Pewee Valley Arts & Crafts Fair
Annual
event attracts
many people to sleepy town
Gottuso among those to exhibit at October fair
Helen
E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
PEWEE VALLEY, Ky. – Jim Gottuso knew in 2004
that if he was ever going to be serious about creating porcelain pottery,
the time was right to do so. He put his nine years of art school knowledge
to work and began working toward his dream.
Gottuso, originally from upstate New York, majored in ceramics at Murray
State University in 1982. He went on to earn a master’s degree
in sculpture. He fell away from his medium for a time but knew he had
to pick it up again. Most of the items he crafts are functional, such
as bowls, cups, teapots and vases.
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Photo
provided Jim
Gottuso’s vase is |
Gottuso will be one of more than 100 artists and crafters
who will exhibit for the Pewee Valley Arts and Crafts show from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. There are three locations for this show:
St. Aloysius School Campus at 112 Mt. Mercy Dr.; the Pewee Valley Woman’s
Clubhouse at 218 Mt. Mercy Dr.; and the Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church
at 119 Central Ave.
Included in the day’s activities will be a split the pot competition,
a cake auction and numerous silent auction items such as a fully decorated
artificial Christmas tree, spa package, a Little Colonel Playhouse basket,
and University of Kentucky and University of Louisville tickets.
All types of mediums will be represented, said publicity chair Susan
Tomassetti. “If you find something you like, you’ll keep coming
back,” she said.
The majority of the proceeds benefit the Pewee Valley Woman’s Club’s
“Oldham County Scholarship Fund” for graduating seniors and
the St. Aloysius Arts Program. Three $1,000 scholarships were awarded
to students within the Oldham County school system last year.
The $5,000 Shirleene Barmore Memorial Nursing Scholarship is also awarded
to a second year nursing student. Barmore was a past president of the
Pewee Valley Woman’s Club who passed away while in office and had
also been a nurse.
After her death, “a lot of people sent money in remembrance of
her,” said club member Sue Marshall. The club looked for an entity
to provide matching funds and found one in Baptist East Hospital. The
only stipulation is that it be given to an Oldham County resident, said
Marshall.
Gottuso will be exhibiting his porcelain pottery inside the Woman’s
Clubhouse. Various pieces of artists’ work will be scattered throughout
the clubhouse, with most participants being local artists.
When it comes to describing his style of pottery, Gottuso said, “I
like Asian pottery.” He has been inspired by a “life-time
of stuff”, and often draws certain qualities from nature to place
in his work.
For part of each day, Gottuso is a stay-at-home dad. Coupled with this
role, his artistic endeavors come close to being a “full-time job.”
• For more information, call (502) 222-4601 or (502) 241-8452 or visit: www.pvwc.net or www.staloysius.org.