At the start of festival and market season in Charlotte, the Mint offers up a uniquely North Carolina shopping experience.
by Sharon Smith
I’m a sucker for pottery. I took my first trip to Seagrove decades ago with a friend and her mom, and still treasure my first pottery purchases from that day. The North Carolina hamlet is home to some of the best potters in the world. It’s a worthwhile two-hour drive from Charlotte any time of year.
But Potters Market at the Mint is right down the road. Each September, this one-day sale on the lawn of Mint Museum Randolph brings together more than 50 of North Carolina’s top ceramic artists. Within my first few steps under the big tent last year, I was immediately taken with Penland School of Craft resident artist Daniel Garver’s bright, modern ceramics — and bonus, we had a nice conversation about his methods and first trip to Potters Market.
That’s part of the draw. Pottery is the main attraction — from useful, modern wares to kitschy, whimsical display pieces — but there’s also community. Talk with a potter, enjoy some bluegrass, watch a demo at the potter’s wheel. There’s even a beer garden.
And yes, there’s a good showing of artists from Seagrove. You can meet famed potter Ben Owen III, of the Owen pottery dynasty. He’s a big supporter of the event, which is now a 20-year tradition for potters and collectors alike. SP
Get a head start on bringing home that perfect piece. There’s a VIP Potters Party Friday evening, Sept. 26. Preview party tickets are $200 each. General admission tickets on Saturday, Sept. 27, are $25. Details at pottersmarketatthemint.com.
Photograph courtesy Reiko Miyagi, @studiotabularasa
