Community collaboration brings the Potters Market Preview Party to life
The 16 Hands and BMS collaboration to bring the Preview Party to life on Friday, May 1, was inspired by potters and BMS parents Andrea Denniston and Seth Guzovsky of Poor Farm Pottery.
The first 16 Hands Potters Market kicked off its three-day celebration with a Preview Party on Friday that drew a robust turnout. Held at the Floyd EcoVillage Event Center, the free event included a first look at handmade pottery that filled the foyer and Celebration Hall, live music, optionally purchased chef-prepared cuisine, desserts, a drink bar, a flower bar, and a silent auction to benefit Blue Mountain School (BMS), Floyd’s long standing independent, nonprofit private school.
The consensus was “let’s try something different,” 16 Hands potter Ron Sutterer said about the group coming together under one roof rather than hosting the traditional open studio driving tour. “Everybody’s been very excited about it,” he added, while interacting with a pair of early customers.
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Beginning in 1998, eight professional potters and craftspeople – Silvie Granatelli, Ellen Shankin, Brad Warstler, Donna Polseno, Rick Hensley, Davin Butterfield, Susan Icove, and David Crane – founded the 16 Hands collective and established a renowned reputation and a following through their biannually self-guided studio tours throughout the county. Over the decades, a few members dropped out of the group and others were invited to participate.
Today, the collective consists of 10 professional studio potters. In 2018, as founders began to retire from the group, Josh Manning, Wendy Wrenn Werstlein, Hona Knudsen, Andrea Denniston, Seth Guzovsky, and Sarah McCarthy joined the collective. They were later joined by Abby Reczek, Ron Sutterer, Reida Sage, and Hanna Traynham. Four visiting guest artists who participated in the Market came from New York, Kentucky, and North Carolina, and included Floyd County woodworker Shanti Yard.
The 16 Hands and BMS collaboration to bring the Preview Party to life on Friday, May 1, was inspired by potters and BMS parents Andrea Denniston and Seth Guzovsky of Poor Farm Pottery. “We joined forces,” Denniston said. She explained that she has done big shows and invitationals that were broadened by being connected to nonprofits and that she recently attended a talk by ceramics collector Louise Rosenfield on how to get your community involved and bring more people in.
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“I love that it’s a community event. We’re spicing up the whole tour and doing something different,” said Sarah McCarthy, a 16 Hands member, former BMS parent, and a teacher of yoga and contemplative practices. “It’s a way to draw more people,” she said, noting the crowd of attendees present included many who haven’t made it out to the studios.
“It’s over 100 miles to drive to all our studios,” said Wendy Wrenn Werstlein of Wrenn Pottery. “Things are changing. People hear about events in different ways and are looking for something different at events.”
“We marketed this differently and more heavily on social media. We didn’t print the big brochure, which allowed us to rent this space,” she continued, adding that people can still visit the studios of potters who have galleries set up year-round.
As shoppers browsed the exhibits, purchased pots, sipped drinks and chatted with the artists, the Café was full of diners who had purchased the locally sourced small plates, curated and prepared by community chefs Emma Wyman (a BMS alum) and Brian Feldpaush. The gourmet fare was made possible through the support of local farms and businesses. Desserts were created by Red Rooster bakers Katy Reany (BMS alum) and Caitlin Woolrich and included Champagne Petits with a light champagne glacé and Honey Poached Pears over a velvet Belgian yogurt, gently infused with warm cardamom.
BMS board members and parents kept the dining experience running smoothly. Board member and BMS parent Rose McCutchan explained that the Silent Auction, assembled and staffed by BMS parent Meg Alton, featured baskets filled with a variety of donated gifts from local artists, crafters and businesses representing the school’s seven classes that are named for the colors of the rainbow and precious gems. The school provided onsite childcare for the event that included group games led by BMS teacher Jason Beckner.
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The evening's live music was provided by Kris Kiko-Cozy, the school's music and movement teacher, and Jeff Kiko-Cozy. Plans for the rest of the weekend included pottery demonstrations, performances by The Handmade Music School and a continuation of the Silent Auction. It was reported that attendance remained high throughout the weekend.
The potters provided an onsite survey asking attendees about their thoughts on the changes. “There was lots of positive feedback to have it all in one place, but some didn’t want us to give up our studio tours entirely,” Wrenn Werstlein said. “My general sense is that the potters enjoyed the process and the experience. There’s a lot to learn and think about going forward.”
On Sunday, BMS forest kindergarten teacher and assistant director Jenni Heartway estimated that the fundraiser for the school brought in between $4,000 and $5,000.
BMS executive director Tammie Sarver weighed in to say, “I’m grateful for how our community showed up for this event — not just by attending — our farmers, businesses and local artisans donated the silent auction items, and food. Most of the work has been volunteer driven.” She added that she hoped it would become an annual event.
Learn more about 16 Hands, the potters that drive it, and upcoming events at www.16hands.com.
