Holiday Kiln Opening - December 16, 2017

Hello!  Happy Holiday!

Our Holiday Kiln Opening is coming up. We are looking forward to seeing you next weekend here at our pottery. We are working on glazing and firing some crystalline vases and tiles for next Saturday.

 There are more Seagrove Potters having kiln openings on December 16th too! The ones that we know about at this time are: Dean and Martin Pottery, Studio Touya, David Stuempfle Pottery, and Donna Craven Pottery. We will update the list as we find out more. (If you are a Seagrove Potter and reading this blog post and are having a kiln opening on the 16th and not on the list above please let us know and we will add you)

The Tyg

The Last Drop: Intoxicating Pottery, Past, and Present, opening on Dec. 9, 2017 at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC

We are invited to be part of an exhibition, The Last Drop: Intoxicating Pottery, Past, and Present, opening on December 9, 2017 at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC.  The show is a collaboration between the North Carolina Pottery Center located in Seagrove, NC and the Chipstone Foundation, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

The North Carolina Pottery Center has a permanent display showing historical and contemporary pottery of NC, as well as, rotating exhibitions. The Chipstone Foundation is known for their world-renowned collection of 17th and 18th-century pottery and rotating exhibitions. 

We are currently working on this project in our studio, and excited about the potential of researching this piece and time period, not only specifically for this project, but also for where it may lead some ideas for our work in the future.  We looked around for Tyg images finding many on Pinterest and other sites. We have also purchased a few books and are currently fantasizing about different ways we could play off of the doubled multiple handles, and the other decorative aspects of these Tygs and other pieces from this period.

   Thirteen potters and two pottery couple have been selected to choose a ceramic piece from the Chipstone collection and respond to the piece by making a piece that will be juxtaposed along with the selected historical ceramic object.

  The Chipstone Foundation (publisher) and Robert Hunter (editor) work together to produce the series of books called Ceramics in America. Ceramics in America is a series of richly illustrated books filled with articles about historical ceramics from the American context. It is intended for anyone interested in pottery:  a collector, historical archaeologist, curator, decorative arts student, social historian, contemporary potter, or pottery lover.

The ceramic object we selected is called a Tyg.  Our Tyg was made in 1649 and is thought to be made by Thomas Ifield. The multi-handled Tyg, functioned in the British Alehouse as a communal drinking vessel passed from person to person.

The Last Drop: Intoxicating Pottery, Past, and Present, opening on Dec. 9, 2017 at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC

The Last Drop: Intoxicating Pottery, Past, and Present, opening on Dec. 9, 2017 at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC

Pottery on the Hill in Washington DC

Pottery on the Hill, October 27-29, 2017 at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital

 We will be in Washington DC next weekend on October 27-29, 2017 at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital with 14 fabulous potters.

The potters are: MatthewMetz, Ryan Greenheck, Michael Kline, Robert Briscoe, Mark Shapiro, Sam Taylor Warren Frederick, Catherine White, Michael Hunt and Naomi Dalglish, Stacey Snyder, Trista Depp Chapman, Donna Polseno, Matthe Hyleck, and Dan Finnegan.

Pottery on the Hill is a weekend celebrating functional pottery (that which can be regularly used, such as dinnerware, drink-ware, vases, platters, and more) featuring seventeen of the top ceramic artists from across the country. Avid ceramics fans will love the chance to talk with the potters in an casual, fun environment and continuing to grow their collections. For those who might just love the pottery, this is a great opportunity to get a jump start on shopping for the holidays, giving the special people in your life a gift as unique and on-of-a-kind as they are.

The Friday Preview Reception is a ticketed event. Preview Reception tickets are now available!

The Saturday and Sunday Show and Sale is a free event and open to the public.

Stay on top of the latest Pottery on the Hill news over on their Facebook page.

The Cousins are Coming this weekend - June 3-4

Art Cup made by Samantha Henneke, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, North Carolina

Cousins in Clay is this weekend on June 3-4, 2017.... we are looking forward to this years show and sale contemporary pottery event weekend full of all things clay! It will be lots of fun.  

All potters will be present to talk with you about their work and their creative process. This is a special and intimate time to hang out with some awesome potters.

