North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Grand Opening

Lustre Shino Pitcher by Bruce Gholson

 This weekend the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will have their grand opening. They have built onto their existing building a large sphere. It will be their new Research Center. Bruce's pitchers will be among a group of pitchers that will be used in the opening ceremonies.

"Water collected from rivers, oceans and lakes around the world will be brought to the stage to symbolize the global nature of the Nature Research Center and acknowledge the life-giving water of planet Earth."

You can read about the opening ceremony "Nature Research Center will open Salute to Water" in the News and  Observer.
Water was collected from all over the world. Some of the water that was collected from the various bodies of water are the Tokyo Bay (Japan), Yukon River (Alaska), Dragon Bay Lake (Beijing), Dalyan River (Turkey),  Aplen Snow Melted (Germany), River Ghanga (India), Straight of Megellan (South America), and Moskava River (Russia). A total of around 42 Great Waters from around the world.

What an awesome idea!

Another article about the NC Museum of Natural Sciences opening can be read in The Pilot, "New Nature Research Center Opens at Museum".

"Nature Never Sleeps" is the theme of the opening. It lasts for 24 hours. Events starting at 5:00pm Friday until 5:00 pm Saturday.

Straw Yellow Pitcher with Red Swoop by Bruce Gholson

Greyish Whitish Pitcher by Bruce Gholson

Cousins in Clay in Seagrove North Carolina

"Cousins in Clay" in Seagrove, NC at Bulldog Pottery

"Cousins in Clay" Seagrove 2012 at Bulldog Pottery

Guest Cousins 

Ron Meyers & Judith Duff

with our Mountain Cousin Michael Kline

May 26 Saturday 10-5, 2012

May 27 Sunday 10-4, 2012

Greek Music by Chronis and Matthew Saturday afternoon

Michael Kline Brush Demonstrations on Saturday at 2:00 and Sunday at 1:30

Potters Potluck at noon on Sunday All Are Welcome

Bulldog Pottery is located 5 miles south of the town of Seagrove on Highway 220

 look for the blue water tower, 3306 US Hwy 220, Seagrove, NC 27341

for details call Bruce or Samantha- 336-302-3469 or 910-428-9728

There are images of the "Cousins" work on our Cousins in Clay Flickr set.

Bulldog Pottery presents "Cousins in Clay": An intimate Contemporary Ceramic Art Show in Seagrove, NC at Bulldog Pottery.  Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke will host exceptional clay artists Ron Meyers, renowned potter from Georgia, North Carolinian mountain potter Michael Kline, and North Carolinian potter Judith Duff. Ron is one of the most influential of potters and educators of our time. He is famous for his challengingly charismatic animal portraits, that decorate his undulating and expressionistic pottery.  Judith Duff, a potter from Brevard, NC, makes wood-fired organic, and ethereally earthy pottery. Michael Kline from Bakersville, NC is known for his lyrical floral brush imagery that gracefully wraps around his wood-fired traditional pottery forms. Bruce and Samantha of Bulldog Pottery specialize in iridescent crystalline glazes and imagery that reflect their interests in the natural world.  This is a special time to meet the potters, add to your art collection or begin one.  "Cousins in Clay"- is a kinship based on shared appreciation for the pursuit of excellence within the diverse language of clay.

Seagrove Pottery Kiln Openings - Celebration of Spring

Seagrove Pottery- Kiln Openings April 21 and 22, 2012

 We wanted to let you know about the upcoming:

Celebration of Spring Seagrove Pottery Kiln Openings
April 21 and 22, 2012
Thirty-six Seagrove Potteries will be participating with the Seagrove Pottery Kiln Openings. Visit these potteries at their individual studios and enjoy the lovely conversations and excitement that we all have for clay.  Hours will vary from pottery to pottery.
You can read, download, or print out the details of that weekend event in this month's, "In the Grove" - April issue by Rhonda McCanless.

Or you can read more about the kiln openings, "From the Ashes of Many Kilns, Seagrove, NC, the Center of Pottery in North Carolina, Rises Every Spring", at Carolina Arts Unleashed by Tom Starland.

The Seagrove Potters have two facebook pages- Seagrove Potters, and Celebration of Seagrove Potters, that you can "like" and follow along with the happenings here in our pottery community.

