by Kathy Manos Penn (The Ink Penn) for The Aha! Connection
Be still my heart! ‘Tis the season for festivals and fairs and sales. Next up is the three-day Spruill Center for the Arts Pottery & Art Sale May 3, 4, and 5.
I visited this sale for the first time in 2018 and came away with gifts and, of course, something for myself. I can often pop into arts and crafts galleries and shops without seeing anything that speaks to me, but not this time. The selection was incredibly tempting, and I felt fortunate to get away without buying more.
This event features a variety of artwork handcrafted by the talented Spruill instructors and students. You’ll find ceramics, paintings, glass art, jewelry and more. Last year I found a unique pottery piece by Kathy Walton, which I describe as a shallow green bowl with a three-dimensional frog in the middle. It was just the right gift for my nature-loving friend who often takes care of my dog. She was a science teacher at both Peachtree and Dunwoody High schools, and this piece was right up her alley.
Now in its 13th year, the Pottery and Art sale not only allows artists to showcase their creations but also serves as a fundraiser for the Spruill Center. As you’re looking for Mother’s Day and end of year teacher gifts, this is the place to be. You’ll be in no danger of giving the same thing everyone else is giving because the items are unique.
I keep a gift drawer in my office, filled with things that make great hostess and birthday gifts. If you do the same, you too will want to stock up at this sale. Now that I’ve discovered this event, I plan to attend every year, even though I don’t need a thing. As long as I purchase only gifts for others, I’ll be fine. Who am I kidding? I’ve already spotted some earrings online that are a fashion necessity—silver earrings with a hint of red by Amy Gresens.
My husband and I have been in the “downsizing without downsizing” mode for a year or two, and that means I try hard not to bring more artwork and pottery into the house, but sometimes I can’t help myself. For those who don’t know me, “downsizing without downsizing” means getting rid of “stuff” without actually moving to a smaller home.
We go in spurts with this task. I’ve pretty much cleaned out the books I’ve collected by donating them to the Friends of the Dunwoody Library, and I’ve visited shredding events with tons of college and work papers and boxes of old bills. But pottery and jewelry and artwork? Parting with those things is difficult.
I occasionally part with a small knick-knack that no longer holds meaning for me, but so many of the items I’ve collected through the years still spark joy, as Marie Kondo says. All that joy would be fine if I didn’t continue to bring home new pottery I can’t live without. Not to mention, I have a friend who’s an artist, and my home is filled with her paintings. And, let’s not even talk about jewelry. Let’s just say that Marie Kondo would not be happy with me.
Spruill Center for the Arts Pottery & Art Sale May 3, 4, and 5
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, GA 30338
- Friday, May 3rd / 10am-9pm
- Saturday, May 4th / 10am-5pm,
- Sunday, May 5th / 12-5pm
Kathy is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her books, “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch” and “The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday,” at the Enchanted Forest and on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook.