Fifth Annual “Tour De Clay”
Pottery Tour Kicks Off In Palm Harbor
This year’s Tour De Clay of Tampa Bay will be held on Saturday, December 8th and Sunday, December 9th. It is sure to please those who have attended the tour in the past as well as those who are experiencing it for the very first time. Tour De Clay will take you through five pottery studios that span three counties and will feature the work of 21 potters.
The fifth annual pottery studio tour “Tour De Clay of Tampa Bay” will explore 5 pottery studios: 2 studios in Palm Harbor; 1 in Lutz; 1 in Odessa; and 1 in San Antonio. The tour’s 21 clay artists will be present at the various studios throughout the Tampa Bay area to discuss their works and answer questions. The studios will be open to the public free of charge Saturday, Dec. 8th from 9-5 and Sunday, Dec. 9th from 11-4. You will want to plan your trip to make it to all 5 stops.
Two of the five pottery studios on the tour are located right here in Palm Harbor and will kick off the tour at 9am Saturday, Dec. 8th with kiln openings, pottery demonstrations, and displays filled to the brim with beautiful pottery. These studios will house the works of Ira Burhans, Glenn Woods, and as well as the works of guest artists Alan Bennett, Vadim Malkin, Cory McCrory, Andy Smith and William Kidd. All five guest artists are award winning potters.
Again this year, Tour De Clay Gives Back to Their Community. Each studio has chosen an organization to donate an amazing pot for a lotto type auction. During the tour you can buy $5 tickets for the chance to win your favorite auction item. Each studio sells tickets for their auction item. Winners will be selected Sunday at 4 PM. Winners need not be present to win. 100% of ticket sales go to the respective organization.
The charities benefiting from this years tour are: Clearwater Free Clinic; SHAMc – Safety Harbor Art & Music Center’s building fund; Animal Coalition of Tampa; Citrus Park Big Cat Rescue; and WMNF 88.5 fm – a listener sponsored radio station. It is our hope that people will learn more about these organizations throughout the tour in a way that is fun and mutually beneficial.
Due to the popularity of the kiln openings, this year every studio will have kiln openings on Saturday, December 8th. The kiln openings will begin in the Palm Harbor studios followed by Odessa, Lutz with the finale at the San Antonio studio. The kiln openings are staggered so you can experience the openings in all 5 studios. What are kiln openings? Opening a kiln that has just been fired and cool enough to open is like Christmas morning – some good and some not so good. You can be there to witness the opening of many different types of kilns to see what surprises await the anxious potter.
Kiln Opening Schedules:
The first kiln opening will happen at 9:00 a.m. at the Pottery Boys Studio location (30 Bogie Lane, Palm Harbor, 34683).
The second kiln opening will happen at 10:30 a.m. at the Clay and Paper studio location (110 Peterson Lane, Palm Harbor, 34683)
The third kiln opening at 2:00 p.m. is not at kiln opening at the Hidden Lake Pottery location (16705 Hutchinson Road, Odessa, 33556)
The fourth kiln opening will happen at 3:00 p.m. at the Wellman and Welsch Pottery location (17202 Whirley Road, Lutz, 33558)
Last, but certainly not least, the final kiln opening will happen at 5:00 p.m. at the San Antonio Pottery studio location (11903 Curley Road, San Antonio, 33576). And if that was not enough excitement, pottery demonstrations are planned to take place at each studio throughout Saturday and Sunday. There will be food and refreshments at most of the studios.
Tour De Clay is sponsored by the Florida West Coast Ceramic Society, established in 2007. This Ceramic Society was formed by a group of clay artists and potters who share an intense passion for ceramics; a passion reflected both in the works they produce and in their deep appreciation for ceramic arts. They are excited to host its fifth annual exhibition featuring the ceramic work of twent- one clay artists. The societies potters are from Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Pinellas counties. This year 10 guest artists from as far away as Bath, New York will participate in the Tour De Clay. Throughout this tour you will find work such as: bowls, cups, plates, vases, teapots, other decorative or functional ware as well as ceramic sculpture.
Featured Pottery Studios Include:
Pottery Boys Clay Studio located at: 30 Bogie Lane / Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Owners Glenn Woods and Keith Herbrand will be joined by guest artists Cory McCory, Andy Smith and William Kidd. Kiln opening scheduled for Saturday at 9:00 a.m. with pottery demonstrations throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Donations to benefit Clearwater Free Clinic. Call for more information 727-736-4870.
Clay and Paper Studio located at: 110 Peterson Ave. / Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Owner Ira Burhans will be joined by guest artists Alan Bennett, and Vadim Malkin. Kiln opening scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m., making altered pots demonstrations by Ira Burhans throughout Saturday and Sunday. Refreshments and snacks.
Donation pot to benefit the construction of
Call for more information 727-772-9570.
Wellman and Welsch Pottery located at: 17202 Whirley Road, Lutz, FL
Owners Harry Welsch and Kim Welman will be joined by guest artist Scott Aubrey, John Kellum and Peter Strait. Kiln opening scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Throwing and raku demonstrations Saturday and Sunday. Refreshments.
Donation to benefit Animal Coalition of Tampa (free/cheep spay and neuter).
Call for more information 813-961-7106.
Hidden Lake Pottery located at: 16705 Hutchinson Road, Odessa, FL
Owners Kim Kirchman and Mark Fehl will be joined by ceramic artists Kimberli Cummings, Chuck McGee and LC McGee and guest artist Jonathan Barnes. Kiln opening scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and pottery demonstrations throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Donation to benefit Big Cat Rescue in Citrus Park.
Call for more information 813-920-4341.
San Antonio Pottery located at:11903 Curley Road / San Antonio, FL
Owner Jack Boyle will be joined by ceramic artist: McKenzie Smith and guest artist MicheleGinouves and Susan Livingston. Kiln opening scheduled for Saturday at 5:00 p.m. followed by music and refreshments. Pottery demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.
Donation to benefit WMNF 88.5fm a listener sponsored radio station.
Call for more information 352-588-4228.
For maps to the studios go to: www.tampatourdeclay.com. To pickup a postcard with addresses, kiln opening schedule stop by Clay and Paper Gallery of Art in Dunedin.