Ron, Judith, Michael, Samantha, & Bruce

Ron, Judith, Michael, Samantha, and Bruce

4th Annual Cousins in Clay 2012

Fabulous weekend

Thank you all for coming out 

and 

spending some time with us.

The Cousins are Coming to Seagrove!

Rolling out the hay for the Pottery Cousins

The Cousins are Coming!

We are giving them the hay carpet treatment

This weekend Ron Meyers, Judith Duff, and Michael Kline will be here at Bulldog Pottery!

We will be holding Cousins in Clay in the breezeway at the white house.  

For this year we have made a slight change on where we will display all of the pottery. We are planning to have the Cousins in Clay event at our house instead of tents outside of our shop. There was a chance of showers on the days we would be setting up the tents (they didn't materialize), and we thought it best to focus on getting one location ready for the event. For those of you who are coming to "Cousins," if you don't need to park close please park up at the garden and walk down via the gravel driveway. That way it will leave the parking spaces closer to the house for those that are less nimble. To get to our house by car just follow the gravel driveway pass the yellow cottage and shop and around the garden to the white house at the end of the gravel driveway .... we will be set-up in the breeze way. -- Look for the flags.

Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-4.

At Bulldog Pottery, Seagove, NC

5 miles south of Seagrove's town traffic light towards the town of Star.

See you Soon!

Clay Pieces for Cousins in Clay

Blue Ant by Samantha Henneke

Here are some recent pieces that we have made for this weekend's Cousins in Clay.

Girl with Turtle by Samantha Henneke

Fossil Fish Pitcher by Bruce Gholson

Fossil Fish Flask by Bruce Gholson

Cleaning Windows

Fossil Fish Mug by Bruce Gholson

We have unloaded two electric kiln loads and we put in one more last night. We have some fossil fish mugs and I have some colorful mugs. I spent most of my time working on glaze paintings and Bruce his fossils.

Spring Green Mug by Samantha Henneke

The Cousins are Coming. Time to clean the windows.

Carolina Arts - Big Plans for Memorial Day Weekend

"Making Big Plans for Memorial Day Weekend May 26 and 27, 2012" by Tom Starland.
To read this awesome article in full, visit Carolina Arts Unleashed.

 ......."These kind of events are usually a less than free time for Max the mad wonder dog, but some might see him and get a chance to toss a red ball – once or a hundred times. And, as a bonus you might also get to chat with Ed or Gloria Henneke. A special note to Ed – I will not bring up the Michigan vs. Virginia Tech game, so there is no reason to make excuses to be out of town.".......

Tom Starland writes weekly on his blog "Carolina Arts Unleashed" about specific Art events.  In his most recent blog post he writes all about the upcoming Cousins in Clay weekend.  Along with our event there will be a couple of other kiln openings happening here in Seagrove.  Donna Craven Pottery will be hosting a kiln opening in conjunction with Cousins in Clay on Saturday May 26 and Whynot Pottery will have a Spring into Summer open house at their place on May 26.

Tom and Linda Starland, creators of Carolina Arts Newspaper, have been in the business of spreading Arts information about North and South Carolina for 24 years. At one time it was printed in newspaper form, but several years ago they changed to an online Arts newspaper.  Every month they post a new monthly edition for the Carolina Arts in full color online.  They continue to have record breaking downloads. Between May 1- May 13, Carolina Arts had 103,921 downloads for the May issue.  We placed a colorful informational ad for Cousins in Clay that you will find on page 38 along with Rhonda McCanless' new column "In the Grove".

On page 39 you can read all about this year's Cousins in Clay pottery event.

Chronis Pou Vasiliou

Chronis Pou Vasiliou playing the Bouzouki

On Saturday beginning around noonish or so, Chronis Pou Vasiliou will be playing Greek music throughout Saturday afternoon.  Chronis is from Greensboro, North Carolina and plays the Bouzouki. We find Greek music enchanting.  You may find him playing at your Greek Music Festivals or Greek celebrations.  You can see a you tube video of him playing at the 2008 Greensboro Greek Festival. He plays Friday nights in Greensboro at the Greek restaurant Opa on Elm Street.

Put on your clay dancing shoes and come on out to Cousins in Clay. We will have great pots, good food, enchanting music, lots of smiles and happy faces this coming Saturday at Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove, North Carolina.

