Wesleyan Potters' Annual Spring Festival and Sale Saturday

Saturday May 11th, 2013, 10am to 3pm
Free admission. Rain or Shine!
350 South Main St

This sale features beautiful, locally-made artwork of over 30 cooperative members and students. Come and see the crafts of pottery, weaving, jewelry/metalsmithing and more. Pottery wheel techniques will be demonstrated. Don’t miss this opportunity to shop for unique gifts for Mother’s Day, graduation, weddings, showers, anniversaries or any occasion. Wesleyan Potters' Annual Spring Festival and Sale has something for everyone.

The show features beautiful, locally-made artwork for every customer, young and old, regardless of budget.

Wesleyan Potters is a non-profit cooperative guild founded in 1948 to promote the learning and development of skill in handcrafts. Classes are held year round with lectures, exhibits, demonstrations and films. Qualified instructors give classes in well-equipped studios for adults and children. All proceeds from the Spring Festival and Sale go directly to local artisans and Wesleyan Potters’ Fundraising and Scholarship funds. The guild also maintains a Gallery/Shop year round. Support your local artists at this year’s sale!
For further information, contact Wesleyan Potters at (860) 347-5925 or visit their website.

Wesleyan Potters Annual Spring Festival and Sale

Wesleyan Potters' Annual Spring Festival and Sale

Saturday May 12th 10am to 3pm

Free admission. Rain or Shine! 
350 South Main St, Middletown

Browse the work of over 30 cooperative members and students in the crafts of ceramics, basketry, weaving, and jewelry/metalsmithing. Watch demonstrations. Find gifts for graduation, weddings, showers and anniversaries or any special event in your life. WesleyanPotters' Annual Spring Festival and Sale has something for everyone, ranging from functional pottery to large scale sculptures.  This sale features beautiful, locally-made artwork for every customer, young and old, regardless of budget.  

Wesleyan Potters is a non-profit cooperative guild founded in 1948 to promote the learning and development of skill in handcrafts. Classes are held year round with lectures, exhibits, demonstrations and films. Qualified instructors give classes in well-equipped studios for adults and children. All proceeds from the Spring Festival and Sale go directly to local artisans and Wesleyan Potters’ Fundraising and Scholarship funds. The guild also maintains a Gallery/Shop year round. Support your local artists at this year’s sale!

For further information, contact Wesleyan Potters at (860) 347-5925 or visit their website:www.wesleyanpotters.com

Wesleyan Potters Annual Exhibit & Sale Opens

The Wesleyan Potters 56th Annual Exhibit & Sale starts today and runs through December 11. The event is kicked off with a Gala Celebration on Friday, November 25. Doors open at 10 am. The artists and collectors reception is this evening from 6 to 9 pm. Light refreshments served throughout the day.

The 56th Annual Exhibit & Sale takes place at the Wesleyan Potters studios, 350 South Main Street (Rt.17), Middletown. Walk in the front door and you are greeted by an array of color. And it’s not just one kind of craft – it’s elegant, it’s whimsical, it’s practical, it’s glass goblets, one-of-a-kind wood sculptures, ceramic garden ornaments, felted finger puppets, copper bangle bracelets, baskets made from sea grass and much more. Prices range from $8 for a miniature ceramic fairy house to $32 for a hand woven scarf, to $75 for a silver pendant to $150 for a whimsical copper sculpture to $850 for a one of kind end table made from Connecticut grown spalted sugar maple wood. As all work sold at Wesleyan Potters is juried, the collector can be re-assured that what they purchase is well made and meets the high standards Wesleyan Potters is known for. Each item is handmade in the USA.

