Highwater Clays' Open House!

It began with a dream, a dough mixer and a couple of idealists. Today’s it’s a cornerstone business in the thriving River Arts District and an Asheville success story.

Highwater Clays will hold its annual Open House on September 14 and 15 with demonstrations, door prizes, product give-aways, and more.

Highwater Clays has a uniquely Asheville origin. In 1979 Brian and Gail McCarthy arrived in Asheville in a pick-up truck, toting two kids and a tent. The dream? To make the Earth’s best clays amid the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

The couple started mixing clay in an artists’ cooperative along the Swannanoa River, then moved to a warehouse along the French Broad River, eventually setting roots in Clingman Avenue in 1994. Later that year Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts opened while the clay business continued to grow.

“Asheville has been good to us and we appreciate all the support local artists have given us over the years,” said Brian McCarthy.

Highwater maintains a presence on Clingman Avenue through Odyssey and the nearby Parsonage, an open-style B&B, but the retail business, mixing operation, and warehouse moved to its present location at 600 Riverside Drive in 2002.

The company celebrates 28 years of business in September with an Open House featuring demonstrations by Jim Skutt of Skutt Kilns, Po-Wen Liu from Nidec Shimpo, Diana Farris from Amaco and Richard Arnfield from Spectrum Glazes.

For more information visit Highwater Clays’ Web site www.highwaterclays.com, e-mail clays@highaterclays.com, call 828.252-6033 or stop in at the retail store at 600 Riverside Drive Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Schedule of Events
Friday, September 14
9:45 a.m. Jim Skutt discusses loading and firing practices, troubleshooting, diagnostics, and Q&A with guests.

11 a.m. Po-Wen Liu from Shimpo demonstrates throwing and handbuilding

Saturday, September 15
10:30 a.m. Jim Skutt discusses loading and firing practices, troubleshooting, diagnostics, and Q&A with guests.

1:00 p.m. Wheel throwing and altering with Nick Joerling

Diana Farris from Amaco and Richard Arnfield from Spectrum will demonstrate both days. Arnfield will be using two types of glaze pens.

Select glazes, book, kilns and wheels will be on sale throughout the Open House. With a purchase of $50 or more, customers will receive a free Highwater Clays T-shirt.