Saturday, June 3 from 10:00am-5:00pm

 

Lindsay will give a demonstration on Saturday at 3:00pm. Chronis Vasilou will be returning on Saturday with his enchanting music. Chronis plays the bouzouki and his music goes so well with pottery.  We will have light refreshments available during the day.

We have a few ways online for you to access our information on the internet. If you have a favorite way of getting information you can follow us on:  Cousins in Clay instagram, Cousins in Clay facebook, and the Cousins in Clay website.

Sunday, June 4  from 10:00am-4:00pm

On Sunday we host the annual potters potluck beginning at noon, all are welcome to bring a dish to share. Kenyon will give a demonstration beginning at 1:30pm.  We are thrilled that Will McCanless will be joining us again this year to play his banjo and fiddle, always a treat. We also have this year a special addtion....Samuel Brown of GroundLion Brewing Co will be serving tastings of his crafted brew, American IPA.

If you have any questions please give us a call. Samantha's cell is 336-302-4452, Bruce's cell is 336-302-3469 and our home phone number is 910-428-9728.  Our pottery is located at 3306 US Hwy 220 Alt, Seagrove, NC. We are 5 miles south of the traffic light in downtown Seagrove. Look for the blue water tower and follow the gravel driveway to our studio. 

See you Soon! Cheers.

Oval Vase, made by Bruce Gholson, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, North Carolina

Michael Kline Pottery, Bakersville, NC

Lindsay Oesterritter, Manassas, Virginia

Kenyon Hansen, Fayetteville, Arkansas

 

Lindsay will give a demonstration beginning at 3:00pm on Saturday afternoon, June 3.

Kenyon will give a demonstration beginning at 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon, June 4.

 

On Sunday- Samuel Brown of GroundLion Brewing Co will be serving tastings of his crafted brew, American IPA.

 On Sunday, Will McCanless will be joining us this year to play his banjo and fiddle.

Exercise- the 7-minute Work-out

Spiral Yunomi, made by Samantha Henneke, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC

We are preparing for our upcoming Cousins in Clay annual event with Michael Kline here in Seagrove at our Bulldog Pottery studio. Our guest clay cousins are Lindsay Oesterritter and Kenyon Hansen.  On June 3-4, the weekend after Memorial Day, we open our studio to host these fabulous artists. Kenyon will make a cross country drive to North Carolina from his new home in Fayetteville, Arizona, Lindsay is joining us from Manassass, Va., and Michael from Bakersville, NC.

This is always a busy time here at Bulldog Pottery getting ready for Cousins in Clay.

       I recently discovered an app called the Seven Minute Workout.  I read about time management every once in awhile and one thing that comes up in the writings is the importance of adding exercise to the daily to do list.  We have found it hard to add an exercise routine to our daily schedule.

      For the past week in the morning I have followed along with the animated instructor in the early morning, during my first cup of coffee.  So far I have found doing these 30 second exercise moves to be a good start at getting back into shape. The app suggesst that you can do the 7 minute workout a few times a day while at work and can try doing the routine 2-3 times in a row, building up to 21 minutes.

I am currently using the Johnson and Johnson 7 minute workout app. Here is a link to an article that I read that has some more app suggestions, The 5 Best 7 Minute Workout Apps Which Actually Work.  And another article to read is The Scientific 7-Minute Workout by Gretchen Reynolds.

We continue to glaze this week and into the beginning of next week. We have fresh Moka glaze pottery ready for Cousins and we are now working on a few crystalline pieces for the upcoming Cousins in Clay kiln opening.  Below is an image of what our table looks like while we are glazing. We mix our glazes and store them in individual containers. We are always in search of a new glaze for our palette.

Worcester Center for Crafts Pottery Invitational this weekend

Bulldog Pottery will be at  the Worcester Center for Crafts Pottery Invitational, May 5-7, 2017 in Massachusetts

We are headed to Massachusetts this weekend for the Worcester Center for Crafts Pottery Invitational curated by Todd Wahlstrom and Aysha Peltz.  We are looking forward to joining this group of artists. These pottery focused events are a wonderful time for us renewing old friendships and making new ones

May 5th, Friday evening 5:30-8:30PM

May 6th, Saturday 10-6PM

May 7th, Sunday 11-5PM

The Worcester Center for Crafts Pottery Invitational is a nationally recognized, 2½ -day exhibit that brings pottery to the people.  The potters will be present to talk with the public about their world.

