Macon Art Alliance’s pottery exhibit and sale begins today
The most unusual thing about Macon Art Alliance’s 2020 “Fired Works” pottery exhibit and sale is you can actually go to it.
Or, if you’d rather, you can view and purchase the same items online at www.maconarts.org/shop and pick them up later. The event is is scheduled from June 12-18.
“Fired Works” is the first of Macon’s high profile cultural events to resurface live and in-person following all the shut-downs, cancellations and postponements resulting from COVID-19 sheltering in place and social distancing restrictions which are now easing.
Still, of course, there are changes from previous years.
“We’re doing everything possible to keep those who come safe while at the same time providing an alternative for those not comfortable coming in person – everyone can take part,” said Julie Wilkerson, Art Alliance executive director.
Wilkerson said the obvious twist is those coming in person will be asked to keep their social distance. She said display tables will be spaced appropriately, there will be markers at checkouts to help with distancing and hand sanitizer will be all around. While masks aren’t required, they are encouraged and a limited supply kept on-site if needed while they last.
“The Round Building at Central City Park (renamed Carolyn Crayton Park days ago) is a beautiful place and the perfect spot especially for this year,” Wilkerson said. “We can open it up for natural ventilation so that’s a big help right there. Even though we average several thousand people coming annually, at any given time there’s rarely more than 10 percent capacity in the building so that should work fine for us, too. Despite everything, we’re hoping for a really good year all the way around.”
All the way around means good that those who love pottery, the show and are ready to get out and re-socialize with limitations can enjoy it and take home beautiful things. Plus, good for the potter-artists who depend on show sales for a big part of their annual income and have been at a standstill sales-wise of late, though Wilkerson said many have been extra productive while sheltering.
And good for the Art Alliance and its work.
“I’m especially hopeful we can do well for our artists who really, really can use the sales,” she said. “The majority of profits go to them. We mainly just cover costs with the bulk of what we make for our own programs coming through our ‘Fired Works’ sponsors who, by the way, I am so grateful for. They’ve stuck with us even though the year has been so crazy. Farm Bureau of Georgia is the premier sponsor.”
Wilkerson said $70,000 to $80,000 typically comes in through art sales with 65 percent going to potters.
A big change this year from last is how the opening preview was handled Thursday. It usually draws hundreds all at once to the Round Building for food, drinks and a preview along with the chance to be first in line to buy. This year, the event was virtual-only as a preview with the first chance to buy online.
Those who shop and buy online throughout the exhibit have the option of coming to the park and picking up their items curbside during exhibit hours or waiting and getting them curbside the following week at the Art Alliance’s gallery at 486 First St.
Though postponed from its usual time in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, Wilkerson said most scheduled artists were able to make the show.
“We had 55 scheduled and 40 will still be here,” she said. “They’ll each bring from 50 to 150 pieces so there’s no shortage whether someone’s after decorative or functional pieces, all beautiful.”
“Fired Works” is Georgia’s largest such exhibit and one of the largest in the southeast.
This year’s featured potter is Holly Polich. On June 16 at 11 a.m., Mary Pinson will demonstrate how to create unique flower arrangements in pieces from the show.
“There’s always been a great love of pottery, fired clay and ceramic work here in Middle Georgia both for its usefulness and its beauty,” Wilkerson said. “I guess a lot of that has to do with where we sit and the availability of clay and kaolin. Central Georgia has a strong link to the evolution of its use. If anyone has been to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park they’ve seen examples going way back. I believe the oldest piece of pottery discovered in North America is from this area. We have our fingers crossed plenty of people this year will get out and come see what our artists are bringing or have a good look online and support them and benefit from the fabulous work they’ve done.”
Wilkerson said she’s aware many organizations have their eye on the show to see how it goes. She said the response to having the exhibit at this time has been overwhelmingly positive with negative feedback almost nil.
“We’ll see when we open, but we’ve had a good response ahead of time,” she said. “We are being very careful. We’ve taken extra time and effort to do all we can for safety – some of the time and effort we’d usually spend on the live preview. This time we’ve even sent information to artists about how to be safe and arranged their check-in for safety, too. I think we’re in good shape. If anyone is feeling ill or showing symptoms we do ask they stay home and look around on our website and not here.”
Of note regarding other re-emergings, Brad Evans of the Society Garden on Ingleside Avenue said all has gone well at the outdoor beer garden and music venue for their first week of reopening with limited capacity and hours. If going, get an eyeful of their fairly spectacular new Little Richard memorial mural. Also, another Macon cultural mainstay, Rock Candy Tours, has restarted weekly music history tours.
And remember, noon today is the deadline to vote for either Bailey Grace or Blane Dunnam who duked it out musically during a live online event from Mercer’s Capricorn Studios Wednesday in the final round of 478 Sings United, a $1 a vote United Way of Central Georgia fundraiser for COVID-19 relief that has already raised $73,000-plus.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
For further information, see:
www.facebook.com/maconartsalliance