Rust Pottery
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Mail: P.O. Box 2242, Old Fort, NC 28762 48 East Main Street Old Fort, NC 28762 App Features Magazine - Production Team Publisher: Dru Heldman Editor: Bev Heldman Managing Editor: Donna Mayton Art & Direction: Dru Heldman Staff Photographer: Bev Heldman Accounting and Advertising Director: Donna Mayton Contributing Writers: Nanci Gregory - TAAS Members Photography Carol Sheppard - TAAS Member Glass & Jewelry Jennifer East - TAAS Member Weaving & Mixed Media Betty Heldman - TAAS Member Cross-stitch Beverly Heldman - TAAS Owner, Jewelry mixed media Donna Mayton-TAAS Executive Assistant
Appalachian Features Magazine Phone: 828-668-1070 Email: dheldman@taasg.com Donna Mayton - Executive Assistant Handcraft Marketing
This Issue Feature Artisan Rust Pottery Native American Art –art form of the Burden Basket. Exploring an Area through Photographic Tours Cool Products in TAAS Feature Artisan Listings Cover Photo provide by Beverly Heldman Feature Story by Beverly Heldman
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Computer Repair Downtown Old Fort Unifi-Web Office located in the back of Pinwilz. Bring in your PC or Laptop in and get an estimate on repair before any work is done. 48 East Main Street, Old Fort, NC
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The Appalachian Artisan Society Feature Artisan – October 2009 By Beverly Heldman
Rust Pottery Rust pottery was founded in 2006 by Debbie and Fred Rust. Originally from Michigan, and now residing in Gastonia, NC, Debbie had always dreamed of making her own pottery. One day while driving home from work as a currency teller, she saw a sign at the end of a driveway for pottery classes. She signed up and that began her passion in clay. Debbie then got her husband Fred hooked and they turned their two-car garage into a pottery studio. As a team they create some of the most beautiful pieces. They artistically create functional items like bowls, cups, platters and serving trays. They also make light hearted fun décor keepsakes like bible verses and things cat or dogs would say on plaques that go well in a kitchen or bathroom. Debbie hand builds her pottery while Fred spins his pottery on a wheel. While they have made Raku’ which is a high heat process that produces absolutely gorgeous colors, the Raku’ process of heating the clay really fast and then cooling really fast makes it so that it isn’t food safe and is very fragile. The Rust’s prefer to stick with the mid-fire process that makes an extremely durable product that is food safe. All of their products are in beautiful earth tone colors which make them very good gifts, guaranteed to match any décor. They come in a reddish color, blues, greens, tans and browns. Rust pottery is typically crafted with detailed texture which makes their functional pottery even more unique and special. Most people don’t realize how long it takes to make pottery. A simple plate can take weeks. First, you make the plate then let it dry thoroughly - this takes about a week. Once it’s completely dry it’s ready to fire (which is like putting it into a big super hot oven). This part of the process hardens the clay. After it’s been fired and cools for a day or more it gets the glaze. The glaze gives the piece its color. Time to fire again. The second firing incases the clay with the glaze which provides its color and protective glossy coating. That’s just for a plate. If you add handles to it, that’s another step all to itself. I love and appreciate a potter’s passion. Most people see arts and crafts and think, I can do that. The truth is, you probably can, eventually. It will take time and quite a bit of cash to get set up and to give it a go. Personally, I think I’ll leave pottery to the pros and keep buying their wares. I don’t think anyone can ever have too much pottery. TAAS Gallery is the only gallery where you can purchase Rust pottery. They travel and do shows where they sell their pottery. Fred would like to get to the point where they are so busy making pottery that he can retire from work and do this job full time. I believe that with the talent that Debbie and Fred have in their craft, they shouldn’t have any problem doing so. 3
Native American Art By Donna Mayton For this issue of Native American Art I have chosen the art form of the Burden Basket. The story this month is from the legend of the Chiricahua band of Apaches from southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and adjacent Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Most famous for their Burden Baskets are the Apaches. The word "apache" comes from the Yuma word for "fighting-men" and from the Zuni word meaning "enemy." The Apache tribe consists of six sub-tribes: the Western Apache, Chiricahua, Mescalero, Jicarilla, Lipan and Kiowa. Each sub-tribe is from a different geographical region. They are composed of six regional groups: Western Apache (Coyotero), from most of eastern Arizona which includes the White Mountain, Cibuecue, San Carlos, and Northern and Southern Tonto bands. The Apache tribe occupied the mountains and plains of southern Arizona and New Mexico, and parts of northern Mexico. Due to their nomadic nature, several names may have been used to identify the same tribe. In any event, it is generally agreed that about 5,000 Apaches lived in the Southwest at the end of the 1600's.