"Cousins in Clay" 

May 26 and 27, 2012 

at Bulldog Pottery - 3306 US Hwy. 220 

 in Seagrove, North Carolina 

May 26 and 27, 2012 

An Incredible Weekend with Ron Meyers, Judith Duff, Michael Kline and All Things about Clay

Hosted by Potters: Bruce Gholson, Samantha Henneke - 336-302-3469

 Saturday, May 26: 10:00am - 5:00pm 

 Sunday, May 27: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Michael Kline: Brushwork Demonstration

Saturday at 2:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm

Saturday: Chronis Pou Vasiliou playing Greek Music 

Light Buffet throughout Saturday

Sunday: Potters Potluck @noon "All Are Welcome" bring your favorite dish

We are located 5 miles south of Seagrove's town traffic light on Hwy 220, Look for the blue water tower.

Michael Kline, Cousins in Clay, Seagrove

Michael Kine's demonstration at Cousins in Clay 2011

Michael Kline from Bakersville, North Carolina is our Mountain Clay Cousin. He is a regular here at our annual Cousins in Clay in Seagrove. Our event's name Cousins in Clay was inspired from a blog post that Michael Kline wrote back in 2008, when after a weekend visit with us he wrote that he recently returned from visiting his Clay Cousins in Seagrove. We held our first kiln opening here at Bulldog Pottery and invited Michael to join us, and we called it "Cousins in Clay".  Since that June in 2009 Michael has returned to join us with his awesome pottery and personality.  This coming August he will be hosting his second Cousins in Clay at his pottery in the mountains near Penland Craft School.  Michael has invited two potters from Massachusetts, Mark Shaprio and Sam Taylor to join us for Mountain Cousins on August 25 and 26, 2012.

Michael Kline will be presenting a demonstration on both Saturday (2:00pm) and Sunday (1:30pm) this year.  

Michael is known for his gracefully elaborate brushwork, giving a botanical theme to his wood-fired pottery.  His black floral intertwining vine patterns, brushed on in combination with a tactile textured slip and glaze, is a decoration uniquely his own.

Michael Kine's demonstration at Cousins in Clay 2011

Michael Kline's two handled woodfired Jar

Michael Kline's Plate with flora brushwork

Michael Kline's two handled woodfired Jar with floral design 

"Cousins in Clay" 

at Bulldog Pottery - 3306 US Hwy. 220 

5 miles south of Seagrove's town traffic light, look for the blue water tower.

An Incredible Weekend with guest potters Ron Meyers, Judith Duff, Michael Kline 

Saturday, May 26: 10:00am - 5:00pm 

Sunday, May 27: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Michael Kline: Brushwork Demonstration

Saturday at 2:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm

Saturday: Chronis Pou Vasiliou and Matthew Beasley playing Greek Music. 

Light Buffet throughout Saturday

Sunday: Potters Potluck @noon "All Are Welcome" bring your favorite dish

Judith Duff is coming for Cousins in Clay

Judith Duff in her Brevard, NC studio making a clay Basket 

Judith Duff will be here for Cousins in Clay coming up on May 26 and 27, 2012.  She lives in Brevard, North Carolina and holds annual kiln openings at her studio.  She is inspired by the richness of carbon-trapped shino glazes, and wood fired surfaces which create unusual and unpredictable results. The textures, color, shading of flame, and ash patterns remind her of the environment where she lives and works in the mountains of North Carolina.

Her pottery and richly textured forms are organic as well as stone-like; reminding us of rocks, boulders, and mountain cliffs.

Recently featured in the WNC Magazine - Mountain Living in Western North Carolina (May 2010), she explains that she loves atmospheric firings which gives her an unpredictability in the surface and character of her pottery, "You can never repeat anything in the wood kiln, Each piece has its own history and the more you look at it the more you see."

Come for a visit in 14 more days until Cousins in Clay -- honored Clay Cousin, Judith Duff will be here along with Ron Meyers and Michael Kline.  Chronis will be playing Greek music throughout Saturday afternoon and there will be yummy delectables to nibble on.

On Sunday there will be a potters potluck at noon. All are welcome.

May 26 Saturday 10-5 and on May 27 Sunday 10-4
3306 US Hwy 220 Alt. Seagrove, NC 27341
Bulldog Pottery - look for the blue water tower 5 miles south of Seagrove's town traffic light.

Judith Duff clay Basket

Judith Duff making an altered Vase 

Judith Duff wood-fired Tray

Judith Duff's altered wood-fired Vase 

Ron Meyers

Ron Meyers and Bruce Gholson in Ron's studio

When we were in Athens, GA this past April, we were able to spend some time with Ron Meyers.  Ron gave us a tour of his studio, and he showed us some of the work that he will be bringing to "Cousins in Clay" on May 26 and 27, 2012.  While taking pictures of his work and listening to him talk with Bruce, I wondered which piece was I going to call my own.  I want all of them.

