Look Out, Cincy!
To start the weekend off, a full day Thursday tour will begin at the Rookwood Pottery Company factory, located in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. Martin and Marilyn Wade, owners of the company, have brought the Rookwood Pottery Company back to it’s original roots in Cincinnati. The company is in full production, having invested in new kilns and equipment, hiring an international staff of artists, glaze chemists and ceramists who combine new contemporary pieces with the traditional work from 3000 of the company’s original molds. The tour will include many areas of the factory, including the glaze area, the kilns and the press station and an explanation from the staff as to what is created in each area. You will then have time to shop in the Rookwood Pottery showroom, where there is a large selection of vases and tiles available for purchase.
Your next stop on the tour will be at the Humler and Nolan Auction facility for lunch, courtesy of Riley Humler and Jeff Engel. While at the auction facility you will be able to preview their June Keramic, Art Glass and Rookwood sale. Then the tour will head over to the magnificent Cincinnati Art Museum, one of the oldest art museums in the Country, founded in 1881. The art museum’s decorative art gallery features a magnificent display of some of the finest Rookwood Art Pottery. The museum is also well known for its collection of American and European paintings and also houses numerous pieces of sculpture, photographs, furniture, African Art, and costume and textile art. From dawn ’til dusk, this is a wonderful tour of Cincinnati that you do not want to miss.
Next up, the annual AAPA Auction will be held on Friday the 11th at the host hotel and Peter Gehres of Belhorn Auctions has once again generously offered to be the guest auctioneer. Peter has been involved in conducting the AAPA auctions for the past few years, both as part of the Belhorn Auctions team and now as it’s owner. Peter is also very active in promoting the American Art Pottery Association. This auction will be held both LIVE and ON-LINE with over 200 pieces of pottery. The auction preview will be from 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM with the auction beginning at 4:00 PM. AAPA can not stress the importance of consignments and donations, as the auction is their main fundraising event and a huge part in allowing them to continue holding their convention and publishing the AAPA Journal. Many thanks to those of you in the Art Pottery community that give generously each year.
To continue through the weekend’s events, the annual AAPA Show and Sale will be held at the Embassy Suites hotel ballroom on Saturday and Sunday, April 12th and 13th. For convention registered AAPA members a private preview and sale opens the show at 11:00 AM on Saturday and includes admission for both days. The show is open to the public from Noon – 5:00PM on Saturday and 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Sunday. This fabulous show will feature many of the Country’s premier pottery dealers, selling American, European and Contemporary Art Pottery. Admission is $6.00 per person for non-convention registered members and the public.
Again, if you have any interest in the world of Art Pottery this weekend should be added to your calendar immediately. For more information about the Convention and the American Art Pottery Association please visit www.aapa.info and register today!
