Georgia Pottery Invitational returns to Oconee County for 21st annual exhibit, classes
Nearly 50 of the top potters throughout Georgia will display their art starting Friday at the 21st annual Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational at the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation.
The exhibition at 34 School St. in Watkinsville will run Aug. 25 through Sept. 10 with several events throughout the 17 days.
At the exhibition, more than 8,000 pieces of pottery will be for sale by Georgia ceramic artists. Bringing together hundreds of artists, collectors, patrons, and art lovers, this annual event is considered to be the largest pottery show in the state, according to Explore Georgia.
A preview sale will take place from 5-8 p.m. Friday to give shoppers exclusive access to the pieces before they are released for public sale. To secure a spot at the preview, tickets can be bought at ocaf.com for $20.
Throughout the invitational, works of trompe l’oeil from naturalist sculptor Sandy Culp will be showcased in the Hall Gallery. This includes a fruit inspired piece titled Cantaloupe that combines precise realism with illusion.
“I am not a production artist and pride myself on my love for and attention to detail that transform into intentionally stylized and/or extreme realism depending on my desired effect,” said Culp when describing her sculptures.
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The exhibition turns hands-on opening weekend with a two-day workshop led by Georgia potter and art educator Martha Cook. Demonstrating both pottery wheel and hand building techniques, Cook will teach participants how to form and decorate various containers such as vases and baking dishes. Spots for Cook’s class can be reserved on OCAF’s website.
As a facet of Pottery Perspectives for the past two decades, the event will also honor OCAF’s original founders Kathy Chappelle and her late husband Jerry. The Chappelle's are known not only for their work with Pottery Perspectives, but also for their contributions to the art landscape throughout northeast Georgia.
Established in 1994 by the Chapelle’s, OCAF promotes the arts and helps to provide art education within Oconee County and beyond. For pottery aficionados looking to get more involved, volunteer spots with OCAF are still available for the event.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational returns to Watkinsville
