Twenty-three nationally recognized potters will share their work during the 18th year of the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail, which will welcome the community to eight pottery studios across Franklin and Hampshire counties.
The free, self-guided tour opens online April 29 and in person April 30 to May 1.
“We’re an eclectic group and all have varied experiences and approaches,” noted Stephen Earp, a Shelburne Falls potter who has been involved with the event for 16 years. Earp’s pieces are inspired by traditional New England redware and early blue and white delftware.
The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail has been a way for community members to learn about and connect with local artistry for almost two decades. The trail offers passports, which participants can get stamped across all eight studios to be entered for a chance to win a piece from one of the featured potters.
After being reduced to a fully remote event in 2020, in-person studio visits returned in 2021. The event is the main way that many local potters sell their work throughout the year.
“A lot of times our customers want to come back every year,” said Tiffany Hilton, a potter from Florence who specializes in dinnerware and has been involved with the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail for 17 years. “I love hearing their feedback and the reasons they’re adding to their collections.” She added that “people who appreciate handmade pottery notice every little thing.”
Potters said the event is also a way to encourage people to explore other local stores and restaurants in the Connecticut River Valley.
“A lot of people are eating and drinking in the area and making a whole weekend of it,” Hilton noted.
“We’re helping to create a creative economy in western Mass. … By attending the trail, you support the local economy,” said Lucy Fagella, a potter from Greenfield who helped found the pottery trail. Her work showcases her love for food and gardening. “People who buy pottery want to see this craft continue and want to support the makers.”
“I love having people here for that weekend,” said Mary Barringer, a potter located in Shelburne Falls who will be showcasing platters, bowls and cups, as well as sculptures for the wall and garden. “It lets me see my workspace in a new way.”
In the past couple years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many local potters have seen an increase in their online sales. But Barringer said nothing compares to the feeling of having guests visit her studio.
“Compared to watching people actually interact with my work, selling online is a necessity but not nearly as satisfying,” said Barringer, who has participated in the pottery trail for about 15 years.
“My favorite part is being a part of encounters between people and what I make,” she continued. “I love having people in my studio. … My studio is like a slice of my brain, so it’s always fun for me to have conversations about the rocks I have or the pictures I have on the wall.”
The event is expected to attract a few hundred participants.
The other potters featuring work are Steve Théberge, Molly Cantor, Donna McGee and James Guggina, plus 15 guest potters.
Barringer explained the special connection patrons have to pottery as an art form.
“People have direct access to it in a way that’s less true in the so-called fine arts world,” she said. “Everyone I know who has interacted with pottery has had a tactile epiphany.”
For a full list and map of participating pottery studios, visit asparagusvalleypotterytrail.com.