Hot Kiln Tour '09 - May 2 & 3

Re: Hot Kiln Tour 2009 Scheduled for May 2 & 3

A sure sign of spring in Sullivan County is the Annual Hot Kiln Tour Weekend sponsored by the Potters of Sullivan County. The tour is May 2 & 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., just in time for Mother's Day.

This year, for the first time, the potters have teamed up with the Catskill Mountainkeepers, a non-profit, environmental organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Catskill Region. A percentage of all sales for the weekend will be donated. Please visit www.catskillmountainkeeper.org for additional information.

Although many of the potters have studios and gift shops that are open year round, this is your chance to tour the county, visit the potters, see their process and the new work that has inspired them during the quiet months of winter. The potters all start with the same lump of clay, but their finished products are as varied as they are.

Potters participating this year are:

Carolyn Duke, Duke Pottery, 855 County Rd. 93, Roscoe, 607-498-5207;
Jill Wiener, Earthgirl Pottery, 92 Bayer Rd, Callicoon Center, 845-498-4976;
Ellany Gabel, Honey Hill Pottery, 119 Diehl Rd., Callicoon, 845-482-5280;
Cecily Fortescue Ceramics (open Sunday only), 210 Hospital Rd., Callicoon,845-887-5740;
Barbara Brown, Sunshine Pottery, 109 Stony Rd., Lake Huntington, 845-932-8873;
Anthony Biancoviso, Hillside Studios, 111 Hillside Rd., Barryville, 845-557-3640;
Kathy Jeffers at the Catskill Artists Gallery, 38 S. Main St., Liberty, 845-292-0310.

Directions to studios are on the Sullivan Co. Pottery Trail Map. These free maps can be found in area shops & restaurants. Once you start the tour, each potter will be happy to give you directions to the next potter.