If you were among the more than 70 guests who attended Jonathan Clancy’s lecture here at Craftsman Farms on Saturday, April 4, you may be interested in knowing more about the topic of American Art Pottery. Dr. Clancy, lecturer in American Fine & Decorative Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, will be giving a seminar at the upcoming American Art Pottery Association’s convention later this month. He is co-author with Dr. Eidelberg of Beauty in Common Things, American Arts and Crafts Pottery from the Two Red Roses Foundation and he will give an overview of the Foundation’s collection, its significant pieces, and research discoveries.
Clancy’s seminar is one of three to be offered at the AAPA’s 29th annual convention in Philadelphia on April 22 – 26, 2009. The convention will be headquartered at the Sheraton Bucks County Hotel in Langhorne, Pennsylvania (located near I-95 and Route 1) and will feature tours, seminars, and educational exhibits.
The keynote presentation at the annual reception and banquet on the evening of April 22nd will be given by Dr. Martin Eidelberg, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Rutgers University and noted author on American ceramics and glass. His topic will be Arts and Crafts Pottery: What’s In A Name?
Suzanne Perrault, tile expert, author, Craftsman Auctions partner, and Antiques Roadshow appraiser, will lead a seminar on collecting, discussing why it doesn’t have to be big, expensive, or a superstar to be worthy of collecting. Unusual and noteworthy objects can come in unassuming packages.
Prominent contemporary potters Paul Katrich (Katrich Studios), Scott Draves (Door Pottery), Eric Olsen (Common Ground Pottery), and Chris Powell (Chris Powell Pottery) will share insights about their work and the future of art pottery.
The convention will also include an art pottery auction, featuring several hundred lots of vintage and contemporary art pottery, to be held Friday, April 24th at 5:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast, with a preview at 3:30 p.m. The auction will be conducted by Greg Belhorn of Belhorn Auction Services, LLC.
The country’s greatest two-day pottery show and sale, featuring more than fifty pottery dealers will be held at the headquarters hotel on Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th. A special exhibit will accompany the show and will feature American Arts & Crafts pottery from the Two Red Roses Foundation collection. Registered members are offered a private viewing and sale on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 12 noon followed by the general public from noon – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6.00 per person for non-convention registered members and the general public. Activities scheduled as part of the show include hourly prizes and “Booth Chats” on both days, plus a pottery ID table on Sunday.
The 2009 convention also features two tours. On Wednesday, April 22 we will welcome the group for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. This event is already sold out.
The Thursday, April 23rd bus tour will include a private viewing of the Gordon collection of Rookwood pottery at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. After lunch at the museum, attendees will have free time to explore the museum, featuring separate special exhibits on Cezanne, Matisse, and 20th century Japanese crafts, or walk to nearby Fairmount Park and enjoy landmarks such as the Fairmount Waterworks and Boathouse Row.
Various convention attendance packages and day rates are available. All events are open to the public. For more information, visit AAPA. For more information contact our good friend, Arnie Small, President of American Art Pottery Association at PotsInACNJ@aol.com
