Emily Muench on sat 17 jul 99
I was just notified the workshop in Asheville that I have been so very
anxious to attend has been cancelled. I have plane tickets, a car rental and
room reservation....and I'm so uncomfortable in the Fl summer temps that I'm
going to Asheville anyway!!!!! But now I need some suggestions that will keep
me busy, other than the Biltmore estate and craft center on the Blue Ridge
Parkway....please suggest pottery sites I shouldn't miss! Thanks, I was so
looking forward to meeting Susan Filley at the Odessey Center..........deeply
depressed, and glowing...Em
amy parker on sun 18 jul 99
At 02:31 PM 7/17/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I was just notified the workshop in Asheville that I have been so very
>anxious to attend has been cancelled. I have plane tickets, a car rental and
>room reservation....
..please suggest pottery sites I shouldn't miss! Thanks, I was so
>looking forward to meeting Susan Filley at the Odessey Center..........deeply
>depressed, and glowing...Em
Em - Go to Highwater Clay, which is connected (physically) to the Odyssey
Center. Look for two books: The Craft Heritage Trails of Western North
Carolina, and Guide to North Carolina Potters. I have purchased both books
there in the past, and if they don't have a "for sale" copy, they will
surely have a "store copy".
Both books have extensive information on potters (and other crafts) grouped
geographically, with hours of operation, phone numbers, etc. They are truly
the ultimate guide! If you have time, call Highwater & have them ship you
the books so you can plan your trips in advance.
I would suggest you take the Blue Ridge Parkway up to Little Switzerland -
about an hour's drive - and browse around at the Trillium Gallery across
from the hotel entrance - turn left when you take the L. Switz. exit. Also
check out the stores in "LSD" (Little Switzerland Downtown - a right off the
parkway and another right at the "T" (2nd opportunity).
Have lunch at the Switzerland Inn - great view, great food! Pick up the map
of Mitchell & Yancey County craft studios, a one page deal (free) that lists
all the area potters as well as glass crafters. Then get back on the
parkway and drive to the Spruce Pine exit (NC 226). Turn right and proceed
a few miles into downtown Spruce Pine. There are several galleries in the
actual downtown stretch, which is about 4 blocks long! Lots of pottery,
glass, jewelry - the area is famous for its minerals, such as emerald &
aquamarine. (and of course
F-4 feldspar!!!)
After you have browsed to your heart's content, look at the map and find your
way over to Penland. Many of the potters listed on the maps are in the
immediate Penland area and are open most days to visitors. My kids loved
seeing Jane Peiser's colored porcelain! Plan to spend several hours here.
It is on
"back roads", some of which are not paved, so watch out for your rental car!
You can come in from the north side of Spruce Pine and take the windy twisty
Penland Road back to the road to Bakersville (US 19E), and take that road
back into Asheville if you had enough mountains on your trip outbound. Plan on
leaving Asheville after breakfast & returning around dinner time, if you
browse fast - otherwise you might want to grab dinner on the way back, since
it is at least an hour back this way.
There are just too many pots to see & places to go in this area! We bought
some land in L. Switz. last year & some day will move there. I will be in
Little Switz Mon 7/26-Sun 8/1. There is a Rock & Mineral show in Spruce
Pine during this time, so traffic will have a few snarls in Spruce Pine but
they will be small.
Amy in Hotlanta, who can't wait to get back to the cool & beautiful NC
mountains!!!
amy parker Lithonia, GA
amyp@sd-software.com
Stephen T. Powell on sun 18 jul 99
Em,
You could drive northeast from Asheville to Seagrove, NC (just below
Asheboro); lots of potters there.
Steve Powell
Catherine Jarosz on sun 18 jul 99
Dear Broken hearted... Asheville is a mecca of pottery sites and
potters ... studios galore and they have many tour books to all the
sites but those are not free ... High Water Clays which really is Oddessy
same building same owner etc may carry these books... near the biltmore
estate is the area of asheville refered to as biltmore or south asheville
and the 3rd top gallery in the country is located there ... NEW MORNING
GALLERY ... John Cram the owner has also opened some awe inspiring
galleries on biltmore ave near center of downtown in the happening part
of the city :o) the art museum is located just up the street from it
... down town is a hoot anyway and not to be missed ... if you have a
rental car get to penland too its not to far away and its a great day
trip with the studios all close together and producing great stuff ie
Jane Peiser ,Cynthia Bringle ... too bad you were not here this week end
to attend the 52 annual guild fair its is most awesome and impressive
not only with potters but most of the mediums should not be missed
as its the premier fair in the south east ... you'd have seen so so
many great potters in so many different styles it would leave you
breathless and inspired ... I've ranted enough so if you have more
????? e mail me privately ... BTW I live here in the area 9 miles
from oddessy by road maybe 3 if I could go straight LOL darn these
mnts .... cat81257@aol.com
Roeder on mon 19 jul 99
I took my family to Ashville and stayed at the Comfort Inn for 4 days a
couple years ago.
Really nice hiking trails (lots of waterfalls) in the area. Some good
restaurants (La Paz), Penland (of course), Blue Ridge Parkway, and some
really great whitewater rafting (Nantahala Outdoor Center). Visit the
tourist center in town for brochures and ideas. There is an Appalachain
Craft Center (or is it Blue Ridge Craft Center??) with some pottery from
the area, too.
Blue Spiral Gallery is nice, lots of pottery. When you go to Penland
School (maybe a half hour drive) you can obtain a map of potters in the
Penland area (many are call-first). Cynthia Bringle's Studio is on the
Penland grounds and is open even if she's not there. Nicholas
Joerling's place is just down the road...many many more.
I envy your trip. Have fun.
Candice Roeder
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I was just notified the workshop in Asheville that I have been so very
> anxious to attend has been cancelled. I have plane tickets, a car rental and
> room reservation....and I'm so uncomfortable in the Fl summer temps that I'm
> going to Asheville anyway!!!!! But now I need some suggestions that will keep
> me busy, other than the Biltmore estate and craft center on the Blue Ridge
> Parkway....please suggest pottery sites I shouldn't miss! Thanks, I was so
> looking forward to meeting Susan Filley at the Odessey Center..........deeply
> depressed, and glowing...Em
>
Marcia Menuskin on thu 22 jul 99
Hi,
I took a workshop in Asheville a couple of months ago. The New Morning
Gallery and the Blue Spiral gallery are great. There are a number of potters
living in the Asheville area and many of them have open studios and galleries
in their studio. The Odyssey center can probably give you information on
these potters. There are many funky shops in downtown Asheville that are fun
to visit. Have fun.
Marcia in Chattanooga
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