American Folk Art PRESENTS: The 10th Annual Face Jug Show April 5 – 21, 2022 Show goes Live on our website: Tuesday April 5th at 11 AM WWW.AMERIFOLK.COM Opens in the Gallery: Thursday April 7th at 11 AM 64 Biltmore Ave, Downtown Asheville This year marks the 10th consecutive April that American Folk Art has dedicated to the storied regional tradition of Face Jugs. These jugs began to appear in these parts in the very early 1800s. Grimacing faces, snakes, and other examples of foreboding iconography were added to the jugs used to store moonshine as a clever way of frighten children away from the liquor. In those days, self-sufficiency ruled, and thus handmade, locally-crafted clayware was common. Our regional soils contain all the elements needed to make hardy clay, and our forests plenty of wood for the fueling of kilns. Many of the potters represented in the Face Jug Show are still digging and creating their own clays and firing in wood-fired kilns. While these techniques are labor-intensive, the passionate pursuit by these skilled craftspeople is evident in the pottery they create. The Face Jug has become an eagerly sought after & widely collected part of our mountain heritage. American Folk Art curates a wide selection of these jugs, made by select potters who use their own knowledge & creativity to explore and expand upon the beloved & creative Face Jug concept. The focus of the show is traditional face jug creators, such as 5th generation Georgia potter Wayne Hewell, whose expressive face jugs are ever-popular. Always on the hunt for new and different potters to include, this year American Folk will introduce collectors to Wisconsin potter Joel Huntley. Joel's delicately-featured and beautifully-hued face jugs will widen the circle of creative offerings. “Our Annual Face Jug Show has introduced countless folks to an important part of our craft heritage. Each year, we endeavor to bring together the most skilled potters and a wide range of styles to pay homage to this unique living history" says Julia Mills, gallery director. Whether you can visit the gallery in person or only visit online, please join us in celebrating a decade of Face Jugs at American Folk Art. The show will debut on the gallery website WWW.AMERIFOLK.COM at 11 AM Tuesday April 5th and for one hour, every piece included in this year’s show will be available for previewing before sales begin sharply at 12 PM via telephone. Remaining Face Jugs will be displayed in the gallery from Thursday April 7th – Thursday April 21st.