Often run as a supplementary business by farmers, their rural pottery “stands” not only supported the needs of their nearby communities but were also strategically placed along developing highways to attract tourists and collectors seeking their “folk art wares.”

This elevation from functional ware to folk art will be celebrated in this year’s 11th Annual Pottery and Antiques Festival to be held on Saturday, March 22, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center off I-40, Exit 125 in Hickory.

The juried show features 110 potters from throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Ohio along with regional antique dealers. One of the largest shows of its kind, the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival attracts more than 5,000 people annually. The scope of the work exhibited ranges from traditional southern ash and salt glazed utilitarian ware and face jugs to contemporary studio art pieces, offering something for everyone’s price range.

The event opens at 9 a.m. and closes promptly at 5 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under and are available at the door. Ticket holders will be entered in a drawing for door prizes.

Representatives from the North Carolina Pottery Collectors’ Guild will be available to offer expert opinions on the possible background and history of individual collectors’ pieces. There will also be a pottery exhibit prepared by Dr. Charles Zug, professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and author of “Turners and Burner: The Folk Potters of North Carolina.” The exhibit will compliment the lecture by Dr. Henry Glassie on “Use and Beauty: The Art of Southern Folk Pottery.” Glassie is a folklore expert and professor at Indiana University and has written numerous books, including “Patterns in the Material Culture of the Eastern United States” and “Folk Housing in Middle Virginia.”

 An early buying opportunity and a more casual setting to meet the potters is offered at the Preview Party on Friday night, March 21, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy a fine southern supper while the Sigmon Stringers perform bluegrass and gospel music. The three-generation band has performed with such notable entertainers as Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Ronnie Milsap, Doc Watson and Ralph Stanley. The $40 ticket for this popular event must be purchased in advance. No Preview Party tickets will be sold at the door. Please call (828) 324-7294 for information on purchasing tickets or visit www.catawbahistory.org and click on the Pottery Festival link.

Proceeds from the Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival and the Preview Party support the Catawba County Historical Association, headquartered in Newton and the North Carolina Pottery Center located in Seagrove.

Submitted by Jason Toney, assistant director, Catawba County Historical Association