As you long time readers know, I'm always intrigued by something I've never seen before. Just typing that sentence brings several things to mind such as the caribou wandering down the center of a highway in New Foundland seemingly unconcerned with the cars; or the sand sculpture competition in California; my first exposure to the Metropolitan Art Museum; or living across the street from tidal pools and a seal colony in Oregon. Eastern North Carolina has added another unique experience: A whirligig park.
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Whirligig City
Friday, June 9, 2023
Greenville, North Carolina
I can sum up Eastern North Carolina in one word: Beautiful. This place is wonderfully GREEN. Mixed forests cover the landscape. There are several kinds of oaks, maples, elms, sycamores, and all types of pines and cedars. This is also the land of the giant magnolia trees. This one is outside of the Greenville Museum of Art.
This tree was easily 30 feet tall, and it's not even the biggest one we've seen. After getting my Greenville Library card, we took a tour of the art museum with a young woman who has all the degrees to become a curator. Currently, she's doing educational outreach in the community - thus the tour.
The collection of the museum tends to be an interesting blend of modern and primitive/folk art.
I really liked the whimsical outdoor sculptures constructed of 'found materials'.
What excited me the most about the Greenville Art Museum is I learned about a Seagrove, NC. This is a town of 200 potters. We are headed there for a quick overnight on the 16th of June. The granddaddy of potters in this town is called Jugtown Pottery. It's a family owned business which goes back to the turn of the century. Mostly, they've produced utilitarian pottery (stuff you actually use), but like the Japanese, they also have produced 'art pieces'. The pottery is instantly recognizable since it's this hideous orange color. Gradually over the past thirty years, other potters have just gravitated to this town. I can hardly wait to see what they have to offer. Here's some Jugtown pottery in the art museum