Photo by Gentry, 1908 , Apache girl with baskets
Apache girl in woven shirt, camp skirt, high boot top moccasins with shawl.
The Apaches were hunters, farmers and seed gatherers. They knew every land feature in the mountains, desert, and plains. Apache women built irrigation ditches and planted corn. The women also gathered cactus, fruit, pinion nuts, medicinal plants, and acorns. The men, as hunters, searched the land for deer, elk, gophers, wild turkeys, birds, fish, and lizards. The basic shelter of the tribe was the dome shaped wickiup made of brush. Wickiup
The primitive dress of the men was deerskin shirt, leggings, and moccasins. They were never without a loin-cloth. A deerskin cap with attractive symbolic ornamentation was worn. The women wore short deerskin skirts and high boot top moccasins.
Photo by Timothy O’Sullivan Was taken in 1873 4
The Chiricahua band of Apaches is from southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and adjacent Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. The band was an informal political unit, consisting of followers and a headman. They had no formal leader such as a tribal chief, or council. One of the most famous and easily recognizable Chiricahua leaders was Geronimo. Geronimo, or Goyathlay ("one who yawns"), was born in 1829, in what is today western New Mexico, but was then still Mexican territory. Geronimo was the leader of the last American Indian fighting force formally to surrender to the United States. Because he fought against such daunting odds and held out the longest, he became the most famous Apache of all. To the pioneers and settlers of Arizona and New Mexico, he was a renegade and murderer. This image endured until the second half of this century. To the Apaches, Geronimo embodied the very essence of the Apache values, aggressiveness and courage in the face of difficulty. In 1875 all Apaches west of the Rio Grande were ordered to the San Carlos Reservation. When the Chiricahua were forcibly removed (1876) to arid land at San Carlos, in southeastern Arizona, Geronimo fled with a band of followers into Mexico. Geronimo escaped from the reservation three times and although he surrendered, he always managed to avoid capture. The U.S. Army tried to move the Chiricahuas, and other bands, forcing them to walk 450 miles, in frigid winter and baking summer. Men, women, children, and the elderly were forced to walk. Some drowned crossing the Rio Grande. Stragglers were shot and left behind. It came to be called the Long Walk - more than 10,000 Navajos and Apaches were forcibly marched to a desolate reservation in eastern New Mexico called Bosque Redondo, and the arid desert reservation of San Carlos, Arizona. Nearly one-third of those interned on these reservations died of disease, exposure, and hunger, while held captive by the U.S. Army. While the U.S. Government lied and broke many treaties, Geronimo fled to Mexico eluding the troops for over a decade. An enemy band of Apaches was hired by the U.S. Government to capture Geronimo and his outlaw band. These scouts were promised rights as Americans if they captured Geronimo. These same scouts were rewarded with medals in Washington, put on a train, and then arrested and remained prisoners for the rest of their lives. Sensationalized press reports exaggerated Geronimo's activities, making him the most feared and infamous Apache. The Apache leaders depended on his wisdom. Geronimo was never a chief, but a medicine man, a seer, and a spiritual and intellectual leader both in and out of battle. Geronimo (Goyathlay), a Chiricahua Apache; full-length, kneeling with rifle. Photographed by Ben Wittick, 1887
The present-day Apache groups include the Jicarilla and Mescalero of New Mexico, the Chiricahua of the Arizona-New Mexico border area, the Western Apache of Arizona, the Lipan Apache of southwestern Texas, and the Plains Apache of Oklahoma. There undoubtedly existed other Apache groups which are not as well-known by modern anthropologists and historians. Western Apaches are the only Apache group that remains within Arizona. The group is divided into several reservations that crosscut cultural and cross tribal divisions. The Western Apache reservations include the Fort Apache White Mountain, San Carlos, Yavapai-Apache, Tonto-Apache, and Fort McDowell Mohave. 5
Why the Bat Has Short Legs A Chiricahua Apache Legend Long ago, Killer-of-Enemies vowed to save his people from the terror of monster eagles that roamed the skies and carried off children. Killer-of-Enemies tricked one monster eagle into carrying him up to the eagle nest on the cliff. There he killed the monster eagle and its family. But Killer-of-Enemies did not know how to get down from the cliff. Just then, he saw an old woman approaching. It was Old Woman Bat. "Grandmother, help me. Take me down," Killer-ofEnemies said. Old Woman Bat looked all around, but did not see him. Killer-of-Enemies called out again, and again, and again. Finally, Old Woman Bat saw him high in the eagle's nest. She came over to the cliff and began to climb up. "What are you doing here?" she asked, when she reached the top. "Monster eagle carried me up here," he said. "Please take me down." "Climb in my basket," Old Woman Bat said. Killer of Enemies looked at the burden basket on the old woman's back. Its carrying strap was made of spider's silk. "That strap is too fine," he said. "It will break and I shall fall."
