Cousin Fred

From Fred's artist statement:

My origins in clay are rooted in the southern folk pottery traditions of North Carolina. Growing up in the rural south has given me access to its colorful history and characters, which serves as a catalyst for ideas. Yet my work also draws from many cultures: Greek, Korean, Chinese, Pre-Columbian, European and Mimbres. The idea of dipping my ladle in many historical and cultural wellsprings is an adventure, my journey.

I question how I can extend the tradition of pottery. What can I contribute? I am not interested in pots that are mindless, shallow imitations and replications of the past. I believe in the idea of cross-fertilization and playfulness. The mixing and matching of different cultures, motifs and art styles are fertile ground, a place to cultivate.

Cousin Carol

Carol Gentithes

From Carol's artist statement:

To me, art is a visual language. The origins of my artistic language emanate from life's experiences, readings of literature and mythology, and visual interpretations of art history. Often this language focuses on the absurdity, the unpredictability and the unruliness of life. Like a classical language, the vocabulary that I create has many layers of meaning. I leave it with the viewers to derive their personal interpretations.

"Back from Extinction"

"Golden Goose"

"Transformations"

Carol is a new "cousin in clay" this year along with her partner, Fred Johnston. Both will be showing at their Johnston and Gentithes Art Pottery show room in "downtown" Seagrove, the weekend of the 5th and 6th of June at the 2nd Annual Cousins in Clay Show and Sale! Their guest this year will be Allison McGowan.

Cousin Michael

Michael Kline will be showing and selling his work at Bulldog Pottery on June 5 and 6 in Seagrove, NC. He fires his work by using wood for his fuel in a small mountain town called Bakersville located near the famed art and craft school called Penland. He has a wonderful touch with clay and creates graceful vine grass reed patterns with the brush on his pottery. You can view some of his techniques on You Tube. Follow and read Michael's famed blog called Sawdust and Dirt and read about the news from his pottery shop. Michael's work belongs in every one's collection as his pots are ones that are wonderful to use as well as to put on display for their artistic merit. He shows his work across the country and has a show up presently in Massachusetts at the Artisan Gallery with his neighbors Michael Hunt and Naomi Dalglish called "As the Crow Flies".

Cousin Samantha

Samantha Henneke born September 26, 1970 in Tallahassee, Fla.

From an interview on the blog, The Mudbucket, on when Samantha caught the pottery "bug":

Yes I remember very clearly. When I went to Virginia Tech I was trying to find what I was interested in doing for my “career” in life. My folks always said every semester take a class that I really enjoyed. I signed up for an art class every semester and figured I might as well get a minor in art. I needed another semester's credit and went to the sculpture class. Apparently it was full, but I was told to check out the pottery class next door. To tell you the truth I was not that enthused about taking a pottery class, but there was room and I needed the art credit. Funny to think that this pottery art class would end up being my “soul” focus in life.

Samantha transferred from Virginia Tech to the NY State College of Ceramics at Alfred University where she met her partner, Bruce Gohlson and completed her BFA in 1995.
In 1997 Samantha and Bruce moved to Seagrove, NC to set up their Bulldog Pottery.




Again from the Mudbucket interviews,

I really like to work on my glaze paintings. I focus my compositions on the insect, and recently I have started to add a bit more fantasy narrative and figurative imagery into the work. Soon we will set up a painting studio and I plan to work out more ideas on paper.

For the complete (Mud)Bucket interview click here!