Edmonton pottery fans flock to annual show in record numbers

Over 1,200 pottery fans from across Edmonton attended the annual pottery show Saturday.

The event welcomed 500 visitors in the first hour, a record for the event which has been organized each year for over 70 years by the Edmonton Potters’ Guild.

Saturday’s event saw 80 local artists showing off their creations.

One of the potters, Paul Emileditteloud, said he was pleased with the turn out.

“It’s quite busy. quite intense for the first hour and I’m really enjoying it,” he said.

Susan Wischlinski said that the show draws in a lot of younger people.

“It injects a whole lot of energy into our building and it’s fun for me,” Wischilnski said. “It’s totally therapy.”

Tables of hand-crafted ceramics of different colours and shapes lined the Alberta Avenue Community Centre, offering decorative pieces, functional pottery and jewelry.

“You look at this whole room — full of thousands of pieces of pottery and I challenge you to find two pieces that are identical,” said Rick Bremness, president of Edmonton Potters’ Guild. “They’re all unique.”

For Emileditteloud, pottery is more than just a beautiful craft.

“They’re all functional ware,” he said. “They’re for everyday — you can use your mug, your bowls, your pitchers.”

The show also accepted donations meant for Edmonton Food Bank ahead of the busy holiday season.

“If the people coming here can donate a little bit to the food bank when they come here, it helps out the community as a whole,” Bremness said.

“It’s important time of year. Lot of people (are) in need,” he said.