Whistle Creek: First Saturday In June

Sunday, June 7, 2015

First Saturday In June

Every first Saturday in June it's time for the Augusta Ky. art guild to put on their annual show. It sits along the banks of the Ohio River, there is a ferry across the river, and the street is lined with big old houses with beautiful gardens. It is one of the most scenic shows I know of. I did the show for several years but it was a lot of effort. It is a long drive so I had to leave home before 5:30 AM and didn't get home til after 8 PM. Some years I did OK, some years I didn't but I did make friends with some of the other vendors so I still like to drive down and visit. Art shows are so much nicer when you can leave home at 10 , not set up and knock down a booth, and come home when you want to !

Rob Weigartner selling some jewelry

My friend Toby ( left) acting like her sister is buying something

Quickest way to get to Ohio

The whole street is pretty much like this.

Lots of music

Trish McLennan ( in apron) does nice image transfer decorated pottery.
She had a crowd every time I passed her booth.

I remember this guy's last name was Denham.
I think he had a booth just for busking
He was doing some nice old tunes.

3 comments:

Linda StarrJune 7, 2015 at 9:43 AM
what a beautiful spot for a fair and nice weather too
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AnonymousJune 7, 2015 at 9:45 AM
Thanks for the shout out, Dennis. This is always my favorite show, because there are no bad spots, Everyone is level, and everyone has shade. The crowds came this year and for the most part were in a buying mood! It is always easier on the back! Did Trish show you her portraits. I asked her to publish on FB but she refused! Toby
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Michèle HastingsJune 7, 2015 at 2:03 PM
Charming town! Sometimes it's great to be on the other side of the table.
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Why Whistle Creek

Whistle Creek is near the area where my ancestors settled in East Tennessee. It is about 6 miles west of I-75 and 8 miles south of Jellico.At various times the land was claimed by England, France, Spain, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky,Tennessee, the Union,the Confederacy, and the Cherokee.My family was there around 1800 and possibly before.My brothers and I still own the top of the mountain and it is still very rough country. I named my studio Whistle Creek in memory of the Allens who scraped their living from the earth and managed to keep it for two hundred years.

Bricks,Bricks, Bricks

I have two loads of kiln brick at home and one more to go. Weather permitting I will get some help from my newly retired brother and haul the rest home next week. I'm still early in the planning stages for the kiln. I haven't decided yet whether to make the firebox perpendicular to the arch a la John Theis managama and groundhog kilns or to place it parallel to the axis of the arch. I do know that with #2 three inch arch brick It will be a 3"6" sprung arch on top of low walls with a sunken firebox. If i can find a saw that will cut 41/2" I can rip some of the arch brick to fill in the ends of the courses and use the arch brick on edge to make 9" thick walls. Any input appreciated.

The Pitcher and the Nun

Yesterday a couple of sweet elderly ladies came into my booth and fell in love with the pitcher from the last woodfiring. (See last Blog entry) They said they wanted to give it as a wedding gift, then they said the fatal words-" Do you take Mastercard? " I replied-" No, but I want this piece to go to a good home and I believe that if I send it home with you, you will send me a check." They agreed and we exchanged info. It turned out they were nuns.Instead of mailing me a check, they brought back a check and some homemade candy a couple of hours later.It was nice to make the sale, but even nicer to send out a little faith in mankind and have a good deed returned.

Ohio Slip

More Spring Fair Prep....

Today was spent loading a bisque kiln with pots I have been throwing the last few weeks.They are made with a really nice red clay that a friend sold me when I couldn't get earthen red at Highwater. I should be able to glaze Monday and fire the whole load again next week. This is the only clay that I fire in the electric kilns but it gives a look that a lot of people like and I can fire economically. This plus pots on hand and pots I have been glazing for the gas kiln should be plenty for spring fair so now I can concentrate on the booth.

Spring Fair

The main project of the week was to try to finish throwing a batch of red clay that I have been working on so I can get the pots fired and glazed for the big Spring Fair sale that the Clay Alliance is holding on May 2. This is the big annual sales event for the club and I am very happly to be included this year but I do feel a little pressure to up my game and have a booth that doesn't look like a yard sale. Once I get the pots fired, I will have to spend some time focusing on display space and building some nice shelving. The sale is 11 to 4 at the corner of Madison and Woodburn ( DeSales Corner) Just take 71 to Edwards rd., Edwards to Madison, Right on Madison and you will be there in a few minutes. You will have a great time and get to meet 40 of the best potters and ceramicists in the region. More info at http://www.clayalliance.org/.

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