Free event Oct. 26-27 puts pottery in the spotlight
The end of summer is an especially busy time at The Barn, a locally owned gallery that creates and sells handcrafted pottery in the Gruene Historic District of New Braunfels.
That’s when resident potter Kyle White creates and fires dishes, mugs, bowls and other handcrafted pottery for the 32nd annual Texas Clay Festival, a free, open-air festival that will bring some of the state’s best pottery artists to Gruene on October 26-27.
A field of 80 potters will set up booths on the grounds near The Barn, giving visitors opportunities to shop, see demonstrations by the artists and admire a wide variety of ceramics, from functional ware to artistic sculptures.
Part of the festival’s enduring appeal is the quality of the art on display, said event coordinator Tasha Corradini. The show is juried, meaning that artists must submit photos of their work to be considered for one of the 80 spots available.
“I think people keep coming back because the quality of the work is absolutely stellar,” Corradini said. “And you get to take it home.”
The festival is known for its welcoming environment. Visitors can grab a beer at Gruene Hall and wander over to peruse the displays and demonstrations. A silent auction on both days of the festival raises funds for the pottery community, whether it’s to help a potter in need or for a scholarship for ceramics students
Parking is available in the main Gruene parking lot and also at Rockin’ R River Rides at 1405 Gruene Road, with shuttle service to the event.
The festival started more than three decades ago with a small group of artists trying to build an interest in ceramics. As the years went on, more people discovered the event and organizers began adding new potters each year. They also added artist demonstrations because visitors are often curious about how pieces are made.
“The allure of pottery is that it’s beautiful, handcrafted art that you can use and appreciate every day,” said Angie White, who co-owns The Barn along with her husband Kyle.
“I think a lot of it is that you’re taking a piece that someone else has made and has put their heart and soul into, and you can use it,” White said. “I can’t tell you how many people tell me, ‘My coffee tastes much better in a hand-made mug.’”
White has helped with the Texas Clay Festival since 2008, when she and Kyle moved to New Braunfels and she began working at Buck’s Pottery, founded by her aunt and uncle, Terry and Dee Buck.
Angie and Kyle met in a photography class in their senior year of high school. Kyle studied art at Wichita State University in Kansas, and when he took a ceramics class, he became hooked. The couple made ceramic vases and table decorations for their wedding in 2008.
After that, they moved to New Braunfels, where Angie began working at Buck’s Pottery while Kyle finished his degree at Texas State University. The Bucks sold the business to Angie and Kyle in 2015, and they renamed it The Barn, the name family members used to refer to the studio. The business is in one of the original structures in the Gruene Historic District, dating back to the late 1800s.
Today, Kyle crafts and fires pieces, and Angie wears almost all of the other hats at the gallery, including carving and finishing the exteriors of the studio’s clay creations and running the business. Visitors to the gallery can watch pottery being made in the adjacent studio while they shop.
The Barn’s inventory focuses on pieces that are beautiful but also practical. All the dishware they sell, even items created by other potters, is dishwasher, microwave and oven-safe.
“Anything that’s going to be functional in the kitchen and in our daily life, that’s the route we take,” White said.
The Barn offers a classic pottery line, with a variety of pieces that share a standard set of glazes and colors so people can gradually add to their collection.
“You could get a bowl today and a couple of drinking glasses another time and they would compliment each other,” she said.
Some of their best-selling items are their stemless clay wine mugs. Each one is similar in shape but varies in color and style. Customers pick up a new mug to add to their collection whenever they come to Gruene. Groups of friends will buy one to celebrate a special occasion.
“When we’re almost out of wine cups, we know it’s time to fire again,” White said.
If you’re fired up about pottery, make plans to stay and visit the Texas Clay Festival, Oct. 26-27. Plan your pottery adventure #InNewBraunfels at visitnbtx.com. #visitnbtx