Jump start your holiday season shopping.The UT Potters Club will host their annual “UT Potters Holiday Sale” this week in the Art and Architecture Building.
Kevin Kao, president of the UT Potters Club and graduate student in ceramics, said this is the 43rd pottery sale at UT, and the organization tries to hold a sale every semester.
Kao said the sale, which includes items created by UT students, alumni and faculty, has helped support students over the years by providing scholarships, programs and other opportunities.
“It’s a great opportunity to see what the ceramic students are making but also have a chance to get something great just in time for the holidays,” Kao said. “Again, proceeds help students in a variety of ways.”
Ciara Jackson, vice president of the club and junior in studio art, said the sale will feature about 20 tables of items. The fall sale, she said, usually has a larger turnout than the spring sale due to the holiday season.
“A portion of every sale comes back to the students in a fund that can be distributed for events such as conferences … or for scholarships to attend schools like Arrowmont for special workshops,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the organization starts planning for the event a few months beforehand and begins advertising ideas.
“As potters, we’re always sort of working towards the event, thinking of work we would like to make and sell,” Jackson said.
Jackson said everyone involved in the sale prices their own work and items, so the prices vary, but pieces can be found under $20.
“There’s something really delightful about handmade ceramics that manufactured ceramics can’t live up to,” Ciara explained. “Every piece is unique, even within a matching set.”
Jackson said the students make the work from scratch by mixing clay, glaze and firing kilns.
“After all that work it can be hard letting go, but this sale allows us to see everything off to a new home where it can be appreciated on another level,” Jackson said. “Anyone looking for unique gifts with little time to go hunting should stop by between classes and have a look around. It would be hard not to find something to love or give to the ones you love.”
The event will be held Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the first floor of UT’s Art and Architecture building.
