Visit 25+ ceramic artists and collectives, both local and visiting, at this year’s Highland Park Pottery Tour (HPPT) and shop artfully for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season. A wide range of techniques and styles will be showcased, from wood-fired to wheel-thrown to hand-built pottery, there is something for everyone’s style. Now a long-standing holiday season tradition, the ninth annual HPPT takes place on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from 11am to 5pm, each day. HPPT is presented by four local potters in collaboration with Union Project, and has been since 2011. The tour was created to build connections within the ceramics community and the neighborhood while providing a sales opportunity for artists - growing artist entrepreneurship and branching out to the community. Jeff Guerrero is one of the four founding artists of HPPT. He’s hosted a stop on the tour in his home every year of the tour, until now. After living across the street from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) for over a decade, enjoying events on their campus, and appreciating their good work for the community, he’s most excited to shine a light on them, and their impressive collection, during this year’s tour. He and a few other artists will have their work available for sale at the PTS stop. PTS is not well known for showcasing ceramic art. As a graduate-level Presbyterian seminary school that does work in our local community, they’ve been a long-time sponsor of HPPT. The North Highland Avenue campus houses two standing exhibitions of ancient ceramics within the Kelso Musuem, a fact they are looking forward to highlighting on this year’s tour. According to Jennifer Christmas, Associate Curator, *Towns and Tombs: The Dead Sea Plain in the Early Bronze Age* features a plethora of roughly 5,000-year-old pottery from the vast cemeteries and the townsite of Bab edh-Dhra (modern Jordan) both hand-built and slow-wheel made vessels. Additionally, *Tales from Tells: Everyday Life in the Land Between* introduces work done on the fast wheel, so actual “thrown” pottery of various styles. “I'm also excited about my new guests this year,” said Guererro. “Laura Jean McLaughlin is not only an artist of national renown, but she’s also an extremely warm-hearted person and a mentor to many local artists. I defy anyone to walk away from a conversation with Laura Jean and not feel inspired. Margy Law has been a friend and a shoulder to lean on for many years. She's a passionate ceramic artist who has only just begun to formally exhibit, and I'm extremely happy to share my stop with her.” HPPT is a rare chance to experience professionally crafted ceramic art outside of a gallery or a store. Ceramic wares for sale include mugs, bowls, platters, vases, teapots, wall art, ornaments and more - with prices ranging from $10 to $200. For more information and a map, visit highlandparkpotterytour.com. -- Sam Laffey (she/her) Porter Loves Creative For artists who give a sh*t www.porterlovescreative.com Porter Loves Photography Candid portraits with the ones you love www.porterloves.com