There is an article by Barbara Kirk about Ron Meyers on the website Critical Ceramics which is maintained by a classmate of ours, Forest Snyder.  I think it is a good read about Ron Meyers. I thought it was cool to find out that he was wanting to become a cartoonist at one time.  We have been listening to a great podcast called "Art and Story" which is a discussion between three professional cartoonists about the art of cartooning and story creation.  It is amazing how much can be gleened from, and how much we have in common with people working in other mediums and art forms.

17 days until Cousins in Clay. Please come out and take this opportunity to meet Ron - look at and handle his work.
May 26 and 27, 2012 Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-4 at Bulldog Pottery - 3306 US Hwy 220 Alt Seagrove, NC 27341
We are located 5 miles south of Seagrove towards Star. Look for the blue watertower.

New Wood Podium

Samantha and Maxwell in the pottery studio

Back in January, Bruce and Ed built me two platform boxes to stand on while I throw my tall slender vases. Last year I threw a series of these vases and whacked out my shoulder/neck, putting me out of commission throwing these forms for just about the rest of the year.  The platforms have worked out really well for me, and I have even been able throw a bit taller than before.

I call these forms my Jesse Vases after a sweet wonderful elderly man that collected many many many pots for years (and still does).  He discovered that these particular shaped forms were perfect for putting in between all of his other pots.

I have thrown around 20 Jesse Vases to choose from for an upcoming invitational exhibition.  The show is called "By Example-NC Potters and their Mentors", and will be on display at the Green Hill Center for NC Art in Greensboro, NC.  The opening reception is on June 29 and will be up for the summer.  Curated by Ronan Peterson, he has chosen 20 emerging young NC artists working in clay to exhibit around 20 pieces each, and then in turn they choose a mentor of theirs.  I chose one of my teachers from Alfred University, Val Cushing. I am absolutely thrilled that he said yes.

This is the write-up that can be found on the Green Hill Art Center's website.

"By Example presents the work of twenty younger NC ceramic artists who use color, texture and imagery in their work  and examines the sources of the newer guard of NC clay makers. Guest curator Ronan Kyle Peterson has selected 20 artists who in turn have invited 20 mentors who have impacted their work and careers in a significant way. This exhibit will include both functional and sculptural ceramic works which will introduce viewers to the clay medium through new approaches to surface design, and innovative use of ancient techniques. Themes such as artistic borrowings from other media in contemporary craft and the importance of mentorship will also be explored. "

Samantha working the top of a tall vase

Behind the Scenes Pottery Crawl Fundraiser - May 12, 2012

Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove, NC

 These are images from last years Behind the Scenes Pottery Crawl sponsored by the Northern Moore Family Resource Center located in Robbins, NC.

This Saturday May 12, the 2nd Annual Behind the Scenes Pottery Crawl takes place. They have chosen 14 potteries to participate. Every pottery will have a special demonstration set up for the participants. Tickets are only $45.00 which includes food. At each pottery there will be a different delicious tasty treat served.  This is a fundraiser for their organization which helps families in the Robbins area.  Also, 15% of pottery sales from our shop and other participating pottery shops on Saturday will be donated to the NMFC.

For more information and to purchase tickets please go to the NMFRC website and check out more of the details.

Saturday May 12th

From 10 am to 5 pm

In and around Seagrove, NC

The 2nd annual Northern Moore Family Resource Center Benefit 

- Enjoy delicious appetizers and wine at potteries

- Watch pottery demonstrations

"Spend a fun-filled Saturday meeting the artists, touring their studios, and admiring their creations.  Come check out 14 of our favorite potteries in a self-guided car tour.  Each pottery will have a unique culinary delight with wine pairing (beef tenderloin on rounds of French bread, shrimp served with remoulade and red sauces, open-faced pork sliders, an elegant almond torte, to name a few), and demonstrations focusing on different aspects of the craft – from shaping at the wheel, to glazing, to firing techniques.  Or you can roll up your sleeves and make a pot yourself. 

Last year's participants were inspired by the beautiful countryside, the world class artistic talent of Seagrove, and the unique way the featured artists live and work.  You'll never want to give a store-bought gift again.  And on Mother’s day weekend, why give Mom another tired gift?  Spend an unforgettable day with her instead! "

Participating potteries on the tour are Avery Pottery and Tileworks; Ben Owen Pottery; Blue Hen Pottery; Bulldog Pottery; Chris Luther Pottery; Dean and Martin Pottery; Frank Neef Pottery; From the Ground Up; Great White Oak Pottery; Jugtown Pottery; Luck's Ware; Old Gap Pottery; Seagrove Stoneware; Studio Touya; and Westmoore Pottery.