"Nonsense! I've carried a bighorn sheep in this basket," Old Woman Bat said. "Get in and close your eyes. If you look, we will fall." Photographer: Bruce Dale (from Kid Zone)
Old Woman Bat clambered down the rock, singing a strange song. Her burden basket swayed wildly from side to side. Killer-of-Enemies thought the spider thread would surely break, so he opened his eyes to look. As soon as Killer-of-Enemies opened his eyes, he and Old Woman Bat crashed down from the cliff. Old Woman Bat landed first and broke her legs. Killer-ofEnemies fell on top of her and was safe. Old Woman Bat's broken legs soon mended but from that day on her legs were short. 6
Burden Baskets The burden basket of the Native American Apache tribe is one of the most recognized baskets of the Apache. The baskets were originally used in everyday life for gathering wild foods and harvesting crops like corn. Burden baskets come in all sizes. Large burden baskets were also used for food storage. Smaller baskets worn over the shoulder, around the neck, or at the hip were made to collect berries or seeds, or carry food and other small items. Women from some Native groups wore basketry hats to cushion the weight of the tumpline on their forehead. Some of these hats could double as personal food bowls . Sometimes we overlook burden baskets—perhaps the simplicity of their function blinds us to their beauty. Many Native American people share the idea of using baskets to carry loads, but the baskets they make vary in shape, size, color, design, and weave. Although all burden baskets are straightforward and similar in use, each tribe makes them in a unique and identifiable style. Elements that appear to be ornamental are often functional—the tin cones attached to Apache burden baskets that tinkle and ring as the wearer walks, warning away snakes. As the baskets were carried through the day while working the tin cones would jingle to scare away snakes that may be nearby. Small burden baskets were given to the Apache children by their parents. As their mother was working in the field, she could hear the jingles and know where her children were. Other baskets, too, would not work as well if certain design elements were not woven into them. Burden baskets may be carried in nets, or by woven leather, rope shoulder straps or tumplines, straps worn across the chest or forehead. A basket’s conical shape conforms wonderfully to a wearer’s back, evenly distributing the load’s weight. They may be made in a closed (tightly spaced) weave—plaiting, twining, wicker, or coiling, depending on their use. Native American women used burden baskets to hang across the shoulder and leave the hands free, while having a place to keep herbs, berries, twigs for starting fires, and any other of the many things that she might pass during her daily duties, that she would find useful
for her family's needs. When she arrived home each day, she would hang the basket by the entrance of their dwelling. If visitors came to visit they waited outside for an "invite", if they were not invited in, they left not offended, but understanding that it was not a good time for a visit. If they were invited in, they were expected to deposit their troubles in the basket so the visit would be pleasant and their conversation would not be clouded with bad feelings. San Carolos Apache woman with Burden Basket
The traditional custom is to hang these baskets outside the home and visitors to the house are to place their burdens in the basket before they enter the home. The saying "leave your burdens at the door" originated with these baskets. The burden basket is a symbol of pride for the Apache people.
This burden basket is an authentic handmade basket that can be hung near your door to remind you " Leave Your Troubles at the Door"! Apache Burden Basket
Pictured is a Hanging Burden Basket made by Buckhorn Crossing, Pam and Bryan Barnett of Weaverville, NC, available at TAAS Gallery.
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Exploring an Area through Photographic Tours By Carol Sheppard, Southern Orchid Glass & Jewelry Designs Last Fall, my son and I were travelling in Alaska when, without actually giving much thought to what I was signing us up for, I placed us in a group taking a “photographic tour” around Juneau. Happily, it turned out to be one of the most interesting and inspiring group tours I have ever participated in. We spent
several awe-inspiring hours photographing whales and trekking through the woods to photograph glaciers and a variety of indigenous plants and animals. You may be wondering what exactly distinguishes a photographic tour from any other group tour? The main mission of a photographic tour is to capture the essence of the area through photography. From that central mission statement, these tours wander off in
many directions. But the main charter is focused (no
pun intended!) on providing you with the opportunity to explore and capture through your camera lens an areas’ best landscape and/or wildlife photographic opportunities.