The Exhibit & Sale runs from November 25 to December 11. Hours are every day from 10-6 pm, Thursdays and Fridays hours are extended until 9 pm. For more information call 860-347-5925 or visit www.wesleyanpotters.com

Bowlapalooza is Back

The fourth annual Wesleyan Potters “Bowlapalooza” will be held on Friday, June 3 from 6-9 p.m. This family fun event, with a café like atmosphere, is back by popular demand. Local blues musician Kent Aldrich will be returning to entertain for the evening along with assorted and talented members and friends of Wesleyan Potters. Bowlapalooza tickets are just $10 and entitle the holder to choose a one-of-a-kind, handmade treasure to take home from the “Bowl or Palooza” table. Finger food and beverages will be served. The evening includes a silent auction with many gorgeous handcrafted items from Wesleyan Potters artisans as well as donations from community supporters. Special activities for children are planned. Children under 12 are admitted free. Call 860-347-5925 or email wesleyan.potters@snet.net to reserve tickets for the Bowlapalooza evening at the Pottery, 350 South Main Street (Rt.17), Middletown, CT. www.wesleyanpotters.com This event is expected to sell out prior to the event, so don't wait reserve your tickets. All proceeds will benefit Wesleyan Potters -- a nonprofit educational cooperative.

Wesleyan Potters Spring Festival & Sale

Wesleyan Potters' Annual Spring Festival and Sale
Saturday May 7th 10am to 3pm

350 South Main Street (Rt.17), Middletown

Browse the work of 35 guild members and students in the
handcrafts of ceramics, basketry and jewelry/metalsmithing.
Watch handcraft demonstrations. Find gifts for graduation,
weddings, showers and anniversaries or any special
event in your life.

Rain or Shine. Free Admission

Inspirational Exhibit Opens Today

Need a little creative inspiration? With nearly 250 different artists’ works on display, the 55th Wesleyan Potters Annual Exhibit & Sale is the place to be! At 10 am this morning the doors opened and the crowds arrived. This yearly event attracts more than 10,000 visitors from across New England.

Preparations for this stellar event begin early in the year, during which the co-operative members of Wesleyan Potters and 200 additional juried artists succeed in producing a spectacular array of crafts that cover the spectrum from classic to contemporary, simple to extraordinary. The exhibit includes jewelry, sculpture, pottery, basketry, weaving, wood, paper crafts, photography, toys and more. Interesting and challenging work is coming out of all fields of craft, decorative arts and design.

This 55th Annual Exhibit & Sale has something for everyone, ranging from functional pottery to large scale sculptures. There is something beautifully handmade for every customer, young and old, regardless of budget. For the more budget-conscious collectors, smaller items such as hand-crafted ornaments at $5 and original wearable art are available for less than $100. For the savvy collector, one can invest in a piece of art by nationally-known artists that will appreciate in value for years to come. Come shop and be inspired!

The 55th Annual Exhibit & Sale begins today, November 26 and closes on Sunday, December 12. The sale hours are 10 am to 6 pm every day, and 10 am to 9 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Tonight is the collectors and artists reception from 6-9 pm. Additionally, the following Friday evenings feature “Café Nights” with musical entertainment and refreshments. Wesleyan Potters, Inc. at 350 South Main St. (route 17) in Middletown, CT November 26 – December 12 for a wonderful and joyous Holiday shopping experience! For more information call 860-347-5925 or on the web at www.wesleyanpotters.com.

BOWLAPALOOZA IS BACK

The third Wesleyan Potters “Bowlapalooza” will be held on Saturday, June 5 from 6-9 p.m. This family fun event, with a café like atmosphere, is back by popular demand. Local blues musician Kent Aldrich,returning as the featured artist, along with an eclectic floor show of other friends will be here to entertain for the evening. Bowlapalooza tickets are just $10 and entitle the holder to choose a one-of-a-kind, handmade treasure from the “Bowl or Palooza” table. Come early to get the best selection. Finger food and beverages will be served. The evening includes a silent auction with many gorgeous handcrafted items from Wesleyan Potters artisans as well as donations from community supporters. Special activities for children are planned. Children under 12 are admitted free. There are a limited number of tickets available. Call 860-347-5925 or email wesleyan.potters@snet.net to reserve tickets for the Bowlapalooza evening at the Pottery, 350 South Main Street (Rt.17), Middletown, CT. www.wesleyanpotters.com Doors open at 6 pm. All proceeds will benefit Wesleyan Potters -- a nonprofit educational cooperative