Here are links to a few news articles

The Pilot

The Fayetteville Observer

The Carolina Arts Unleashed

Samantha Henneke showing one way to glaze a mug

Samantha talking about glazing

By the Light of The Super Moon

By the light of the Super Moon, Seagrove, NC

21 Days until "Cousins in Clay" on May 26 and 27, 2012 at Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC

Yesterday we spent our time cleaning up the area where we will be setting up the tents for "Cousins in Clay". We plan to try a new location under the oak trees. We are hoping that this will be a bit more comfortable for everyone.  In the previous years we set up between the garden and our pottery shop, which lacks shade and is in the heat of the sun all day long.  We are still planning on where we will have Chronis play his music, where we will be putting the food, and our pottery.

Later in the evening we headed out to gaze at the Super Moon. I took my camera. I want to learn how to take images at night. A long time ago before digital cameras I tried, but never figured out  how to properly expose images for night shots, and after paying for film and developing images that were solid black I lost my zeal.   I gave it a try with my digital camera last night.  I wonder how photographers focus at night when they can't see the subject, and I really need to learn my buttons by heart. Ah hah, next time I will bring a flashlight.

Chocolate Clay

Yummy Chocolate Clay and Bruce Gholson in Seagrove, North carolina 

22 days left until Cousins in Clay, at Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove, North Carolina

Bruce has switched over to throwing red clay from our porcelain clay.  The color is yummy and we think it looks good enough to eat.  We love the way that some of our glazes come out on the red clay. Bruce finds it stimulating and rejuvenating to use different clays, white,  red, and stoneware --- and sometimes clays mixed together.

We are nearing the end of throwing and then onto trimming, finishing, and then the glazing of our pots.  The month of May is always a very exciting one for us. Getting ready for "Cousins in Clay" in anticipation of our pottery "Cousins", Ron - Judith - Michael, and our enthusiastic visiting pottery friends keeps us counting down the days.  Kinda like planning for a major vacation or a long trip.

4th Annual "Cousins in Clay" at Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove, North Carolina

May 26 and 27, 2012 

An Incredible Weekend with Ron Meyers, Judith Duff and All Things about Clay

Potters: Bruce Gholson, Samantha Henneke, Michael Kline

Honored Guest Potters: Ron Meyers and Judith Duff

 Saturday, May 26: 10:00am - 5:00pm 

 Sunday, May 27: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Michael Kline: Brushwork Demonstration

Saturday at 2:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm

Saturday: Chronis Pou Vasiliou and Matthew Beasley playing Greek Music.
Light Buffet throughout Saturday

Sunday: Potters Potluck @noon "All Are Welcome" bring your favorite dish

University of Georgia

Bruce Gholson working on his scholar bowls in Seagrove,  North Carolina- Bulldog Pottery 

23 more days until Cousins in Clay, May 26 and 27, 2012, in Seagrove, NC at Bulldog Pottery

Bruce has been working on his scholar bowls for the past couple of days.

We were "Visting Artists" for a few days at the University of Georgia a couple of weeks ago. Bruce graduated BFA in ceramics and metals from from UGA, and it was wonderful for Bruce to see his longtime friends again. It has been since graduate school at Alfred that we have seen his classmate Sunkoo Yuh, who is now a professor of Ceramics at UGA.  Yuh does amazing large scale ceramic sculpture slathered with incredible glazing. We also got to see Bruce's classmage(mate) Kristin Morgin, who is there on the Distinguished Dodd Chair position for this past year. We were able to talk with Ceramics Professor Ted Saupe (a "Visiting Artist" at UGA when Bruce was in school way back when) and now the head of the Ceramics Dept., and visited with Bruce's retired professors and mentors, Andy Nassise and Ron Meyers (imminent "Cousin in Clay").  Michael Simon visited with us for a spell Tuesday morning during our demonstrations. Bruce talked about the days he worked with Michael Simon at UGA while Michael was a graduate student and Bruce an undergrad.  We also had the opportunity to visit with Bruce's metals classmate Rob Jackson who is now on the faculty of UGA's metal department, and Gary Noffke, Bruce's teacher in the metals program at UGA, now emeritus as well.  Georgia Strange and her husband John Goodheart hosted us for a lovely evening with current and retired faculty and friends.  Georgia is a former ceramics MFA grad from UGA, and current director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art at UGA.  John Goodheart received his Masters of Fine Arts at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.  He wrote his masters thesis about ground hog kilns and remembered his days of research with the Coles, firing the kilns and learning about traditional Seagrove pottery. He reminisced about the wonderful fried chicken he ate, and what a great time he had here in Seagrove back in the early 60's.

It is great to be in the studio everyday, but it is also awesome and greatly needed to take the time to get out of the studio. We are happy to have spent this wonderful time in Athens, and have had the opportunity to reconnect with people from as long as thirty years ago.