Participant Spotlight: Crazy Green Studios

Crazy Green Studios is home to Pottery by Lori Theriault, and is one of the newest businesses to open in the Art Walk collective. In addition to some fine studio pottery of her own, Lori will be hosting West Asheville potters Jennifer Hoolihan and Catherine Shane. For the Art Walk festivities, they'll have functional and decorative pottery, gift certificates available for pottery and for classes/open studio membership (read more about that below), and some tasty refreshments!

'om' platter, Lori Theriault

Lori Theriault: I'm a studio potter who also offers an open studio membership in my studio for new and aspiring potter-types. My background in pottery includes four plus years of classes at a teaching studio in Washington DC (Hinckley Pottery), multiple demonstration and hands on workshops and a two-year Residency at the Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts in Asheville. My work is functional, high-fired stoneware and is available direct from my studio and in several retail and gallery locations throughout North Carolina and Georgia. My work reflects my influences from Asian art and pottery, but also refects my own interest in texture. The textures can be tactile or visual, obvious or those that are discovered only by spending time with a piece, and more importantly, by using a piece. In addition to my own studio work, commission orders are available for bridal registries, fireplace tiles and logo-branded functional and decorative ware for all sorts of business needs.

'swirly cups', Lori Theriault

I'm so happy to be a part of this growing and eclectic West Asheville neighborhood, and I'm very happy to offer open studio access to new and aspiring potters. With membership, you can come to the studio anytime during open hours and have use of the facility, including tools, clay, glazes and firings. And if you need some help getting started, you'll get instruction too! I'll have information and gift certificates available at the Art Walk for membership, private lessons and of course the actual pottery. Whether it be by my hand or yours, you can give the gift of hand made this year!

holiday ornament, Lori Theriault

Crazy Green Studios is happy and proud to host two talented West Asheville potters for the East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk! Here's a little about them:

R-L: teapot, creamer & sugar bowl, Jennifer Hoolihan

Jennifer Hoolihan:
As a potter residing in the east west Asheville hood, Jennifer Hoolihan is proud to be a guest artist at Crazy Green Studios. She mainly produces functional dinnerware and loves how handmade dishes bring vitality to the table. Knowing that people are using her pots on a daily basis is an important part of her motivation. "I love it that my mugs are bouncing around in many cars and trucks in Asheville and beyond. I sometimes wish I could see a snapshot of where they are now." In addition to being a potter, Jennifer is also the Ceramic Technician at Highwater Clays. An avid gardner, cook and poultry enthusiast, she has taught pottery classes at AB Tech and Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts.

wall boxes, Shane

Catherine 'Shane' Shane: Shane is a gardener who loves to get her hands dirty. She's been working in clay for over 10 years. Her inspiration comes from her love for animals and nature. Shane's most recent wall boxes began as a way to display all those pretty seed heads and honey combs she finds in the garden.