"Like A Poorly Fired Pot"

I dig the photo accompanying today's N&R article on Seagrove's pottery wars. Very apropos.

I once was a fairly serious pot collector - and still drop down to Seagrove occasionally to pick up the odd/unique piece. But part from my initial thoughts on the matter (where I sympathized with the "upstarts" - mostly because of the snotty/elitist behavior I've seen some of the more successful potters demonstrate), I've stayed pretty much out of it.

The ruckus has been confusing and frustrating - even for those of us who know the topography and the players. I cannot imaging how it looks to people on the outside looking in.

The local economic gurus have been worried about all the mud-wrestling . . . especially since most of their/our eggs are being put into the tourism basket . . . as it's the thing that is going to save Randolph County while our manufacturing base shrinks/outsources away.

From the N&R's article:

This year, that (Seagrove pottery) community has fallen apart like a poorly fired pot. (Jasin Hardin gets credit for a good analogy)

Instead of one festival, there are two [the older, Seagrove Pottery Festival held at Seagrove Elementary School - and the new Celebration of Seagrove Potters held at the old Luck's plant], the fruit of a bitter dispute among area potters that threatens to confuse customers and hurt potters who might see crowds split.

The dispute, which has lingered for months and has involved insults and legal action, has those not involved with the pottery community shaking their heads.

“It’s just such a shame, because they’re only hurting themselves,” said Jill Thomas, who owns the Seagrove Dairy Breeze, a downtown institution, adding that other nonpottery merchants feel the same.

I feel like Jill at this point: All the in-fighting and legal action is just plain stupid.

I have a cousin (by marriage) who is not a potter - but an artist who has participated in the Seagrove festival in the past. In these hard economic times - when people are just not spending money they don't have to, he thought that this year it would be smart for both festivals to offer decreased entrance fees . .. . or not charge admission at all . . . in order to minimize the PR damage that has already been done and encourage people to attend both festivals.

He was shot down.

I love me some pottery. And I am home this weekend. And even though pottery-hopping is not - and will not ever be - the same for me as it once was (after the deaths of my beloved friends, Archie & Yvonne Teague), I usually go "walk the muddy" if I'm in town on festival weekend.

But this year, I've debated about whether or not I'm even going to go down to Seagrove at all.

It all feels like "a poorly-fired pot".

Hey. Do you think they'll serve alcohol?

Sunday Evening Update: We did not go. Maybe next year. When/if the dust settles.

Heavy sigh.