RICHMOND —
Potters will be turning mud into gold, or at least works of art, as the sixth annual Great American Pottery Festival takes place in Irvine-McDowell Park on Sept. 11-12.
Eight demonstrating potters will be at the two-day festival, and two other potters will have their works on display, said Lori Murphy-Tatum, Richmond Tourism director.
Children famously like to play with mud and always enjoy getting to attempt turning a piece of pottery with the help of a professional potter at the festival, she said.
As if there was not enough fun for children, the Richmond Parks Department’s Kids Fest also will take place in the park.
The Zouper Stars, performers in giant inflated masks who resemble pop stars will be performing again this year for Kids Fest, said Erin Moore, assistant parks director.
“Last year, we had so many tell us that the Pottery Festival was one of the few outings they know of that is truly fun for the whole family,” Tatum said. “Erin is just great about coming up with great activities and entertainment for Kids Fest.”
Families also like the free admission to both festivals.
“These are tough times financially for many families,” Tatum said, “and the pottery festival is a fun even close to home that won’t cost you a lot of money.”
Because this is an election year, the festival expects many poltical candidates to attend.
“We’ve talked to some about competing with their opponents in turning some pottery,” Tatum said. “We haven’t gotten any of them to agree yet, even after I told them there wouldn’t be any mud slinging.”
The festival was started to celebrate Madison County’s pottery-making heritage. And, American Indians were making pottery here long before the first European settlers arrived in the mid 1770s. Bybee Pottery, which is probably around 200 years old or older, is one of the state’s oldest continually operating businesses.
When the first pottery festival was being planned, Tatum said she was unsure if potters other than the well-known Bybee Pottery and Tater Knob Pottery would participate.
Pottery is far from a lost art, she soon realized, as several local studio potters jumped at the chance to display their craft and sell their wares.
Eastern Kentucky University’s fine arts program also includes a good number of accomplished ceramics majors and instructors who also participate each year.
In addition to the potters, at least 40 other Kentucky arts and crafts vendors will have their products for sale.
Because of the city’s budget problems, Kids Fest is being made possible this year by a donation from Meijer in Richmond Centre. Also, a $4,500 surplus from Richmond’s July 4 celebration is helping to fund the pottery festival.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.
Local News
6th annual Pottery Festival is Sept. 11-12
- Local News
-
-
‘She wasn’t just a teacher’ : Lambert retires after 43 years at Berea
Scroll to the bottom of the story to read "Love for Lambert: Berea graduates share memories of their teacher," as well as a list of other Berea retirees this year.
Writer’s Note: Brenda Lambert is the reason I write articles today (Class of 2000).
Years ago, a little blonde-haired girl from Rockcastle County gathered her friends to “play school” in a 10-by-10 foot playhouse her father built.
Even at 12 years old, Brenda Lambert knew she wanted to be a teacher one day.
“I always felt like an old person trapped in a young person's body,” said Lambert, who is retiring after 43 years of service to Berea Community School. -
Special Olympics return for 18th year at EKU
Next weekend, the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games return to Eastern Kentucky University campus. This is the 18th consecutive year EKU has hosted the event.
The games will be Friday through June 2. About 1,300 athletes will compete this year. -
Assault charges reduced, dismissed by grand jury
Two men arrested in connection with serious assaults had their charges reduced, and in one case dismissed, by a Madison grand jury.
Jerry Wayne Edington, 34, of Berea Road, was charged Jan. 19 with second-degree assault after an altercation at the Blue Moon bar on East Irvine Street, according to a Richmond police report. -
Dump of the Day
The Dump of the Day is a recurring series the newspaper publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Page A7 in Sunday's paper to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Paradise Cove open through Labor Day
Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
-
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
-
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed. - More Local News Headlines
-
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