Generally led by someone whose own photography skills are a cut above the general population, these tours offer not only the opportunity to discover areas that may be off the beaten path or that have been winnowed down into the views that provide the best photographs or vantage points of a particular area, but they simultaneously provide you with the opportunity to improve your photographic technique by learning from a skilled professional or semi-professional photographer. Tour guides may delve into subjects that interest photographers more than mainstream tourists, such as sightings of unusual wildlife or plants. On our Alaska tour, we spent several happy moments delving through and photographing a pile of bear scat. The act of photographing the contents of the scat sealed in my mind the background information we received from our guide.
Some obvious sources for locating these tours include local camera shops, your hotel concierge or bed-andbreakfast owner, but you can also research and 8
schedule them ahead of your departure date right from the comfort of your home via the Internet. Using a search engine, you can insert the name of the city or region you plan to visit, along with the words “photographic tour.” Another great source for these tours are the websites of photographers whose work you admire. Don’t forget to include a perusal of websites for groups that support outdoor and travel activities or photo-based exploration, for instance National Geographic. If all else fails, you can check the classified ad pages located at the back of photographybased special interest magazines for advertised tour
providers. Thanks to the Internet, though, there is a dearth of information available to you with just a few strokes of your keyboard. All in all, it is a rewarding endeavor to join fellow photographers for an afternoon of photography. You will find an atmosphere of infinite patience while you set up for that perfect shot. And who knows? You just might learn something about photography technique that you didn’t know! And if you don’t like any of your own photographs, you’ll still have time to peruse the local galleries for photographs offered by local artists.
The call for artists to create one of a kind handmade ornaments goes out this month. TAAS Gallery is expecting another good showing of creativity and craftsmanship will be expressed with this challenging project. This year we will again, the entry fee required to enter the competition a nonperishable food item. Please bring in four or five items per entry. Entries accepted between November 3rd – November 28th Ornaments by Kevin Clark
The prizes this year will be Gift Certificates good at any Pinwilz company including TAAS Gallery, Pinwilz Beads, Butterfly Blends Candles or Catawba Vale Café. We’ll have both adults and a children’s category and present a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize for both categories. Prizes in the adult category: 1st place $50.00 Gift Certificate 2nd place $25.00 Gift Certificate 3rd place $5.00 Gift Certificate
Prizes in the Children Age 6-12 category: 1st place $25.00 Gift Certificate 2nd place $15.00 Gift Certificate 3rd place $5.00 Gift Certificate
Contest Rules: Ornament must be handmade by the person that enters the contest. Any type of material can be used to make your ornament, use your imagination. Hand painted ornaments will be accepted. Your ornament must be able to hang from a Christmas tree and include a hook or loop. Voting: The public is invited to visit the display in TAAS Gallery between December 1 st and December 17th during regular business hours and select the ornament that they think is the best. Votes are $5.00 each. Finding the winners: The top vote getters will go into the final round and be judged by a distinguished panel of five judges. These judges will decide the winners prior to the awards ceremony. Awards Ceremony will be on Thursday December 17th beginning at 7:00 PM. Be sure to come out and see who wins the competition and be entertained by local musical
talent during the ceremony. It’s always a very special night where we celebrate good will and good deeds as we support the important mission of our local Hospice.
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Appalachian Consumables We’re on the hunt for Appalachian consumable products. If you make a product that is not necessary an art or a craft but a production item. Please contact TAAS Gallery. We are interested in selling locally made consumable goods like honey, Jams, soaps, candles, candies, cooking sauces, canned goods, non-perishable food items, cleaning products and more.
Call for artist and handcrafts professionals TAAS Gallery is always looking for talented hand crafters and artists that would be a good fit with our gallery and on-line store. We are in the process of expanding into sales in areas outside of our region with our dealer program. Check out our website for more information www.taasg.com
Quilted Postcards Quilted Post Cards – What? No, really you can mail these! “Yes you can!” Check this out on line www.taasg.com Created by: Linda Johnson 4”x6” is just $16.95 – Each one is a one of a kind work of art!