The following artists are invited to participate:

Normandy Alden (West Winfield NY), Hayne Bayless  (Ivoryton, CT), Bruce Gholson & Samantha Henneke aka Bulldog Pottery (Seagrove, NC), Sarah Heimann (Lebanon, NH), Jody Johnstone (Swanville, ME), Robbie Lobell (Coupeville, WA), Maya Machin (Ashfield, MA), Colleen McCall (Elmira, NY), Hannah Niswonger (Winchester, MA), Tom O’Malley (Forestdale, RI), Jeremy Randall (Tully, NY), Nicholas Seidner (Middletown Spring, VT), Willi Singleton (Kempton, PA), Stacey Snyder (Arlington, VA), Brian Taylor (Brewster, MA), Kyla Toomey (Waltham, MA), Holly Walker (Randolph, VT), Adero Willard (Northampton, MA), and curators Aysha Peltz and Todd Wahlstrom, both of Whitingham, VT.

For more information you can visit Worcester Center for Crafts website
Worcester Center for Crafts is located at
25 Sagamore Rd. Worcester, MA 01605
contact 508-753-8183 or wccregistration@worcester.edu

You can follow Worcester Center for Crafts on facebook to find out more details.
Read more about the Pottery Invitational here


 We are firing a kiln today. We will select some pieces from the kiln for the upcoming weekend and will have plenty to show for "Cousins in Clay" on June 3&4, 2017.

Studio Cat Koi

Springtime in Seagrove, NC

Vase made by Samantha Henneke, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC

Hello! This morning we woke up to a little snow on the ground. I am sure it won't last long. It is really pretty though while it does. We are getting ready for our upcoming spring shows. Soon I will update our Event's sidebar. Oh my life sure does whiz by.

We just finished working with the Randolph Arts Guild on the North Carolina Potters Conference in Asheboro, NC. We are really thankful for all of the hard work and dedication the Randolph Arts Guild provides the community we live in.

We believe that Art provides us sustenance to our everyday lives. It nourishes us in so many ways.

What would life be without music, poetry, photography, books, theater, painting, sculpture...... and of course pottery.  Pottery is part of our everyday life--- using it, as well as, making pottery.

Is pottery in your life?

Brooks Jensen, a photographer and publisher of Lenswork magazine, was one of the speakers at the North Carolina Potters Conference last weekend.  He recently released a podcast about his experiences during his stay here in North Carolina. You can listen to his podcast through iTunes, it is called Lenswork. "Sharing the Creative Life Across Media" Podcast #1003. While you are at it download some of his other ruminations. Enjoy!
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daily picture beginning

Reflection in Pond, 1/27/17, Samantha Henneke, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC

     I started my daily picture taking again----- Not sure if this will be a daily practice, but definitely a weekly one.  I do enjoy looking for and composing images. There seems to me, something different that happens when composing an image in the square format versus the rectangle shape.  When I walk around with my phone I set the shape to square, with our dslr the shape is rectangle. These images I am sharing with you I took with my phone this past week. 

I visit our ponds often with Bella and I find this a magical place for me to be.  Water is a grounding element for my consciousness as we know it is with many folks.  

We have been working in the studio on a few new ideas, and I have been catching up with business projects. Hopefully, soon we will have a new website and updated events information for 2017. I am half way through our taxes and will finish these soon so my focus can be back in the studio (and website.) We are looking forward to our new website, surely a perpetual work in progress.

We are preparing for the upcoming North Carolina Potters Conference, which takes place the first weekend of March (March 3-5, 2017) in Asheboro, North Carolina. This will be the 30th year and we are looking forward to the pottery demonstrators and presenters. To learn more about the North Carolina Potters Conference visit the Randolph Arts Guild's website. 

The pottery demonstrators are David MacDonald, Gerit Grimm, and Blair Clemo. The presentations will be given by Stuart Kestenbaum, Sanjit Sethi, Andrea Gill, and Brooks Jensen.  It definitely will be a fabulous weekend, and anyone that loves ceramics and pottery, should consider signing up and spend the weekend with the potters and engage in the conversations about all things clay.

Luna Bella, 1/26/17, by Samantha Henneke, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC

Pond, 1/29/17, by Samantha Henneke, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC

Seed Pod, 1/30/17, Samantha Henneke, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC