Downtown Market ... and more to be sure.  Don't let the heat slow you down - you know you can refresh yourself greatly if you find your way to the EWA - cool bevvies, great sammies for the body and an array of beautiful hand crafted goodness for the soul (and the wall, the shelf, the cabinet, the arm, the ears....).

Studio Stroll

I'm pleased to join some very talented artists in exhibiting in the upcoming River District Studio Stroll at the Seven-Star Factory in Riverview Station. Hours for the Stroll are 10am - 6pm Saturday and Sunday, November 14-15. I'll be there each morning (then back to the studio to make more work!).

I'll have some fun treats for holiday shopping - some stocking stuffers, good buys for a teacher gift, office secret santa or just to have on hand in case you need something. And don't forget to treat yourself too!

Joining me at the beautiful Seven-Star Factory in Riverview Station are Jon Arsenault, Spencer Black, Kim Dills, Brian Glaze, Gary Pisano and Mike Reardon. Light refreshements will be served, and the Studio Stroll trolley comes right to the building, so park near one of the stops and enjoy the whole Stroll!

November Studio Schedule and other goings on...

...going ons? hmmmm...anyway, here's November's schedule! As always, and most likely with apologies in advance, it's subject to change:

Some tweaks to accommodate my continuing inability to clone myself. A few days off for Thanksgiving, which means I'll probably be firing unless family decides to come, then there will be additional tweaks for a firing.

Other notables not necessarily noted:

Henry is a 14 month baby boy with a rare genetic condition that causes severe immune deficiencies & anemia. He is undergoing many procedures and must be away from home with his family at Duke Children's Hospital. Henry’s treatment will take many months as well as a large expense. On November 11, the businesses listed below will contribute 11% of sales to help cover expenses connected with Henry's treatment. In addition to my diffusers that are available at the downtown Sensibilities Day Spa, I'll have a few additional pieces that will be for sale with all proceeds going to the cause. Check out the list and see how much of what you need to do can also help Henry:

Lola Salon & Gallery : Laurey's Catering : Limone's : Burgermeister's : Beans & Berries : Scully's : Salon 6478 : Sensibilities Day Spa : Samsel Architects : the L.O.F.T. : Asheville Wine Market : City Bakery : Full Circle Salon : Tressa's Jazz Bar : the Cleaning Lady : Pattie Moore, CPA : Wink Heads and Threads : Double Exposure Art : the Mellow Mushroom : the Gardener's Cottage : the Old North State : Nest Organics : Mamacitas : Mo Daddy's : Ingrid Miller, massage : Marilyn Biggers, massage : Charlotte Street Computers

Crazy Green Studios will be joining a lovely group of artists in Riverside Station for a special sale during Studio Stroll. Special specials on some great stocking stuffers, Saturday and Sunday, November 14-15.

Oh I know there's more, but I'm off to the Spookyblogapaloozananny-doo-thingy to support AHOPE and see Genie Maples' gorgeous painting find a lucky winner!

Crazy Green Studios at 2nd Saturday Artist Market this weekend!

Things seem to be almost literally cooking in the studio, with warmer weather and the kiln heating the place up...and instead of slowing activity down, it's busier than ever!

I was hoping to do another slightly experimental kiln at cone 7-8 for this weekend's 2nd Saturday Artist Market, but the timing just didn't work out. The challenge in commission work keeping me so busy is carving out that time to keep developing my own work, but you won't hear me complaining for lack of things to do! That's the nice thing about the 2nd Saturday market - since it's the 2nd Saturday of each month, I've always got next month to present something new!

I'm really looking forward to this weekend's 2nd Saturday Artist Market. The area will be a buzz, as we're right down the street from the River Arts District that hosts Studio Stroll over the weekend, and the weather looks encouraging for lots of people out on the streets! I love live markets - it's funny, I don't enjoy the whole 'marketing' aspect of running the business, but I do love the live market. It's great to have the opportunity to watch people interact with my work, get to know them and help them get to know the process and the person behind what they see. And not just my booth, I love the whole interactive community dynamic of a live market and watching all the connections that happen. And... this month's Community Booth is Mountin' Hopes - the therapeutic riding center - very cool!


