Date: September 25, 2008
From: The Board of Directors of the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery
d/b/a Seagrove Pottery Museum
To: All Potters, Artists and Craftspeople
Re: The SEAGROVE Pottery Festival
Richard Gillson created the Seagrove Pottery Festival 27 years ago and did much to help put Seagrove and its pottery industry on the map. We all serve on the board of the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery that produces the Seagrove Pottery Festival and our loyalties lie with keeping Richard’s vision for the Seagrove Area alive. We wanted to go on record with this statement of our support and dedication to his dreams and goal.
There is a group of potters in the Seagrove Area who have always tended to support the N.C. Pottery Center. Shortly after Richard Gillson’s untimely death, the Center was implicated in an attempt to steal the Seagrove Pottery Festival and destroy the Museum. Some of us finally took a public stand against the Pottery Center. Don Hudson, because of his intellect and personal contacts, led much of this activity. Don also became the focal point for intense personal attacks from this opposing group of potters.
We believe this decision to steal the Pottery Festival and destroy the Museum was taken last summer. Yes, that date is correct, because somebody had to make the request that the State Dept of Cultural Resources consider funding and an amount would have to have been provided in order to put it in their official budget request to take over the Pottery Center. This takes time, it could not have happened in December when the Pottery Center Board officially and publicly threw itself on the mercy of the State and requested to be taken over. We believe there was a plan already being implemented when Randolph County denied the Museum’s request for funding last year.
The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources has been the best friend of the Pottery Center. It has pushed the Center’s interests to the exclusion of many other organizations that exist to promote a public awareness of the rich pottery traditions in North Carolina. Cultural Resource’s own assessment of what the Center has accomplished was delivered in support of a request to ask the Governor’s Budget Office to include funding in its budget proposal to allow the State to take over the Center and operate it as a state agency:
“The Center has not met its potential as an educational resource or realized its goal to become a destination for heritage tourists.”
With “support” like that, who needs opposition?
However, as it turned out, the Pottery Center couldn’t give itself away! The Governor’s Budget Office declined to insert funding for a state take over in the budget proposal.
Rather than discussing substantive issues, this other group has been arguing ever since about whether Don is a bad person and whether he should be a member of the Museum’s Board. Don worked closely with Richard Gillson for almost eleven years. Shortly before his death, Richard told Don that he feared that an attempt would be made to steal the Seagrove Pottery Festival. He asked Don to fight for the festival and the Museum
It looks to us as if the folks behind the decision to kill the Museum and steal the Festival don’t really want to have a dialogue with the Museum. They would rather demonize one effective Board member and ignore the rest of us.
We wish now to give notice clearly: This will not happen. We are united in our belief that the Museum and the Festival have a future in Seagrove. We are absolutely committed to keeping Richard Gillson’s original vision for the Seagrove Area Potteries alive to serve the public by promoting all potters in the Seagrove Area equally.
If the Center could bring itself to become less elitist and more inclusive, perhaps it would have a future instead of being on the verge of extinction and we could all talk and reach a consensus that provides a place at the table for every group that promotes pottery
It would help if the Center would seek the truth about what went wrong when the Museum was told that its festival was being taken away from it and would be given to the Center. At the very least, following such an outrage, the Center must affirm the Museum’s right to exist and promise not to try to steal or hurt pottery festivals that it never created and barely supported.
There are truly important issues for the pottery community to discuss. They include:
--The future of the Center’s collection and mission if it cannot sustain itself.
--Funding and implementation for any future pottery educational activities.
--Funding and implementation to promote pottery tourism in Randolph County, the Seagrove Area and beyond.
--Coordinating the activities of the major pottery festivals in North Carolina to help promote pottery year-round and the possible creation of additional festivals.
--Resolving the on-going sniping between half a dozen of the elite potters whose work has been promoted preferentially by the Center and the greater number of potters who create the real appeal of the famous Seagrove Area Potteries.
