|
By Jessica Richardson
Staff Writer Leon Nichols, right, was the featured potter. He uses a blow torch to ‘stiffen’ pieces before joining them. “That’s cool!” said one girl to her friend, while both of the girls’ eyes were glued to the fiery demonstration before them, featured potter Leon Nichols’ with a blazing torch in hand, heating a large pot on his wheel.Nichols demonstration was among many draws to Dillsboro this past Saturday for the third annual Western North Carolina Pottery Festival, which drew a large number of locals and visitors to Dillsboro to enjoy the ageold craft and to take a few treasures home. Potter Kathey Veverka, from Knoxville, Tenn. uses floral designs on a variety of pots. Nichols was the featured artist at the festival, which drew thousands to a festival that continues to grow. Attendance at this juried event exceeded projections the first two years, and organizer Joe Frank McKee said attendance at the festival met expectations and the event went very well.Nichols has been working with clay since 1970 and built his first potters wheel and kiln while studying at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. Both children and adults alike were awed at Nichol’s technique of throwing large pots, decorating them and drying them with a torch. Nichols said he uses the torching technique to stiffen the clay after he throws a section of the pot, so that he can mold the two parts together more easily. Richard Burckett uses a textured glaze to get the dramatic effect on the pots above. Nichols now teaches “Making Big Pots” at John C. Campbell Folk School and was among the many potters who held demonstrations of their craft throughout the day.A total of 36 potters from seven states demonstrated and displayed their work. Rusty Owens, an SCC ceramics student, uses an age-old technique and paints on each pot. Tony Holman, of Holman Pottery in Plano, Tex., was the featured artist last year. He demonstrated the makings of very small pots, and even offered to make one the size of a young boy’s thumbnail. Holman said the festival is well worth the trip from Texas.A variety of styles and techniques were on display and most of those who went to the show didn’t leave empty handed. Local potters Brant Barnes of Riverwood Pottery and Joe Frank McKee and Travis Berning of Tree House Pottery brought the festival to the area. “I thought it went over pretty well, especially our potters from Illinois and Ohio,” said McKee. “We had 14 new vendors. There will be new vendors every year.” The festival is always the first Saturday of November. The $2 admission this year was to fund the future festivals.
(click here for the full photo gallery) |
