Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com

 

Always having a love for art and crafts, Rachel Gunsch, owner of Pottery 101, will begin a new feature at the shop on Valentine’s Day, a day known for sharing love and admiration.

Taking over the downtown business on Dec. 1, Gunsch said former owner Cheryl Goins had been such a pillar in Salisbury and she was going to “build onto what Goins established at the business,” plus she had some ideas she wanted to include at the shop with one of those being having a featured artist every month.

Gunsch said in a previous article that her plan is for the artist to bring in all new work, which would be displayed on the entire row of window pedestals. The work would be exhibited for two months after which they would take it with them.

“That way, I’ve got brand new artists that are coming through,” Gunsch said.

On Feb. 14, the first of these special events will be held with Brett Beasley of Charlotte being the spotlighted artist.

A reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. at the shop, 101 S. Main St., with refreshments and light snacks provided plus it will be an opportunity to “celebrate Brett Beasley’s unique ceramic sculptures,” said Gunsch, in an email. The reception will also give the community the chance to meet Beasley and learn about his work, all of which will be available for purchase.

Gunsch also shared that his collection “explores his experience living with MS, focusing on the concept of the ‘disguise of wellness.’” 

Having worked with clay for approximately 15 years, Beasley said he began taking pottery classes at night while he was completing his associate’s degree. This passion, he said, turned into a two-year production pottery career followed by bachelor and master of fine arts degrees, focusing specifically on ceramics. Afterwards, he ran his own small business and managed a few pottery studios.

“Now, having been nurtured by my community in the Queen City, I am currently a fulltime self-employed ceramic artist who also specializes in kiln repair and sales,” said Beasley.

Making pottery for everyday use and one-of-a-kind sculptures, he said that his years of working in production pottery has given him the chance to see what his future clients want to purchase.

“Coupling handmade with utilitarian function, most people are drawn to handmade pottery,” said Beasley.

And while his sculptures have won awards, he said that the reason he has created his artwork is that “it is my opportunity to express myself through my chosen medium and formation methods. Deep down though, I’m trying to live my life by this simple motto, ‘If it’s not fun, why bother?’” 

Being the first artist to be featured in this series is an honor, he said, as he said Gunsch “is one of the best people that I know. Her passion for teaching and ability to actually hear you when you talk is unparalleled. On top of all that, she is a talented ceramic artist and instructor herself,” said Beasley. “I am honored to be her first featured artist in what I assume will be a long line of very talented ceramic craftspeople being featured.” 

In an email Gunsch said that her goal for hosting these monthly exhibitions is to “foster a welcoming artistic community here in Salisbury. With so many downtown art galleries including Glass Ingenuity, Fine Frame Art Gallery and Waterworks Art Museum, we hope to cultivate a vibrant and thriving local art scene.”