sophia street throwdown

ceramics showcase Saturday June 11

Saturday, June 11th the annual Sophia Street Pottery Throwdown to showcase local ceramic art will be happening in front of the Sophia Street Studios at 1104 Sophia Street in downtown Fredericksburg. More than 20 exhibitors will be set up in the street to display and sell a wide variety of ceramic art.

This month's highlighted artists include: Steven Summerville, Christina Bendo and Neal Read.

Steven Summerville (above) throws pots in the studio he built in his home in Bumpass, Virginia, and spends his off-hours tending his garden and goats and sharing his space with friends.

"My life-long passion for pottery was sparked when I was a 10-year-old child in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A potter came to our school to give a demonstration and I was immediately transfixed by the magical process of throwing pots on the wheel. As I watched, the potter skilfully transformed a lump of clay into a beautiful and useful form. Amazing! I fell in love with the process then, and I am still in love with it today. I take great pleasure in making strong,

simple forms that are completely useful, fun to look at, and that make everyday living more interesting and satisfying."

Christina Bendo Neal Reed

Steven studied ceramics at Berea College in Kentucky, spent 3 years working with Dan Finnegan in Fredericksburg, and was inspired by travels in England and visits to the studios of fellow utilitarian potters David Leach and Michael Cardew. Steven's colorful creations can be found at: https://stevensummerville.net/

Christina Bendo (below) grew up helping her parents grow food in the rich

red clay soil of Virginia. After earning her B.A. at the University of Mary Washington, she went on to complete a three year assistantship with potter Trista Chapman. She has been a resident at LibertyTown Arts Workshop, the International Ceramics Studio in Hungary, STARworks Ceramics, the North Carolina Pottery Center, and Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. Her work has been featured on gallery pedestals and kitchen tables in the US and abroad. In 2019 Christina opened her own studio in downtown Waynesville, North Carolina.

"My pots are a study in the contrast between everyday ritual and the constant change that surrounds us. I seek to make work that is imbued with life's ephemeral moments, telling stories of the cycles of nature and the changing seasons of our lives." See more of Christina's nature-inspired work at: www.christinabendo.com/

Neal Reed (below) enjoys making both functional and decorative ceramic work. Born in Virginia, he studied clay in Minnesota, North Carolina and Virginia. Neal's functional works are decorated using the ancient technique of sgraffito - carving through one layer of clay to reveal the layer beneath. His designs are inspired by nature and by artists who have come

Steven Summerville before him. He works and teaches at the LibertyTown Arts Workshop in Fredericksburg. See Neal's work, or contact him about lessons at: https://libertytownarts.com/artist/nealreed/ The Sophia Street Pottery Throwdown was started by longtime local ceramic artist and Fredericksburg resident Trista Chapman of the Sophia Street Studios. Trista has been making pottery for over 30 years and is known for her crazy colorful "Tristaware." You can see Trista's work and other fun furniture, jewelry, paintings and more at the Sophia Street Studios, 1104 Sophia Street, open Thursday through Saturday from 10-5. Sophia Street Throwdown June 11, 10a-5 5p