--Keeping Richard Gillson’s dream alive of a permanent home for the Seagrove Pottery Museum in downtown Seagrove.
--Implementing the letter and intent of G. S. 145-23, defining the “Seagrove Area Potteries” by taking steps to incorporate Chatham County fully.
--Relating promotion of the unique traditions of the Seagrove Area to promoting other pottery traditions statewide, with the goal of furthering mutual interests, with or without the N.C. Pottery Center, should it continue to exist.
For the Entire Board:
Linda Loggains Phil Morgan
Board President Vice President
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
New pottery festival gets new permit
New pottery festival gets new permit
By Mary Anderson -- Staff Writer
Posted: 09/07/08 - 12:32:31 pm CDT
SEAGROVE — The Seagrove board of commissioners approved a new permit for the Celebration of Seagrove Pottery festival and the attorney for the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery (MNCTP) reiterated its plan to pursue all legal remedies to stop the Celebration festival.
The permit withdrawal, new permit approval and comments from the attorney were the only business at the regular town board meeting on Sept. 2. Mayor Mike Walker said the new permit was issued for the Celebration of Seagrove Pottery, under the umbrella of the nonprofit Seagrove Area Potters Association (SAPA).
The MNCTP, sponsor of the traditional Seagrove Pottery Festival the weekend before Thanksgiving, is protesting the Celebration festival on the same weekend.
Greensboro attorney Nancy Quinn presented the commissioners with a document outlining the objections to the Celebration festival as a “respectful request that the Seagrove Town Council do the right thing, follow its own ordinances and refuse to permit another festival to threaten the success of the 27th annual Seagrove Pottery Festival.”
Commissioners Barbara Graves, Scott Auman, Gordon Milks Jr. and David Garner had just approved the new permit for the Celebration festival. The commissioners had made no comments on the permit request. They also accepted Quinn’s document without comment. Commissioner Ruby Mullin, who is recovering from knee surgery, was not present.
Asheboro attorney Jon Megerian, representing the Celebration festival, had asked to withdraw the first permit, issued to Ben Owen III, and presented the new permit for approval.
The MNCTP had argued that the first permit would allow only Owen to participate and every individual potter would have to apply for a permit. Quinn also said that even as Owen was denying any connection to the N.C. Pottery Center or SAPA, other potters had, through dozens of emails, stated that “everybody knew from the start that the new festival would be produced under the umbrella of SAPA.”
Quinn also charged that the Celebration festival was created for the purpose of hurting or destroying the Seagrove Pottery festival and the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery, that the Celebration festival at the former Luck’s cannery was unsuitable and unsafe and questioned whether SAPA had complied with county regulations regarding signage.
If the MNCTP files suit, Quinn said, it will “most energetically” pursue legal means “to nail down, under oath, the improper purposes with which this group began and continues to operate.”
Quinn said the truth will show that local politicians — town and county — acted improperly and in concert with a few potters whose agenda merits closer scrutiny.
On Thursday, Mayor Walker said he had seen the potters “come together and pull together to put on this new festival” and for the benefit of the town and potters, he hoped that both festivals would be successful.
X Contact: 626-6116 or manderson(at)))courier-tribune.com
http://courier-tribune.com/articles/2008/09/08/news/gn2.txt
By Mary Anderson -- Staff Writer
Posted: 09/07/08 - 12:32:31 pm CDT
SEAGROVE — The Seagrove board of commissioners approved a new permit for the Celebration of Seagrove Pottery festival and the attorney for the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery (MNCTP) reiterated its plan to pursue all legal remedies to stop the Celebration festival.
The permit withdrawal, new permit approval and comments from the attorney were the only business at the regular town board meeting on Sept. 2. Mayor Mike Walker said the new permit was issued for the Celebration of Seagrove Pottery, under the umbrella of the nonprofit Seagrove Area Potters Association (SAPA).
