Amity Arts Pottery Workshop hosts annual holiday sale

FLORIDA — It's beginning to feel a lot like gift giving season.

Whether you like battling the crowds at the malls or sitting in front of your computer screen pressing buttons, there is a pleasant alternative to both approaches to holiday shopping.

The Amity Arts Pottery Workshop annual sale will be held on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7.

Those who look forward to the Amity Arts Pottery Workshop Annual Holiday Sale know they will find the ideal personal, handmade item for their special loved one at a reasonable price.

The artists at Amity Arts Pottery Workshop are an eclectic group of creative personalities, each seeing the world in his or her own way. Each year that the annual sales event takes place, there is a core group of long standing members, but each year brings a few new faces and styles to the mix. This year, “Al” Gerardo Alfonso Piquera, a sculptor of clay, offers lifelike works, some of which look like they were carved from wood. He will be giving classes at the studio this year.

Elyse Hanna creates carved plates, shown here. Judy Duboff, who has taught many of the artists, creates unique mugs and practical food storage containers adorned with bright colors, carved designs and some with carefully formed animals on top. Mickey Haglund displays dazzling, functional clay designs that highlight her expertise at working with glaze techniques that she has mastered over time.

Emma Gonzalez-Laders specializes in creative place settings for Japanese cuisine as well as gorgeous platters and never ceases to come up with a few surprises in her quest to break new ground. Melissa Peterson offers bowls and ceramic quiche molds as well as French butter keepers. Diane Arcieri specializes in ceramic jewelry pieces, KC Marcin creates clay woodland birds and animals such as owls and squirrels, Vicki Botta's tree pottery offers the peaceful beauty of simplicity in nature. Bob Breuer is also a sculptor and creator of clever pots and planters.

The event begins with a meet and greet the artists reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, and continues on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Amity Arts Pottery Workshop Studio is located at 1711 Route 17A in Florida. Look for the signs in front of the building. There are on-going classes and workshops for children and adults. For more information, call 845-651-1170.