Quillows are back at TAAS It’s a quilt no, it’s a pillow, no it’s either. Great for the car
Shown here is a Quillow being modeled by Cory Heldman, look how happy he is. Made by Judith Grabowski
Just four in stock at $30.00 each
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Feature Artisans
See the complete artisan listing on-line
These Features Artisans all have on-line bios and product listings on the taasg.com website. Visit www.taasg.com and click on shop. Buy from up to 70 different artisans with one shipment UPS/Fed-EX & USPS
Butterfly Blends Soy Candles, Soy melting Tarts & Pillar Candles by Dru Heldman, Old Fort, NC
Dana Abee Reynolds of Abee Artistry Jewelry Designer, Artist Little Switzerland, NC
Debbie Acrivos of Sassy Bags Sewn Crafts Old Fort, NC
Kevin Clark of K & D Fine Handcrafted and T... Fine Handcrafted Turned Wood Marion, NC
Lisa Davis Jewelry Design, Charlotte, NC
Jerry Depew of Spoonin' It With Jerry Handcrafted hardwood spoons, sculptures & collages Kings Mountain, NC
Jennifer East of SouthWest by East MIved media, collage, loom and offloom weaving, felting, original Marion, NC Katrina Bass of Appalachia Blue Jewelry - crochet wire bead weaving peyote, spiral Old Fort, NC
Members of TAAS Gallery get marketed. If you have a handcraft, TAAS is where you should be. Donna Clark of Nature Maid Soap & Lotion Homemade Soap and Lotion Marion, NC
Sales in the gallery Sales on line Listing in Appalachian Features Magazine 11
Cecilia Gilliam of CleverCraft Gifts Rustic florals and accents, hand painted flowers, birds, butterflies... Old Fort, NC
Lee Entrekin of Dreamwind Handmade Native American Style Flutes, Made in a full range of keys ... Old Fort, NC Denise Geiger Painting - Oil & Pastels Black Mountain, NC
Lana Gentile Acrylic Paintings Landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, and architecture. Old Fort, NC
John & Judith Grabowski Olin, NC Stained glass, glass blocs w/ wire, crocheted & sewn baby items, quilting.
Nanci Gregory Photography Claremont, NC
Arthur C. Heldman – Writer, Sevierville, TN Cecilia Gilliam Photos on Canvas Old Fort, NC
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Betty Heldman Crocheting afghans and baby blankets Sevierville, TN
Bev Heldman of PINWILZ Wire creations, Jewelry, wood burning. Old Fort, NC
Barbara Klein of Honeybee Handmade Jewelry, Candler, NC
Casey Kristofferson of Little Flower People, handpainted clothes, Old Fort, NC
Faye Huskey of Front Row Beads Jewelry Martha Mauney Watercolors Valdese, NC
John McKinney Artist Oil, Nebo, NC
Harold Hyatt – Silversmith, Swannanoa, NC Linda Johnson Landscape and nature fabric post card art quilts Morganton, NC
Martha Nelson Wheel formed and hand-built Stoneware Pottery Ridgecrest, NC
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Kerri Newman of Blue Ridge Studios, Lampwork glass, Lenoir, NC
Karen K. Paquette of Abstract Garden Fine Art, Abstract, Mixed media Black Mountain, NC
Eileen Ross, Multi-media paintings, Black Mountain, NC
Lisa RingelspaughIrvine Watercolor Artist, Asheville, NC
Debbie Rust of Rust Pottery Pottery Gastonia, NC
Carol Sheppard of Southern Orchid Glass & Jewelry, Kiln-formed Art Glass, Mosaics, and Wearable Art Jewelry Dahlonega, GA
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Penny Skoog Japanese Temari Balls and Polymer Clay Designs and Jewelry Maggie Valley, NC
Susan Stanton Photography Horse Shoe, NC
Jenean Stone Photography Black Mountain, NC
Anne Stone Locker Hooking, Pottery Montreat, NC
Helen Sullivan, painting and sculpture, Old Fort, NC
Darryl Totherow Native American walking sticks, Dream catchers Newton, NC
Bob Travers, Internationally recognized Wildlife Artist, Fletcher, NC
Ann Woodbridge, Altered Works of Nature Rustic Lamps, Welcome Signs, Chairs & Scrolled Saw Art Rutherfordton, NC
Bob Stuart of Old Man Carvings Hand Carved Woodland Spirits Cypress Knees, Bottle Stoppers and Hiking Sticks Greensboro, NC
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Holiday Parties Business Luncheons Training Classes Pick nicks & Outings ●
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Let Catawba Vale Café Make your Day Catering Music & Entertainment Gifts & Door prizes from TAAS Gallery
“Great Food Presented” 32 East Main Street Old fort, NC 28762 Catawba Vale Café is inside TAAS Fine Art Gallery 828-668-9899 www.catawbavale.com 16