Open House Details!

Highwater Clays' Open House is september 14 and 15 at 600 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC!

Brian's Corner

We’re in the business of making the Earth’s Best Clays, which also means we’re in the business of winning customers and making friends. We’ve been forging winning partnerships for almost 30 years.

We want you to glaze and fire your work with complete confidence and with the expectation that when you open your kiln door there will be a big smile on your face.

The manufacturers we work with always deliver the goods. People like Jim Skutt, whose company has developed the best electric kilns in the business, is a perfect example.

Our success is yours, too, because we don’t look good unless you look good. We’ve been building this dream one pound of clay at a time for nearly 30 years and none of it would have been possible without you.

Thanks for taking the journey with us,

Easy Bake Pots

A kiln that fits in your microwave? Science fiction, right?

Not anymore. Richard Arnfield will be demonstrating Spectrum’s new microwave kiln at the Open House. This kiln can fire glass, ceramics, and precious metals in a medium-sized microwave oven.

“It’s very cool,” said Highwater Technician Jennifer Hoolihan. “It’s accessible to everyone and you don’t need a lot of space.” The MicroKiln will be for sale at the event.

Arnfield will also be demonstrating glaze pens on glass and as an over glaze.

Download a PDF describing Spectrum’s exciting MicroKiln and read more about their new line of glaze pens.

King of the Kiln

Jim Skutt usually lets his product do the talking. You don’t need to boast when you make some of the best electric kilns in the world.

Like Highwater, Skutt is a family run business. ”Jim is continuing in his grandfather and father’s footsteps,” said co-founder Gail McCarthy. “Skutt offers a great product and has excellent customer service … that’s why we’ve been carrying them for decades.”

Gail says that Jim is a “high energy” person who enjoys talking to potters. “People love his presentations,” she said.

Skutt will be discussing best practices in loading and firing and troubleshooting using onboard or built-in diagnostic tools both Friday and Saturday at 9:45 a.m. He will also be available for questions and answers both days.

Dancing Clay

“I just love his style,” says Odyssey Studio Manager Dawn Dalto about Nick Joerling, who will be demonstrating wheel throwing and altering at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Joerling is certainly no stranger to Highwater. His last workshop at Odyssey was in the summer of 2006. “It was so much fun to watch him throw a piece, take it off the wheel and then give it a calculated bonk on the table to change the shape,” Dalto said.

Joerling is a full-time potter with a studio in Penland. He has exhibited widely and taught workshops throughout the country and overseas.

In his artist statement he says, “I want to stay in the pot's world ... In my studio what I hope for are pots that have qualities of sensuality, compassion, humor, and risk.”

Taiwanese Wheel Throwing

Nidec-Shimpo will be represented by Po-Wen Liu, who will be demonstrating throwing. He has taught throughout the world and is an expert in clay bodies and glazes.

"We have been working with Highwater Clays for many years and have always appreciated their support as one of our dealers,” said Bob Erickson, General Manager of Shimpo’s Ceramics Division.

“When the opportunity to participate in Highwater Clays’ Open House arose, we didn't hesitate to attend and provide an educational demo. It is also a great time to meet with Highwater’s friends and customers.”

Other Events

Diana Farris from Amaco will also be demonstrating the use of Amaco glazes throughout the two-day event.

Highwater staff will answer to questions, there will be discounts on select glazes and books as well as door prizes.