ASHFIELD — While there were visitors from Concord to the east and Averill Park, N.Y., to the west attending the 15th annual Hilltown 6 Pottery Tour on Saturday, it was the two guest potters from North Carolina who covered the most miles to reach the weekend’s event.
The Bakersville, N.C., couple of Joy Tanner and William Baker, along with their children, made the drive up the East Coast to showcase their work to people from around the region as they descended upon Maya Machin’s studio at 193 Hill Road in Ashfield.
Machin’s studio was one of nine stops laid out on the Hilltown 6 Pottery Tour, with every other stop being in Hampshire County. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, each studio was open for visitors to visit, learn about the potters and possibly purchase a piece of pottery for themselves.
Ceramic mugs and plates created by the three potters were available for purchase as they laid out across tables in Machin’s studio and yard. Machin also hosted a demonstration on how she creates ceramic berry bowls.
Tanner and Baker were scheduled to make the journey for last year’s event, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the tour to move to an online-only format.
Tanner, who had never been to Franklin County before, said Machin invited her and her husband to show their work to a community who might not have seen it before.
“I love it. It’s such beautiful scenery,” Tanner said when reflecting on the region. “It’s fun to come and sell pottery in a different area.”
Tanner has spent more than 15 years working with clay and said open-studio sessions like the Hilltown 6 tour help provide a personal connection to customers that they don’t get when shopping online.
“I think it’s a great way to bring people to a studio where the art is made,” Tanner said. “It brings awareness.”
Baker said he met Machin more than 10 years ago at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina and he was happy to accept her invitation to the pottery tour. He said events like this, which is the first in-person one he’s been to in two years, are a great way to connect with people interested in pottery because it’s more than just “putting a thing in a box.”
“It’s personal for everybody,” Baker said. “Online is great for artists, in person is better for customers. It’s making a connection.”
Baker said his home region hosts craft shows featuring many different types of products, but Hilltown 6’s sole focus on pottery brings a more intent crowd.
“The ones who come are focused and interested in pottery,” Baker said.
Machin said it was “exciting” to have Tanner and Baker make the journey to Ashfield because they are a “great inspiration” and provide a chance for people to see a different style of pottery.
“For people to see their work in person is unusual,” Machin said. “There’s such a wide spectrum of work. We’re all using the same media, but using it in different ways.”
She said inviting people into her studio space allows people to get a different perspective on an artist’s work.
“Everyone can see where people work. It’s different from a gallery or online,” Machin said. “There’s a lot more to see than just pots. … They can see the art in context and appreciate it more.”
Machin said they “lucked out with the weather,” noting that returning to an in-person format provides “great information” about what customers are purchasing.
“I get to see their reactions, what they like and see what they’re not looking at,” Machin explained. “It’s great to do it in person.”
Wayland and Ann Whitney of Averill Park, N.Y., said they were surprised to see a sign advertising the event in a place as far away as Chatham, N.Y. The couple added that Machin’s studio was their first stop on the tour and that they take joy in purchasing homemade ceramics and supporting local potters.
“All our mugs are homemade,” Wayland Whitney said. “We’d rather give our money to an actual artist than a mass-produced company.”
Paula Von Kleydorff, who had traveled from Concord, said she and the two friends she traveled with were potters and they wanted to see Tanner’s work in person.
“I follow her on Instagram,” Von Kleydorff said. “(Tanner’s pottery) is gorgeous.”
Chris Larabee cam be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.