Wesleyan Potters Spring Festival and Sale

Buy Local: Wesleyan Potters

Post-Turkey Day Fun

Friday November 27:
The 54th Annual Wesleyan Potters Exhibit & Sale begins on this day at 10 a.m. Not sure if this work pictured on the left created by Priscilla Palumbo will be on sale but it's pretty to look out. Works by over 200 artists will be on display and on sale for the next several weeks and the show is truly a highlight of this (or any) Holiday season. To find out more, go online to www.wesleyanpotters.com/events.shtml or give at call at 860-347-5925. Regular hours are Thursday and Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. as well as Saturday through Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Middletown's "Holiday on Main Street" begins this weekend with a slew of events for people of all ages. During the early afternoon on Friday, there will be free Fun Train rides for the young ones while at 4 p.m., you can start taking free hayrides. At 5 p.m., Mayor Sebastian Giuliano heads down to the South Green to dedicate the new gazebo, to light the Christmas tree and to announce the "One Book, One Middletown" selection for 2010 (more on that in a later posting.) Joining him will be Ronald McDonald and Santa Claus with emcee Don DeCesare from WMRD & WLIS. At 6 p.m., there will be a parade heading to the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce office for the lighting of the second tree (atop the building.) That's not all - at 8:15, there's yet another Tree Lighting in front of Eli Cannon's Tap Room in the North End (a perfect time for hot chocolate and mulled cider, though, by this time, Santa and his helpers might prefer a Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome.) All these events are free - for more information, call 860-347-6924.

There are those people who say "If you can't come to Collinsville, Collinsville will come to you!" (I'm not at liberty to say who "those people" are.) The Buttonwood Tree heeds that call and presents a intriguing double bill at 7:30 p.m. Singer-songwriter Jason Krug bring his acoustic folk ensemble Citizen Spy to the performance space. Krug's recent electric endeavor, DayDrug, released a very fine CD last year - his songs are witty, sardonic, and makes one ponder on the foibles of everyday life (really.) Also on the bill is poet-author-essayist David Leff. I have his latest book, "Deep Travel", by my bedside and it's a fascinating true story of the author (and several companions) retracing Henry David Thoreau's trip on the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. The book pictured on the left, "The Last Undiscovered Place", is Leff's loving portrait of his adopted hometown (yes, it's Collinsville.) His book of prose-poems, "The Price of Water", was issued in 2008 by Antrim House Books. For more information about this event, go to www.buttonwood.org. Below is a piece from Leff's book of poems (printed courtesy of Antrim House.)

SPRING IN HELL’S KITCHEN

The dark stone canyon walls of Hell’s Kitchen are fractured horizontally, in cracks that grin and leer at hikers. Laurel clings to life on the precipitous ledges where plump mosses drip alongside the last fading tusks of winter ice. Water seeps invisibly through the jumbled rocks beneath the trail, briefly revealing itself as a sparkling stream and disappearing again. It echoes in rocky chambers, trickling and percolating in multiple voices. I bend and listen to the liquid speech suddenly joined by the melodic weet, weet, weet, weet, tsee, tsee of a flagrantly yellow warbler perched in the leafless brush like a light bulb. Other birdsong and the hum and buzz of insects will soon harmonize in an accidental orchestra prophesizing a season of the migrant, temporary, and intermittent.

***********************************************************************

Perhaps the only thing that can rouse you from your turkey leftovers is a healthy dose of "the Dead." You're in luck because Shakedown, "New England's Premier Grateful Dead Cover Band", returns to Boney's Music Lounge for several sets of Garcia/Lesh/Weir/Robert Hunter-inspired rock and soul (the quintet also plays music by The Meters, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and others.) They'll start "rocking the room" at 9 p.m. For more information, call 860-346-6000.

Continuing Journey for Father and Daughter Artists

The Continuing Journey, a father and daughter show at Wesleyan Potters Gallery in Middletown will feature monoprints by Kyle O’Neil and pottery by Gary O’Neil.

The exhibit, on view Oct. 7 to Nov. 8, is co-sponsored by the Middletown Commission on the Arts and Young Audiences Arts for Learning Connecticut/VSA arts. It is part of a three-year statewide initiative to provide opportunities for Connecticut artists with disabilities to showcase their work in the visual and performing arts.

Kyle, 23, was born with Down’s Syndrome. Her father Gary made a commitment to Kyle to encourage her to be the best she can be and has encouraged her exploration of all mediums from clay to paper.

