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Martha’s Whimsical Style
Written By: Zach Claxton - Highlands-Cashiers Art League | Issue: April 2023
The Art League of Highlands-Cashiers launches with a presentation by Wizard of the Clay, Martha Sutherland-Wright, April 24 at The Bascom.
The 2023 season has arrived! For the first time in many years, the Art League did not go completely dormant during the winter months. Some full-time resident members met monthly for lunch and fellowship. Those attending kept up to date on each others’ off-season activities and discussed ideas for 2023. The first meeting of the League’s 2023 season will be held at The Bascom at 5:00 P.M. on April 24, following a social at 4:30. This year’s first speaker will be Art League member Martha Sutherland-Wright. After semi-retiring from a 40-year career as a CPA, Martha had more time to pursue other interests. One of those was becoming a volunteer at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, which led her to heavy involvement in the first Old Edwards/Humane Society fundraising event. Frank Vickery, head of the Bascom’s ceramics program provided table centerpieces to be auctioned in support of the fundraiser. As Martha got to know Frank, she was immediately interested in leaning more about clay art. She began taking classes, and in the process found a fulfilling second career. She was hungry to learn everything about the clay art form, and through hard work, she developed a whimsical style of sought-after animal and birdhouse pieces. Her work recently earned her acceptance into the prestigious Southern Highlands Craft Guild, an organization of some 800 members across nine states, who work in a variety of mediums. Her bird homes are built and sculpted from slabs of clay. Sometimes the base is thrown and then altered. She uses stoneware or earthenware; after the pieces dry, they are then bisque fired to 1,850 degrees. Afterwards, oxides, underglazes, slips and/or glazes are applied. Finally, they are then fired at Cone 5, which is 2,160 degrees, in an electric kiln. Her work can be seen at the Bascom, Mountain Nest Gallery in Black Mountain, the Craft Guild galleries at Biltmore Village and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Martha’s web site is wayswithclay.com, and her Instagram presence is @marthasutherlandwright. Martha’s presentation will provide the perfect way to kick off the 2023 season! For more information about the Art League, visit artleaguehighlands-cashiers.com. by Zach Claxton,
Art League of Highlands-Cashiers