If you would like to down load a map or take a closer look at the images than we have here on this page, visit the Discover Seagrove website and there is a link at the top to download the pdf version of a map and the potters participating in the Celebration of Spring Seagrove Pottery Kiln Openings.

We had a great time this past weekend for our Daffie Days kiln opening.  We appreciate everyone that came out to our place, e-mailed, and thought about us.  We are thankful for all of your support you give us and our pottery.

We now turn Bulldog Pottery's focus to "Cousins in Clay" on May 26 and 27, 2012. It will be here before we know it, and we have lots and lots to do to get ready. We are looking forward to our honored guests Ron Meyers and Judith Duff, and our mountain cousin Michael Kline. We will have Greek music on Saturday afternoon by Chronis and we are crossing our fingers that Matthew will be coming from Asheville to play with him.  On Sunday we will host the Potters Potluck at noon and Michael will give a demo on Saturday at 2:00 and Sunday at 1:30.  We can guarantee lots of energizing talk about all things clay.

                                              Celebration of Seagrove Potters, Spring 2012

                                                                    April 21&22

Vases from Daffie Days- Bulldog Pottery Kiln Opening in Seagrove North Carolina

What a beautiful day here in Seagrove, North Carolina.
Tomorrow and Sunday we will be open from 10:00-5:00.

Daffie Days Full Steam Ahead

We pulled out our first kiln load a handful of days ago, our second one this past Sunday, and last night we just turned on our last kiln that will be out on Thursday. We are pleased with the results and the colors are springy! I am going to do my best to glaze another grouping of pottery that will come out on Saturday. These will be mugs and small bowls with my transparent colors on them. It won't be a full load but I think it will be fun to squeeze in a few more pieces for the weekend.

And... Hot off the Press- The Carolina Arts Unleashed- "Spring Flowers Came Early this Year But You Still Have Time for “Daffie Days” at Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove, NC – Mar. 30 – Apr. 1, 2012" by Tom Starland of Carolina Arts.

Below we have posted a few images from the past week of glazing. It is quite a process to see our pots from the beginning to the end. Always something going on and another step to make.  How wonderful it is to be a potter.

Bruce Gholson glazing one of his vases

Samantha Henneke glazing a few mugs

Bruce Gholson glueing rings to the bottom of vases 

Gloria and Ed the magic sieving duo

Samantha Henneke glazing one of her vases

Samantha looking at one of the recent vases and Max 

The temperature was a little chilly yesterday and after our new haircuts I had to put on one of my hats. This winter has been so warm that I have not had to wear these very often.

Daffie Days- Bulldog Pottery Kiln Opening

 Seagrove, NC Bulldog Pottery's kiln opening

Our kiln opening is right around the corner. We are really excited about our studio work and looking forward to the upcoming months of ongoing making and firing.

March 30,31 and April 1, 2012 from 10:00am - 5:00pm

Seagrove, NC

We are located just 5 miles south of Seagrove's street light on Hwy 220. Look for the blue water-tower.

On note, Laura Johnson, Snow Hill Pottery and Tiles, has opened her new shop in downtown Seagrove. She makes awesome tile. Tomorrow is her first day. The new Seagrove Pottery shop is located across from the Seagrove Fire Department behind the brick house in the white building.

Bulldog Pottery,  back of our kiln opening postcard

Opening Reception at the PAF Gallery

Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke in the PAF Gallery, Siler City, NC

Our show opened this past Friday evening during Siler City's first Artwalk of the year. A band played, Art galleries opened their doors, a UNC T.V. film man was interviewing the director of the NC. Arts Incubator and wandering the streets and galleries taking footage, and folks were coming to see our exhibition all evening long. It was a real pleasure to see all of the people coming out to enjoy the evenings festivities.  There is a coffee shop right next door where we had a yummy mango smoothie that afternoon, and then later in the evening a coffee to keep us going (any excuse for good coffee). 

We are busily getting our vases glazed and into the kiln. We have more vases then we have time to glaze for Daffie Days. Which is a good thing, because the Celebration of Spring Seagrove Pottery Kiln Openings is coming right on up on April 21 and 22, 2012.  

Samantha Henneke with one of her porcelain glaze paintings

Inside the PAF Gallery

Bruce Gholson 

Bruce Gholson and metal sculptor Edwin White

Bruce talked with Edwin White, a metal sculptor in Silk Hope. 

