Loose Leaf Notes

The sound of packing tape being torn off the roll and pots being wrapped in paper started early Friday morning at our house. 

We got off to a good start for the 15th biannual 16 Hands Studio Tour that my Asheville Potter son, Josh Copus, is a part of.

His returning guest artist Joey Sheehan was set up in our living room and Josh was set up in the kitchen.  Joey is also from Asheville and he and Josh wood fire pots together in the kilns on Josh’s property in Marshall County. 

Even the porch was transformed into gallery space.  (Shadow Shot Sunday) 

A ride through the country making stops at artists’ studio to shop for pottery and woodwork and other art is a good Floyd take on Black Friday. 

The wood stove was fired up and the handmade pottery servers were full of olives, cheese and salami.  Guests sipped fresh roasted Red Rooster coffee or craft beer, munched on Christmas cookies or roasted cashews, depending on what studio they were at. 

There’s always lots of conversation, meeting and greeting.  First timers, regulars, collectors, locals and out of state people visiting family members over Thanksgiving weekend are all part of the mix.  Many, Joe and I included, were interested in seeing 16 Hand member Silvie Granatelli’s new studio (pictured) and new work.

Joe and I slipped out for lunch at Natasha’s Café where we found another Asheville potter and friend of Josh and Joey’s.  Will Dickert, (far right) who spent the night at our house, was set up in the restaurant’s Over the Moon Gallery.

By Saturday there was a deer hanging in the back of the house and we were hoping it wouldn’t scare of any tour goers (but that is the nature of a country tour). Joe went hunting sometime after the tour close on Friday and before we all went out to see the Hunger Games at the Mall, where we were shocked to see how the masses do Black Friday.

Post Note: Read about past 16  Hands tours and more about Josh’s work HERE.