A vessel made by ceramic artist Shadow May.
Blacksmith Ken Gould will kick off Tennessee Craft Week at the Artisan Depot Gallery in Cowan, Tenn., with a demonstration of chase and repousse techniques from noon to 3 p.m. CDT Saturday, Oct. 8.What better way to show visitors to our state the talent of local artists than to catch their attention as soon as they cross the state line?
As part of Tennessee Craft Week, area craftsmen will be demonstrating their art inside welcome centers located on I-75 and I-24 between Friday, Oct. 7, and Oct. 16. Additionally, four artists have been selected by Tennessee Craft to be featured in next week’s promotions. Chattanooga ceramics sculptor/potter Shadow May is one of them.
May, who has been working in clay for more than 20 years, says his studio will be open to visitors Monday-Friday, Oct. 10-14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of Tennessee Craft Week.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by Tennessee Craft. I’ve been a member and exhibiting for 10-plus years or so. There are so many skilled artists/craftsmen in Tennessee, and I am only one. We inspire each other,” says May of his recognition.
Tennessee Craft is the statewide nonprofit that is dedicated to helping train craft artists, celebrate and promote the work they do and remind Tennesseans of the economic impact the craft industry has in Tennessee, says Laurie Davis, spokeswoman for Tennessee Craft. Tennessee Craft was formerly known as TACA, the acronym for Tennessee Association of Craft Artists.
“Tennessee Craft Week was developed last year as a way to celebrate all craft in Tennessee,” says Davis. “By having a weeklong celebration, we can put the focus on a lot of events in a short amount of time. We want to embody what Tennessee craft is all about: the people making art.”
Tennessee Craft has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Tourism this year during Tennessee Craft Week.
“Craft Week goes hand-in-hand with the ‘Made in Tennessee’ campaign,” explains Davis. “More than 13 million people visit Tennessee welcome centers annually. The public is invited to stop at a Tennessee welcome center to experience a piece of Americana that is ‘Made in Tennessee.'”
Chattanooga Workspace Gallery will hold a Tennessee Craft Week kickoff exhibition in its gallery, 302 W. Sixth St., on Friday, Oct. 7, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This show will feature the work of artists from eight area counties who are members of Tennessee Craft-Southeast, the local division of the statewide organization.
Artists waiting to welcome tourists to Tennessee at welcome centers are:
* Friday, Oct. 7: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Tennessee Welcome Center I-75, Hamilton County. Olive Durant demonstrates the art of marbling on cloth.
* Saturday, Oct. 8: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Tennessee Welcome Center I-24, Marion County. Catherine Norrell demonstrates book binding.
* Sunday, Oct. 16: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Tennessee Welcome Center I-24, Tiftonia. Meredith Burns demonstrates silversmithing.
Other working demonstrations during Tennessee Craft Week include:
* Saturday, Oct. 8: Artisan Depot, 201 E. Cumberland St., Cowan, Tenn., noon-3 p.m., blacksmith Ken Gould demonstrates chase and repousse, sponsored by Franklin County Arts Guild.
* Saturday, Oct. 15: Artisan Depot, 201 E. Cumberland St., noon demonstration of puppet dolls by Alida Morgan; 2 p.m. demonstration of fairy dish gardens by Margie Gallagher, sponsored by Franklin County Arts Guild.
* Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 15-16: Ketner’s Mill Country Fair, Powell’s Crossroads, Tenn., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6184.