The Mithigan Daily-Wednesday, July 21, 1982-Page 11 Potter's Guild: Art fair tradition Ceramists part of South U. fair for 23 years By BILL SPINDLE Although a number of ceramists will be displaying their work this week in the three art fairs, members of the Pot- ter's Guild have the distinction of showing with one of the oldest par- ticipants in Ann Arbor's art ex- travaganza. "We're quite unique in the country," guild member Shirley Knudsvig said of the cooperative pottery studio located on Hill Street. "We are about 35 years in operation and Id venture to say that we're one of the oldest guilds in the nation," she said. THE COOPERATIVE aspects of the guild, which is jointly owned by its 40 lifelong members, are the key to its success, according to Knudsvig. ,F4 Daily Photo by DOUG McMAI Hundreds of pots, vases, and urns are stored on the shelves of the Potter's Guild on Hill Street. Some of these, and many like them, will be on sale in the Potter's Guild booth at the corner of South University and East University. "You learn from working with professionals," she said. "You just have all the sharing of knowledge. I think people find the environment sup- portive." In addition to the exchange of ideas and techniques which theguild promotes, its cooperative tradition helps keep costs down for the artists, guild member Sue Stoll said. THE GUILD, she said, "means we can all share the cost of a studio which we cannot afford ourselves." Twenty-two of the guild's members will be selling their pottery at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair when the guild opens its booth on the corner of South University and East University for the 23rd consecutive year. "We have been at that location ever since it (the art fair) began," Knudsvig said, "so we really feel like we are a part of the street fair." THIS YEAR, according to Knudsvig, guild members will be selling a wide range of items including urns, jugs, jars, and vases. "Everytfiing from raku (a special method of preparing the pottery), to sculptural, to functional pottery, por- celain stoneware, and oven ware," she said. Knudsvig added that the price range for pottery is just as wide as the selec- tion. Prices can run, she said, "anywhere from a dollar up to $500." THE STREET fair sale is the most profitable of the three sales the guild holds each year, according to Stoll. "It's the best and it has become in- creasingly better over the years," she added. The guild chooses its members each year by a selection process using slides and examples of the artists' work. Knudsvig explained, however, that because the guild is limited to 40 lifelong members, acceptance to the guild is fairly competitive. The Ann Arbor group was one of the first potters' guilds in the state and ac- cording to Stoll, guild members have founded new groups throughout the state and the country. One member founded a guild in Lan- sing, Stoll said, while other more am- bitious members, she added, have established guilds as far away as Hawaii. Dail Classifieds Bring Res ulITs A member of the Potter's Guild, a cooperative artists' studio, prepares for this year's fair. Not WOLVERINE DEN-.Ser PIZZERIAG 1201 S. University on Church Ann Arbor We Serve Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. 769-8364 We Specialize in PIZZA, Regular and Sicilian. s " GREAT BIKE SALE Raleigh Bikes -10% off BMX, 3 Spd; SSPD & 10 Spd.-while in stock FAMOUS FUJIS BIKE SALE -10% OFF WHILE IN STOCK SOME SCHWINN BIKES-$10 OFF 5W.WUhiSt. "ANN ARBOR'S OLDEST BIKE STORE" 63 $35 CAM us Bike& Joy Sat. 9.30-S:30