The Maine Pottery Tour has announced participants in its eighth season, Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5. From Kittery to Thorndike and Bethel, to Phillips and Belfast, 37 ceramic artists will open their studios to the public for tours, sales and demonstrations. 

The tour’s goal is to make people aware of the potters in the area and encourage local support.  Local pottery enhances the users’ experience with products from other Maine makers, notably food, beer, home décor and gardens. 

“The Maine Pottery Tour was started when Lori Watts of Fine Mess Pottery contacted several potters in the area. It was modeled after a pottery tour that has been very successful in Minnesota for many years.” said Mary K. Spencer of The Potter’s House in Litchfield. 

The participating potters have cleaned up their work spaces and are welcoming visitors to their studios to see the work they do. All are happy to talk with you about making pots, how they work with clay and the different techniques they use to decorate and fire their work.

Get an inside glimpse into the life of a potter, enjoy some refreshments, tour their studios, peek into kilns — maybe even get a chance to try the potter’s wheel!

Hours for the Maine Pottery Tour:  10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 4 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 5.

If you are a Maine potter and would like to join the tour, contact  Lori Keenan Watts of Fine Mess Pottery at info@finemesspottery.com.

Coastal participants include Chouinard Ceramics in Wiscasset, Neighborhood Clay & Liz Proffetty Ceramincs in Damariscotta, Fireside Pottery in Warren, West Third Ceramics of Belfast, and Van Der Ven Studios of Lincolnville. Central Maine studios include Fine Mess Pottery in Augusta, Hallowell Clayworks in  Hallowell, and Red Door Pottery/Marie Palluotto. 

Details, complete list of participants  and downloadable maps can be found at http://mainepotterytour.org.