Bruce Gholson with author Ricky Lindley

We met Ricky Lindley a NC Arts Incubator resident. We purchased his recently released novel called Pleasant Grove.  

If you have the opportunity to visit Siler City's N.C. Arts Incubator complex and eighty pieces of our work that are on display, the Bulldog Pottery Exhibit will be shown in the PAF Gallery until April 13th.

Putting the finishing touches on our vases.

We are putting the finishing touches on our vases. Our kiln opening - Daffie Days is right around the corner.
Daffie Days - March 30, 31, and April 1 - 10:00am - 5:00pm

We are also looking forward to joining the Celebration of Spring with the Seagrove Potters Kiln Opening on April 21 and 22, 2012!

The gorgeous weather outside is bringing out the critters living in the undergrowth.

PAF Gallery Exhibition in Siler City

Bruce Gholson, Shino Covered Jar

This Friday evening, on March 16th, 2012, will be our opening reception at the PAF Gallery. It begins at 6:00-9:00 and takes place during Siler City's third Fridays ArtWalk.  The show of 80 Bulldog Pottery pieces will be on exhibit until April 13, 2012.  The PAF Gallery is part of the NC Arts Incubator.  The North Carolina Arts Incubator is located in five buildings nestled in the heart of Historic Downtown Siler City and currently features 24 artists working in a variety of medias from pottery to glass to fiber.

NC Arts Incubator

223 North Chatham Avenue

Siler City, NC 27344

919-663-1335

Bruce is carrying our pots into the gallery.  

The inside of the PAF Gallery has wonderful light and a fabulous window!

PAF Gallery located in Siler City, NC from the outside

The NC Arts Incubator in Siler City, North Carolina,
123-D North Chatham Avenue

Bruce Gholson, Crab Shino Low Bowl

Surreal or Hyperreal Landscape

Today we took an early morning walk. Bruce threw the ball for Max while I knelt to take images of the daffodils blooming in our yard.  I am fascinated by the way flowers, at this perspective, become a surrealistic landscape in which the insects live. 

We are still recuperating from the 25th Annual NC Potters Conference, held this past weekend in a nearby town, Asheboro, NC. The folks at the Randolph Arts Guild are a hard working group who put on an inviting and happy conference. For 25 years Dwight Holland has planned the potters conference inviting an excellent line-up of potters and scholars as demonstrators and presenters.  This past conference was awesome, and we learned a lot of techniques, history, and we were reminded that there are so many different ways to handle clay and carry through with one's own unique voice in it. To read about the conference, visit the Courier Tribune- NC Potters Conference: Marks the 25th Year and Potters on Conference "Amazing" "Wonderful".  The Randolph Arts Guild have images of the conference on their Randolph Arts Guild facebook page. 

North Carolina Potters Conference Number 25

Cynthia Bringle

This coming weekend is the 25th Annual North Carolina Potters Conference at the Moring Arts Guild in Asheboro, NC. This year's conference has a different twist.  

The following three premier potters were invited to share their techniques and wisdom.

Cynthia Bringle - North Carolina

John Glick - Michigan 

Jack Troy -  Pennsylvania

These three potters were given the opportunity to invite a young potter that they felt noteworthy, to demonstrate as well.

Cynthia invited Ronan Peterson from North Carolina

John Glick invited Martha Grover from Montana

Jack Troy invited Jake Johnson from Pennsylvania

So that is 6 different views and pottery techniques, We are psyched!

There is also an awesome line-up of speakers! 

Louise Cort, curator of the Ceramics collection at the Freer in Washington D.C.

Walter Ostrom, a major educator in contemporary ceramics, and retired professor from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Canada.

Bob Armfield a local potter from Ramseur, NC who worked with Walter and Dot Auman.

Mark Hewitt from Pittsboro, NC who was featured in the PBS series Craft in America series.

The images that are shown here are pieces by the invited pottery demonstrators. These pieces will be on view at the Moring Arts Guild throughout this week and during the weekend.

A Close-Up of the handle on Cynthia Bringle's  Vessel

Jack Troy

Close-up of shell mark and wood-fired flash on Jack Troy's vase form

John Glick

Close-up of glaze pattern on John Glick's super large platter

Ronan Peterson on left, middle is Marth Grover, right is Jake Johnson

Close-Up view of Ronan Peterson's Covered Jar

An overhead view of Marth Grovers's Basket Form

Handles on Jake Johnson's Vase form