3rd Friday will host pottery 'throwdown' May 18 May. 17, 2012
Skilled potters will compete for the public in downtown Salisbury this Third Friday. / SUBMITTED IMAGE Written by Josh Davis For Go! Magazine
IF YOU GO SALISBURY THIRD FRIDAY When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 18
Where: Downtown Salisbury
Cost: Free
Web: 3rdfridaysby.com
SALISBURY -- This weekend marks the return of 3rd Friday in Salisbury, a free monthly arts and entertainment street fair.
New to the Friday, May 18 go-round is a pottery "throw down" hosted by local group Amused Studios.
"A small group of us like to sit around and do Internet searches on all things pottery," explained cofounder Sarah Halcott. "We came across pottery competitions, which have been around for a while, and I thought it would be great to have something like it here.
"The idea is that experienced potters can sit down and show off the talent they have been building. It is really a friendly competition between potters which can get the public involved and interested in the art form."
The competition invites artists to go head-to-head on the pottery wheel to compete in several categories, including the tallest 3-pound, 10-minute cylinder; biggest 4-pound, 10-minute bowl; tallest 6-pound, 15-minute cylinder; and a one-hour freestyle competition, the winner of which will be selected by the audience.
"Anyone who has thrown is welcome to join," Halcott said. "We will be providing clay, tools and pottery wheels to work on."
Amused Studios is a home-based pottery company which was formed in 2006.
"We turned our home into a working studio where we teach and create pottery," Halcott said. "We also have gallery space to sell our work.
"We make anything we can imagine, including whimsical pieces like space ray guns, but we mostly focus on functional wares like mugs and bowls. We also have a line of gorgeous decorative bottles."
Works by Amused Studios are featured in shops and galleries throughout the Eastern Shore. For a complete list of locations and to see various pieces, visit www.amusedstudios.org.
"Every 3rd Friday artists get together downtown on the plaza to show off their work," said Halcott, a frequent collaborator for the event. "There are all kinds of artists who join, from musicians playing live, comic book artists, graphic artists, painters, dancers, glass artists, soap makers, herbalists, jewelers, potters, photographers and knitters. Anything any one has hand made and wants to sell or show off is welcome. Also, Remedy Church gives out popcorn, sometimes Enza's Organic Salon has a raffle and wine, and The Art Institute and Gallery usually has an opening with wine, soda, snacks and art. Every month is a little different."
The 3rd Friday event is sponsored by 3F, an all-volunteer effort, downtown economic development initiative, and a project of the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District Committee.
"My goal is to promote ceramic art," Halcott said. "Many people have never seen anything made on a potters wheel. I want people who have the talent to make art to get out in public and show what they've got and get people interested in art; Salisbury's art scene is growing, and I want to help ensure the artist community has a future."
IF YOU GO SALISBURY THIRD FRIDAY When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 18
Where: Downtown Salisbury
Cost: Free
Web: 3rdfridaysby.com
SALISBURY -- This weekend marks the return of 3rd Friday in Salisbury, a free monthly arts and entertainment street fair.
New to the Friday, May 18 go-round is a pottery "throw down" hosted by local group Amused Studios.
"A small group of us like to sit around and do Internet searches on all things pottery," explained cofounder Sarah Halcott. "We came across pottery competitions, which have been around for a while, and I thought it would be great to have something like it here.
"The idea is that experienced potters can sit down and show off the talent they have been building. It is really a friendly competition between potters which can get the public involved and interested in the art form."
The competition invites artists to go head-to-head on the pottery wheel to compete in several categories, including the tallest 3-pound, 10-minute cylinder; biggest 4-pound, 10-minute bowl; tallest 6-pound, 15-minute cylinder; and a one-hour freestyle competition, the winner of which will be selected by the audience.
"Anyone who has thrown is welcome to join," Halcott said. "We will be providing clay, tools and pottery wheels to work on."
Amused Studios is a home-based pottery company which was formed in 2006.
"We turned our home into a working studio where we teach and create pottery," Halcott said. "We also have gallery space to sell our work.
"We make anything we can imagine, including whimsical pieces like space ray guns, but we mostly focus on functional wares like mugs and bowls. We also have a line of gorgeous decorative bottles."
Works by Amused Studios are featured in shops and galleries throughout the Eastern Shore. For a complete list of locations and to see various pieces, visit www.amusedstudios.org.
"Every 3rd Friday artists get together downtown on the plaza to show off their work," said Halcott, a frequent collaborator for the event. "There are all kinds of artists who join, from musicians playing live, comic book artists, graphic artists, painters, dancers, glass artists, soap makers, herbalists, jewelers, potters, photographers and knitters. Anything any one has hand made and wants to sell or show off is welcome. Also, Remedy Church gives out popcorn, sometimes Enza's Organic Salon has a raffle and wine, and The Art Institute and Gallery usually has an opening with wine, soda, snacks and art. Every month is a little different."
The 3rd Friday event is sponsored by 3F, an all-volunteer effort, downtown economic development initiative, and a project of the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District Committee.
"My goal is to promote ceramic art," Halcott said. "Many people have never seen anything made on a potters wheel. I want people who have the talent to make art to get out in public and show what they've got and get people interested in art; Salisbury's art scene is growing, and I want to help ensure the artist community has a future."
