Proud Potters
SAXONBURG — Decorative vegetable plaques, unique tableware — even a sculpture of a rabbit riding a donkey — can be found this month at the Saxonburg Area Artists Co-op gallery on Main Street.
The gallery will kick off the monthlong show "Setting the Table: Contemporary Ceramics Dines In" with an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
The show and sale will feature the work of 25 potters from Western Pennsylvania, each submitting multiple pieces.
"We have wood-fire pieces, salt-fire pieces, stoneware, raku and majolica," said Christy Culp, a potter and co-op member largely responsible for coordinating the show.
"It's all functional other than the sculptures," she added, noting such ornamental items might serve as conversation pieces for the table.
Items are priced anywhere from $8 for a small trivet to $425 for an elaborate platter adorned with a goldfish.
The artwork has been trickling in, much of it by mail, since Culp began soliciting for contributions. She began approaching potters she knew last spring, but in July sent invitations to various artist guilds as well as through the Western Pennsylvania Pottery Blog.
"It's amazing how many potters there are in our area," Culp said, noting the contributors represent just a fraction of potters in the area.
A precursor to the town's arts festival Sept. 11 and 12, the pottery show is the third visiting artist event hosted since the gallery opened in November. Previous shows included high school artists in March and one in May featuring underwater photography.
"These visiting artist shows are really important," said Sam Andrew of Tarentum, a founder of the co-op. "They bring people here that normally wouldn't come here."
Andrew, one of many art teachers or retired art teachers in the co-op, founded the group with fellow metal artist David Henschel of Cabot.The co-op itself includes 14 artists whose work is exhibited year-round in the gallery."We only allow two artists per medium: That way we don't have competition between us, and that way we don't have a gallery full of painters," Culp said. Mediums represented include jewelry, sculpture, stained glass, photography, painting, fiber arts and more.With limited space in the gallery, the co-op has capped membership at 15. Andrew hopes the one open spot will be filled by a print maker, since none currently belong to the group.To keep the gallery afloat, members pay dues as well as take turns working in the gallery, which is open Thursdays through Saturdays year-round.Andrew said he initially was skeptical as to whether the co-op would thrive, but his fears so far are unfounded."I'm tickled to death," he said. "I thought we'd open in November, it would be a lot of fun and by February we'd all be back home. But much to my surprise and pleasure, the support has been overwhelming.""Almost all our artists have gotten commissions out of the gallery," Henschel added.In addition to regular store hours, the co-op will make appointments to host show-and-tell artist talks for groups on-site or in the community."We call it takeout art," Andrew said.But up until Wednesday, pottery was still being delivered to the gallery, where Culp was unwrapping the unique wares for display through Oct. 2."It's like opening Christmas presents," Henschel said.Culp agreed, drawing a comparison between anticipating opening gifts and the outcome of making art."It's almost as good as opening your own kiln," she said.
<B>WHAT:</B> Setting the Table: Contemporary Ceramics Dines In<B>WHEN:</B> The show and sale begins with a wine and cheese reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, then continues through Oct. 2. Gallery hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 1 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays. Hours will be extended Sept. 11 and 12 during the Saxonburg Arts Festival.<B>WHERE:</B> SAAC Gallery, 215 Main St., Saxonburg, behind the Head Shed barbershop<B>INFO:</B> Call 412-849-4648, 412-260-5779 or 724-352-1795 or send an email to artistsco-op@att.net.
