16th annual Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
This year marks the 16th annual Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival. The Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival began in 1998. Its goal was and continues to be, showcasing the history of Catawba Valley alkaline glazed stoneware and the potters who continually produce this traditional utilitarian ware. Since most potters utilize wood-fired kilns at home sites, information about sales was tenuous, with customers relying on word-of-mouth or post cards. The CVP&AF provided an annual sale where pottery made in Catawba Valley, could be purchased. Over the years, development and growth have allowed the Festival to include potters from across the state and the South, as well as dealers offering historical pottery and antiques, providing a context for understanding the history and use of pottery in the South.
The Festival is a juried event, and will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory, NC. More than 115 potters and vendors will offer their wares and antiques. Items include historical pottery, textiles, baskets, furniture and miniature items; with contemporary potters selling items ranging from coffee mugs to amazing works of art.
Along with the festival, Saturday includes special programming featuring pottery videos, demonstrations and an annual lecture presented by a special guest.
The CVP&AF is a non-profit event benefiting the Catawba County Historical Association in Newton, and the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove. More than $300,000 has been donated to the institutions over the past 14 years. The primary fund-raiser is the Friday night preview party, which offers guests an early buying opportunity, along with a Southern supper.
The Festival runs from 9:00am to 5:00pm, on Saturday; tickets are purchased at the door and are $6.00 for adults, $2.00 for children ages 3 to 12.
One of the great strengths of North Carolina pottery lies in its continuity. In contrast to most other states, North Carolina's potters did not cease work when the old utilitarian forms were superseded by the Industrial Revolution. Instead, they stayed at their wheels and gradually transformed the old craft; they embarked on a century long era of innovation and growth, securing the craft's important position in the historic and artistic culture of contemporary life. Today, North Carolina potters are flourishing; sustained through their sense of tradition and their awareness of earlier forms, glazes, or technologies.
Potters have the opportunity to share their works through the Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival (CVP&AF); held the fourth Saturday each March, with more than 115 participating potters and vendors. It is a non-profit event benefiting the Catawba County Historical Association in Newton, and the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove.
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