The Crazy Green booth will feature some new work, along with more of some of the popular sellers from the recent show at Clingman Cafe. In addition, we'll have a decorating station set up once again for anyone who'd like to decorate a bowl for Empty Bowls, and you're welcome to bring canned food and other non perishable donations for MANNA FoodBank as well. And the studio will be open as well as what you'll find under the tent, and I'll of course be there to talk to anyone about studio membership and the summer workshops.

Check out the 2nd Saturday blog for profiles on some of the participating artists, and come and check us out! And when you do, be sure to go over to Christopher's Garden for additional exhibiting artists, and there are lots of other cool small businesses in the 'hood you'll want to visit. East West Asheville has a lot going on, and if you haven't taken the time to check it all out, come by and see us on Saturday!

A day of YAY!

Well today is a day of celebration, and I was going to add to the multitude of Obama-raising blogs crying out our joy, pride, relief...well I guess I just did. But another part of me is saying 'back to work', even though I was working through the never-ending campaign, I admit it was a growing distraction as election day drew near, and while I'm proud and happy of the volunteering and ready for more, there is this whole issue of actually keeping the lights on, continuing to live indoors, all that good stuff along with my own joy and elation in the making of all things clay. So today was a bit slow moving (as I allow myself to be on my day off, at least in name), but starting to get moving again at a more fierce pace as there's the goal to fire yet one more kiln before the holiday Art Walk early next month, and pack up for this weekend's exhibit fun.

On that note, I want to help celebrate a little extra spotlight on some fellow area potters-extraordinnaire who are on the cover of Mountain Express this week, just in time for the Studio Stroll:

To see a collective of potters on the cover with a really nice spread/interview is thrilling on its own, and even moreso when it's friends and colleagues who are so deserving individually and collectively. And in a world where sometimes you think you're the only one who thinks this is worthy of such shout outs, it's nice to see that others are going to see it too!

So pick up a copy, hit the link on the image and read all about Josh, Kyle, Matt, Melissa, Heather and Eric. And better yet, go check out the studio and all their ware during Studio Stroll this weekend...

...which you'll be coming back to after attending the Stroll Kick-Off Festivities at the Opening Reception for Transitions: An Odyssey Resident Artist Exhibition at Odyssey Studios on Friday night! You see, promotion's not so shameless when you slide it in with some for others!

Congrats to all the great folks at Clay Space and Yay for Clay!

TRANSITIONS: An Odyssey Resident Exhibition

I've given myself the evening off to make soup and fend off a throat tickle, so while I'm catching up on catching up, I thought I'd throw a shout out for an event sure to be the highlight of the Studio Stroll kick-off! "Transistions: An Odyssey Resident Artist Exhibition" will have its opening reception on Friday, November 7 from 5-8pm at the Odyssey Studios Gallery. There are many very cool events in the 'hood on Friday to kick off Studio Stroll, but only this one will feature Joey's Pasta Salad (if you've been to one of our receptions, then you know you want to come!).

Once again, I'll be opening a kiln, unloading and taking pots directly to the show, so if you come early, you may still feel the warmth of the kiln! Along with me will be recently former Resident Artists Joey Sheehan and Suzanne Hobbs, and current 'senior' Residents Courtney Murphy, Sarah Danforth and Robert Francis. Rounding out the group is newer (but no longer even the newest!) Resident Artist Beth Flanagan. Together, we represent members of the Residency program over the past two years, and among us we well represent the theme of 'Transistions'.

If you'd like to see more information about each of the artists, along with event details, etc., you can check out the blog - go now and then go back as it's constantly being updated with new artist profiles.

Hope to see you there!