It's the next two weekends
I'm really excited about the Chatham County Artists Guild Studio Tour this weekend December 1st and 2nd and next weekend December 8th and 9th. My husband and I have been going for the past several years and look forward to seeing the work of our favorite artists in their studios and also meeting and seeing the work of new to the tour artists. There are over 50 artists on the tour so it's kind of overwhelming to try and see them all.
On Friday night November 30th from 7-9 there is a free to the public artists reception at the Pittsboro campus of the Central Carolina community college. This is a juried show and the winners will be announced at 8PM.
I'll tell you about our favorite artists but be sure to check out what looks interesting to you. Art is personal and that'd what makes it so much fun. We tend to skip around on the tour so use the map to plan your route.
Our first stop will be at Siglinds Scarpa's studio, The Goathouse Gallery.
Siglinda Scarpa
The Goathouse Gallery
680 Alton Alston Rd
Pittsboro, 919.542.6815
www.SiglindaScarpa.com
clay & mixed media
This is a picture of her studio minus the beautiful tame peacock that's usually in the yard. However we did get a picture of one of her goats.
Siglinda does beautiful terra cotta cooking pots and platters that are meant to be used in the oven but are so beautifully decorated you might think twice. Please visit her web site to see examples of her work. She also makes exquisite tea pots. We bought a beautiful small tea pot with oak leaves and acorns on the handle and a little toad for the stopper a couple of years ago but haven't used it for tea because I like it so much I'm afraid it will go flying up in the air if I touch it.
Usually Siglinds serves some wonderful Italian dish that she has cooked in one of her special pots and had hot cider.
Next we'll stop by Rusty Sieck's studio.
Rusty Sieck
Chicken Bridge Pottery
1469 Chicken Bridge Rd,
Pittsboro, 919.545.2077
www.ChickenBridgePottery.com
clay, stoneware & porcelain
We have several of Rusty's pieces and have given his work as gifts. Last year there was a line out the door of people waiting to buy so get there early. I'm not sure if he keeps things back to add as things sell so you might want to check about that.
My favorite stop for Xmas gifts is Norma Hawthorne's home/studio. Here is a picture of Norma and an artist friend. Norma and her husband built a really cool home a few years ago. It's stucco, passive solar with finished concrete floors. they have a wonderful country view.
110 Blue Heron Farm Rd. Pittsboro
919.274.6194
normahawthorne@mac.comShe makes interesting jewelry with gemstones, pearls, gold and silver and features Diachronic glass in some of her pieces.
Her knitted scarves, hats and other pieces feature combinations of natural fibers and are beautiful and unusual. I usually buy quite a bit then decide what I want to keep and what to gives as gifts when I get home. It's hard to give anything away.
We really enjoy Forest Greenslades ,Forest Dwellers Sculpture Garden
149 Tinderwood
Fearrington Village
919.545.9743
website: www.forrestgreenslade.com
Another favorite potter is Mark Hewitt. Mark is pretty famous and his work goes quickly. We have a few of his pieces but my favorites are the huge jars and pots. If we ever get around to building a new house we'll buy a couple of big pots for the front porch.
424 Johnny Burke Road
Pittsboro
919.542.2371
Salt glazed and alkaline-glazed stoneware
Just down the street from Mark is Rita Baldwin of Hanks Chapel Orchids so be sure and stop by and take a look at her work and say hello.
2698 Hanks Chapel Road
Pittsboro
919.542.6076
email:rita@emji.net
There are so many more artists to see so plan on taking a day or two. Let me know what you like best.
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