ST. PETERSBURG — An opening reception for the Contemporary Woodfire Potters of Georgia exhibition will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, 5 to 9 p.m., at the Morean Center for Clay, in the Warehouse Arts District at 420 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg.
This exhibition features a touring group of 11 traditional woodfire ceramic artists. This showcase brings long-overdue attention to Georgia’s vibrant wood-firing tradition, highlighting a multigenerational collective of artists. The artist collective spans through folk pottery lineages, Japanese kiln traditions, and contemporary ceramic artistry — united by a shared devotion to the centuries-old craft of wood-firing.
The group represented in this exhibition includes some of the most influential names in Southern pottery, among them legacy potters with more than 30 years of firing experience, such as Roger Jamison, Geoff Pickett, Jon Brinley, and Allen Gee, as well as studio innovators including Stephen Hawks, and Ron Meyers. Equally central to the movement are the next generation of fire chiefs and apprentices — Rebecca Wood, Kyle Jones, and Liz Bloodgood — and a rising cohort of nationally recognized ceramic artists including, Linda Suskin, Kimberly Shelton and Joel Huff.
“Wood-firing remains deeply rooted in Georgia’s cultural landscape,” said Joel Huff, a ceramic artist. “Potters often travel great distances and work through the night to participate in firings that range from short, traditional folk sessions — echoing the iconic Meaders, Gordy, and Hewell families — to multi-day Anagama and Naborigama firings inspired by the traditional Japanese practices.”
With kiln sites spread across small rural communities in Juliette, Farmington (Pickett’s Pottery), Midland (County Line Art Farm), Greenville (Primrose Flattop), Rabun Gap (Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts), Comer, and beyond, this set of artists is sure to inspire.
The exhibition is free and open to the public from Wednesday to Saturday,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be on view Sept. 12 through Oct. 3.
Visit www.MoreanArtsCenter.org for more information.