About
Who We Are
The Village Potters Clay Center is a vibrant creative community dedicated to the exploration of clay. We are a collective of six resident potters. The 18,000 sq. foot facility houses six private studios, three fully equipped educational studios, thirteen varying atmospheric kilns, retail gallery, and clay company that distributes both Laguna Clays and Standard clays, as well as pottery tools. Our center’s gallery is one of Western NC’s premier galleries selling fine ceramic art and functional work by our six resident potters.
Our extensive educational programs offer both in-person and live online classes for adults, demonstrations and hands-on workshops, as well as an Advanced Studies Ceramics Program (designed around Independent Study and Mentoring).
Mission
Our mission is to nurture creative exploration through education, experience, and community.
Core Values
Respect, Integrity, Service, Kindness, Excellence
The Village Potters Clay Center is deeply committed to serving and supporting every person. We maintain a community which recognizes, values, and celebrates the worth and uniqueness of all individuals.
The Village Potters does not discriminate of the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status.
The Village Potters Core Team
Sarah Wells Rolland (she/her)
Resident Potter | Owner | Founder | Instructor | Mentor
George Rolland (he/him)
Owner | Founder | Facility Manager
Judi Harwood (she/her)
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Julia Mann (she/her)
Resident Potter | Studio Manager | Instructor | Mentor
Katie Meili Messersmith (she/her)
Resident Potter | Marketing | Instructor | Mentor
Karen Dubois (she/her)
Resident Potter | Instructor | Mentor
Maria Andrade Troya (she/her)
Resident Potter | Instructor
Zulema Seguel (she/her)
Clay Company Coordinator
The Resident Artists of The Village Potters
The Resident Potters of The Village Potters Clay Center are six diverse potters with a common thread of passion and dedication to their work and to one another. They are committed to sharing their passion for this beautiful medium through the gallery and The Village Potters Clay Center’s many education programs. They are an integral part of the collective. They also operates their own clay business within the Resident Potters’ Studios. Through various paths they found their way to The Village, where they each have moved their studio, to explore the dynamics of developing their own work in community and camaraderie. A lot of hard work goes on here, but a lot of easy laughter too!
Meet our Resident Potters