Gary has been a ceramic artist for more than 30 years. He is a teacher at Washington Middle School in Meriden and a Wesleyan Potters faculty member. His approach to pottery reflects a marriage of form and function.

Kyle made her international artistic debut in Argentina in 2005 following successful exhibits of her monoprints in Connecticut. She was one of four artists on the National VSA arts Artist Registry who exhibited at the Exploring Possibilities conference hosted by YAC/VSA arts in 2007 in at the Green Street Arts Center in Middletown.

“It’s been a wonderful journey to see Kyle develop, mature, and enjoy art,” Gary says. “It has been so important for all of us in the family to stand by her and see her blossom in this way and we want to make sure that other people get to see her work and enjoy it as well.”

“It is a pleasure to support this wonderful exhibit of Kyle’s monoprints and her father’s ceramic art,” says Judith Mortensen, Young Audiences of CT- VSA arts program manager. “Through inclusive exhibits and performances such as The Continuing Journey at Wesleyan Potters, VSA arts raises community awareness and provides opportunities for people throughout the state to experience the arts created by artists with and without disabilities.”

An opening reception for The Continuing Journey will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wesleyan Potters Gallery, 350 South Main St., Middletown. For gallery hours and more information, call 860-347-5925 or online www.wesleyanpotters.com. For more information about VSA arts exhibits and programs in Connecticut, contact Judith Mortensen at 203-230-8101, ext. 15 or email jmortesen@yaconn.org.

Young Audiences Arts for Learning Connecticut is one of 33 nationwide chapters of Young Audiences, Inc. that make the arts an integral part of the lives of children in school and community settings. As an affiliate of VSA arts— an international nonprofit organization—Young Audiences seeks to create a society where all people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.

Connecticut artists with disabilities are invited to join the national VSA arts artist registry at www.vsarts.org.

Around Middletown in 80 Days – Day 16

Wesleyan Potters
350 South Main Street

Phileas calls home every day to talk to his family about all the wonderful sights he has visited in and around Middletown. Today, Phileas noted to his family that the Wesleyan Potters faculty show opened in the Gallery/Shop. He first stopped at the Pottery to tour the school and the studios. There he saw craftsmen with clay spinning on their wheels, students of all ages learning new crafts, and a room full of weaving looms. After the tour, Phileas visited the Gallery/Shop and enjoyed seeing all the beautiful work done by the Wesleyan Potters faculty. In the shop, he found one of the best selections of handmade gifts in the area, reminding him that he wants to bring unique gifts to his family upon his return home at the end of his trip. Happily, Phileas purchased a ceramic cup for his brother, Bartholomew, to have his afternoon tea. For Mom, Phileas found a hand woven tartan scarf in the pattern associated with her Scottish family, and for his sister, Emmaline, a silver necklace with a beautiful turquoise stone.

Opened in 1982, the Gallery/Shop exhibits and sells a constantly changing display of fine handcrafts by Wesleyan Potters members and especially talented outside craftspeople. The Wesleyan Potters Gallery Shop is open Wednesday to Friday 10 am – 6 pm and Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday’s noon to 4. The Faculty show runs through October 4.

www.wesleyanpotters.com

CT Open House

Wesleyan Potters and Green Street Arts are participating in Connecticut’s Open House Day, June 13. This Saturday, Connecticut residents have a unique opportunity to create their own in-state getaway during the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism’s annual Connecticut Open House Day.

From noon to 4 pm Wesleyan Potters, 350 South Main St., will be open for all to come in and try a craft. Demonstrations and free tours will be going on all afternoon. A small materials fee will apply for those wishing to make the jewelry project of the day or participate in a Raku firing. Free craft projects for children will be offered.

Visitors to The Green Street Street Art Center, 51 Green Street, from 1-4 pm can enjoy the annual free Arts Fest with performances and activities for all ages.

In addition to Wesleyan Potters and Green Street Arts, many of Connecticut’s attractions and tourism destinations, arts and cultural organizations, historic sites, shops and lodging properties will roll out the welcome mat to Connecticut residents with a variety of special incentives, such as discounted/free admission, free gifts and/or special exhibits and activities.
For the complete list of 2009 participating properties, go to CTvisit.com.

