A ceramic piece by Ashley Pfister.
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts invites visitors to an open-house celebration of its newly renovated public program space and gallery on Tuesday, Aug. 20 between 5 and 7 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to meet and view work by summer artists-in-residence, enjoy light refreshments, and learn more about Watershed’s programs.
The new space, located at 103 Cochran Road in Edgecomb, is a historic home that was renovated over the past year to provide year-round ADA-compliant spaces for art exhibitions, artist talks, and other community events. The building, named the Joan Pearson Watkins House, is also home to Watershed’s administrative offices on the second floor.
The purchase of the property in 2018 was made possible by a major gift from the Joan Pearson Watkins Trust. Watkins was a celebrated ceramist and educator dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the arts. Along with house, the purchase included over 20 acres of open fields and forests that will remain as open space; the property adjoins Watershed’s existing 32-acre educational campus.
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts’ new gallery and public space in Edgecomb, the Joan Pearson Watkins House.
Extensive renovations to the house interior were funded in part by generous gifts from The Chester and Muriel Dawes Foundation and long-time supporters Elizabeth Kendall and Steve Howard. “Watershed is grateful for these generous gifts that allowed us to restore the stunning hardwood floors throughout the building as well as a stained glass window, rebuild the entrance porch, update electrical and plumbing systems, and make other aesthetic improvements,” said Fran Rudoff, Watershed’s executive director.
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting artists who create with clay. Artists come to Watershed to grow their studio practice and connect with others in an environment that encourages exploration, experimentation, and exchange of ideas. Through residencies, workshops, educational initiatives, artist talks, and public events, Watershed serves the local, national, and international clay communities.
For more information about the open house, email info@watershedceramics.org or call 882-6075.