The MNCTP, sponsor of the traditional Seagrove Pottery Festival the weekend before Thanksgiving, is protesting the Celebration festival on the same weekend.
Greensboro attorney Nancy Quinn presented the commissioners with a document outlining the objections to the Celebration festival as a “respectful request that the Seagrove Town Council do the right thing, follow its own ordinances and refuse to permit another festival to threaten the success of the 27th annual Seagrove Pottery Festival.”
Commissioners Barbara Graves, Scott Auman, Gordon Milks Jr. and David Garner had just approved the new permit for the Celebration festival. The commissioners had made no comments on the permit request. They also accepted Quinn’s document without comment. Commissioner Ruby Mullin, who is recovering from knee surgery, was not present.
Asheboro attorney Jon Megerian, representing the Celebration festival, had asked to withdraw the first permit, issued to Ben Owen III, and presented the new permit for approval.
The MNCTP had argued that the first permit would allow only Owen to participate and every individual potter would have to apply for a permit. Quinn also said that even as Owen was denying any connection to the N.C. Pottery Center or SAPA, other potters had, through dozens of emails, stated that “everybody knew from the start that the new festival would be produced under the umbrella of SAPA.”
Quinn also charged that the Celebration festival was created for the purpose of hurting or destroying the Seagrove Pottery festival and the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery, that the Celebration festival at the former Luck’s cannery was unsuitable and unsafe and questioned whether SAPA had complied with county regulations regarding signage.
If the MNCTP files suit, Quinn said, it will “most energetically” pursue legal means “to nail down, under oath, the improper purposes with which this group began and continues to operate.”
Quinn said the truth will show that local politicians — town and county — acted improperly and in concert with a few potters whose agenda merits closer scrutiny.
On Thursday, Mayor Walker said he had seen the potters “come together and pull together to put on this new festival” and for the benefit of the town and potters, he hoped that both festivals would be successful.
X Contact: 626-6116 or manderson(at)))courier-tribune.com
http://courier-tribune.com/articles/2008/09/08/news/gn2.txt
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Commissioners nix support for unappreciative Pottery Center
Some come to the Randolph County Commissioners requesting help for a project that board members feel they simply cannot accommodate.
Others seem less than appreciative of help from the board, and so see that offer rescinded.
Such was the case at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting where the board took back their financial support for the N.C. Pottery Center.
The vote on financial support for the N.C. Pottery Center was unanimous in a decision to withdraw the county’s offer of $25,000 in operation and maintenance funding for the struggling art center.
Commissioner Phil Kemp said, at a recent pottery board meeting, members voted against the possibility of letting the buildings and property go to Randolph Community College, in the event that the center has to end operation.
Kemp reported board members informed him that, should the center close, they had the right to sell the property and do what they wanted to with the proceeds as long as the money goes to another 501(c)3 operation.
He said the Pottery Center board voted to “nullify its agreement with the county.”
Frye questioned if the property could be sold outright without consulting the state since $750,000 in state funding went into the construction of the Pottery Center. He asked County Attorney Darren Allen to look into the matter.
Earlier this year, the center offered to gift itself to the state Department of Cultural Resources (DCR) to take over the center at a cost of $186,818 annually. As part of that arrangement, commissioners voted to provide $25,000 annually in operations and maintenance support for the facility.
But the governor didn’t include that item in his budget, leaving the center at loose ends for money for the coming year.
In July, the center’s board sent out a plea for help from members and the surrounding community. Denny Mecham, the center director, resigned.
At the time, the center’s board entertained the notion of leasing the site to RCC for one year, if operation had to cease. They held out the option to have the property returned one year later, if funding for the center could be found.
Kemp said the center’s board hopes to continue along on donations until the 2009 state budget is written. At that time, they hope the center will be adopted by the state.
Kemp said the center’s board had been less than civil in its dealings with the county.
He said their attitude made him question whether the county should continue to support the center since the original deal was based on an agreement with a state agency that had fallen through.
“If they want to be there, they ought to look after it (the property),” he said.
James Chriscoe, county buildings/maintenance director, told commissioners that in the 2007-08 budget, the county spent $5,000 in materials to do projects like fix air conditioning units and repair light fixtures. In the new budget year, the county had already spent $1,000 in materials, he said.
Chriscoe said when the cost of labor is included, the county’s total investment in the center could be valued at about twice that amount.
He said the center’s board has now asked for repairs to an air conditioning unit at the house on the property. He said he has been told the board wants to rent the property out to generate funds for the center.
Kemp offered a resolution to discontinue upkeep of the N.C. Pottery Center property, return the recently purchased air conditioning equipment and wish the board well in their success.
Commissioner Arnold Lanier added, “Turn the water off. The well’s dry.”
The board voted unanimously to make it so.
(The Museum gave The NC Pottery Center life, property, a house, money, pottery and staff support, and what did the Center do for the Museum in return? For one, the Center tried to kill off the Museum and steal its festival.)
From Courier-Tribune article : Commissioners nix left turn for Cracker Barrel.
Others seem less than appreciative of help from the board, and so see that offer rescinded.
Such was the case at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting where the board took back their financial support for the N.C. Pottery Center.
The vote on financial support for the N.C. Pottery Center was unanimous in a decision to withdraw the county’s offer of $25,000 in operation and maintenance funding for the struggling art center.
Commissioner Phil Kemp said, at a recent pottery board meeting, members voted against the possibility of letting the buildings and property go to Randolph Community College, in the event that the center has to end operation.
Kemp reported board members informed him that, should the center close, they had the right to sell the property and do what they wanted to with the proceeds as long as the money goes to another 501(c)3 operation.
He said the Pottery Center board voted to “nullify its agreement with the county.”
Frye questioned if the property could be sold outright without consulting the state since $750,000 in state funding went into the construction of the Pottery Center. He asked County Attorney Darren Allen to look into the matter.
Earlier this year, the center offered to gift itself to the state Department of Cultural Resources (DCR) to take over the center at a cost of $186,818 annually. As part of that arrangement, commissioners voted to provide $25,000 annually in operations and maintenance support for the facility.
But the governor didn’t include that item in his budget, leaving the center at loose ends for money for the coming year.
In July, the center’s board sent out a plea for help from members and the surrounding community. Denny Mecham, the center director, resigned.
At the time, the center’s board entertained the notion of leasing the site to RCC for one year, if operation had to cease. They held out the option to have the property returned one year later, if funding for the center could be found.
Kemp said the center’s board hopes to continue along on donations until the 2009 state budget is written. At that time, they hope the center will be adopted by the state.
Kemp said the center’s board had been less than civil in its dealings with the county.
He said their attitude made him question whether the county should continue to support the center since the original deal was based on an agreement with a state agency that had fallen through.
“If they want to be there, they ought to look after it (the property),” he said.
James Chriscoe, county buildings/maintenance director, told commissioners that in the 2007-08 budget, the county spent $5,000 in materials to do projects like fix air conditioning units and repair light fixtures. In the new budget year, the county had already spent $1,000 in materials, he said.
Chriscoe said when the cost of labor is included, the county’s total investment in the center could be valued at about twice that amount.
He said the center’s board has now asked for repairs to an air conditioning unit at the house on the property. He said he has been told the board wants to rent the property out to generate funds for the center.
Kemp offered a resolution to discontinue upkeep of the N.C. Pottery Center property, return the recently purchased air conditioning equipment and wish the board well in their success.
Commissioner Arnold Lanier added, “Turn the water off. The well’s dry.”
The board voted unanimously to make it so.
(The Museum gave The NC Pottery Center life, property, a house, money, pottery and staff support, and what did the Center do for the Museum in return? For one, the Center tried to kill off the Museum and steal its festival.)
From Courier-Tribune article : Commissioners nix left turn for Cracker Barrel.
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