Photo credits: 2009 photos taken by Jody Brewer of Kira Eaton showing off a bracelet she made on Open House Day and Finished Raku Pots from the 2008 Open House Day.

In the Mosh Pit at Bowlapalooza

The annual Bowlapalooza fundraiser at Wesleyan Potters was a big success, with a large crowd and many bidders on unique and beautiful pieces of potter, jewelry and art.

Bowlapalooza at Wesleyan Potters Tomorrow

ARE YOU COMING TO BOWLAPALOOZA?

Friday, May 29 6-9 pm.

Please join us for food, drink, live music & silent auction.

Tickets are just $10 and with every ticket you take home a handcrafted item.

Children under 12 are free.

Come early for the best selection from the “Bowl” or “Palooza” table.

Let us know if you are planning on coming. We want to make sure we have enough Bowlapaloozas for everyone.

RSVP to this email or call the Pottery at 860-347-5925.

Hope to see you Friday night.

Eye M Shopping

In full disclosure, I work for Wesleyan Potters, but truly this is a fun day at the Pottery and is the one time of the year that you can get items on sale there...the artists will be selling their wares with slight flaws as well as perfect one of a kind items. If you are not shopped out after visiting the Pottery, I highly recommend the Middletown High School plant sale as well. Think plants for those pots you just purchased and later this summer..... imagine sliced home grown tomatoes on that gorgeous ceramic plate you got cheap at Wesleyan Potters.

'Tis the Season for Holiday Parties

Last night, I went to the holiday social for Creative Juice** at the sale at Wesleyan Potters. Over an assortment of spicy cheeses (including an innocent yellow cheddar that turned out to be flavored with horseradish), I chatted with friends and took in the art. Conversation ranged from the economy (of course) to everyone's plans for the coming year: leaving a familiar job to try grad school in a new field, brainstorming about ways to make Middletown hum, and daydreaming about chucking it all to travel around the world in search of inspiration. As we wandered among the windchimes and wooden toys, I was thinking about how our little creative community is growing into something both supportive and stimulating -- I'm counting my blessings.

While I was trying to help Barbara Arafeh pick out a vest suitable for conducting her Middletuners, I accidentally fell in love with a felted hat, which later followed me home.

Whatever your plans in this busy December, I hope everyone is taking the time to enjoy moments with family and/or friends.



**Creative Juice (which I mean to write more about someday) is a council of the Chamber of Commerce. The focus is on people in the arts and creative industries. It's a mix of for-profits and non-profits, of individuals and arts associations, and all kinds of mediums, from writers, actors, photographers, filmographers, desginers, etc. The above holiday invitation was designed by a new member of the group, Middletown graphic designer Carla Neri-Jayson.

Consider the Teapot

The always amazing Wesleyan Potters Annual Exhibit and Sale is in full swing until Saturday, Dec. 13th.

It's a great place for holiday gifts, including pottery, textiles, woodcraft, jewelry and more kinds of art than I can name.

The Pottery is at 350 South Main, and the hours are Thursday and Friday, 10:00 am - 9:00 pm and Saturday through Wednesday, 10:00 am - 8:00 pm.

Support your local artists!

Playing with fire

Submitted by Melissa Schilke.
Photo credit: Schilke

Teens at Wesleyan Potters are playing with fire. Karma and Maggie Masselli were making bracelets today in the Teen Jewelry class. They and the other teens in the class were hammering, soldering, twisting, and forming wire into a fabulous cuff bracelet. If you see them on the street, ask to see their new jewelry.

Wesleyan Potters at 350 South Main St., Middletown, has openings in other summer youth classes offered in July. Creative Crafts for grades 1 & 2 & 3 meets mornings, July 14-17. Tuition: $44. Mixed Media Sculpture for grades 5-8, meets mornings, July 22, 24, 29 and 31. This class will fulfill requirements for scouting badges but will be enjoyed by both scouts and non-scouts. Tuition: $82. Teen/Beading & Jewelry is offered for grades 6-12, afternoons July 7-10. Tuition: $82 plus a materials fee of $20. www.wesleyanpotters.com for complete listings or call the Wesleyan Potters office for more information or to register, 860-347-5925.