SEAGROVE GRANTS POTTERS PERMIT
FOR INAUGURAL EVENT
For immediate release
June 28, 2008
SEAGROVE, NC - A group of more than 50 potters is enthusiastic about creating its premier pottery event after the town council voted Friday to give them a permit to hold a festival in a historic Seagrove landmark. The Celebration of Seagrove Potters is set for the weekend of Nov. 22.
So far, more than 50 of the 90-some pottery shops that dot the rural countryside of Randolph, Moore and Montgomery counties will share their talent with the public. The Seagrove area potters will sell and demonstrate inside the former Luck's Beans plant on NC 705, known as Pottery Highway.
"We're excited," said Michael Mahan, publicity chair of the event, Celebration of Seagrove Potters. "This is the most excited I've seen the potters, with so many of us focused on working together."
Event chairperson and potter Ben Owen III and Darius Luck, plant manager at the Luck's Beans factory in Seagrove, recently showed potters where they could hold their new show. About 50 potters toured the 25,000-square-foot facility Thursday, and raved over the natural lighting and spaciousness.
The Seagrove area is world-famous for its rich continuing history of pottery making.
While known for its pottery, Seagrove also has a tradition in canning beans. Mountainview Cannery was created in the late 1940s by Ivey B. Luck, Alfred Spencer and H. Clay Presnell. Spencer and Presnell sold out to Luck and the establishment became Luck's.
The plant was bought by ConAgra in 2000 but closed down and later sold to its current owner, Seagrove Foods.
Owen said the plant and surrounding grounds has enough space for a large turnout, and there is ample parking for festival-goers. Booth space for potters could be as large as 20 x 20 feet, with plenty of space for milling about.
"We estimate we have 500 parking spaces," Owen told the town of Seagrove Friday.
Owen said his group plans to have a "hands-on" festival "where visitors can get some clay under their fingernails." Potters will also be demonstrating on the potter's wheel throughout this special weekend.
The town council also voted to give a permit to the Museum of NC Traditional Pottery to hold their annual Seagrove Pottery Festival on the weekend of Nov. 22. The museum group has hosted their festival for the past 26 years at the Seagrove Elementary School.
"THE CELEBRATION OF SEAGROVE POTTERS IS A TIMELY MULTI-POTTER EVENT DESIGNED TO REVITALIZE THE PUBLIC'S CONNECTION WITH THE LIVES OF HARDWORKING POTTERS IN WAYS THAT HONOR THE PAST, LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND CHALLENGE ALL TO ACT IN THE PRESENT." -- Ben Owen III
For more information about the Celebration of Seagrove Potters:
website: http://www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com
email: publicity@celebrationofseagrovepotters.com
pictures: http://www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com/press/
Ben Owen III (Chair) 336-879-2262
Michael Mahan (Publicity) 910-464-6228
Darius Luck
Fred Beane
Inside one of the warehouses
Darius Luck (L) takes potters on tour
Darius Luck (L) and Ben Owen III survey the parking area
