Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC has announced a special sale
of Jeffcoat Pottery pieces following the death of long time potter Joe
Jeffcoat, gallery owner Ginny Lassiter has announced.
“Joe and his wife, Tonda, have been part of the Sunset River family
almost from day one, “ Ginny says. “We’re heartbroken that Joe has
passed. Everybody loved him. And their traditional wheel-thrown
pottery with surface carving has been immensely popular here at the
gallery.”
Joe Jeffcoat died on June 8 following complications from a fall and
resulting surgery. At the time of his death Joe and Tonda were in the
midst of readying for their 400th pottery firing, Tonda says, “As we
completed our 39 th , then 399th firings, Joe kept saying, ‘We need to do
something to celebrate 400.’ We were going to each make some special
pottery – Joe, me, the kids. So when Joe passed away, we did create
some family pieces in addition to the work for the gallery. And every
single piece in this firing – over 250 of them – is marked 400F. All but
the family pieces will be available at Sunset River Marketplace in
Calabash.”
The Jeffcoats have combined their talents and love of clay in the creation
of functional pottery since 1974. Tonda, an art educator and Joe, a
retired banker, graduated from Atlantic Christian College and continued
their study of pottery in the first ceramic class at Wilson Technical
Institute in Wilson, NC. Additional study with Lanny Pelletier, Hiroshi
Sueyoshi and Frank Byrd provided the critical fundamentals that
allowed them to develop their own personal style. Joe often credited
their association and friendship with Dan Finch at Finch Pottery in
Bailey, NC, as playing a major role in their continued growth as potters.
After retiring in 2005, they moved to Little River, SC and opened Jeffcoat
Pottery just outside of Calabash, NC. Often the pair would collaborate,
with Joe throwing forms on the wheel and Tonda carving the surface of
each.
Beginning Monday, Sept. 7, the collection of 400F-marked pottery will
be on display and available for sale at Sunset River Marketplace.
According to Ginny Lassiter, collectors are already visiting the gallery to
purchase the Jeffcoats’ current inventory, and she expects work from
the final firing to sell out quickly.
Sunset River Marketplace showcases work by approximately 150 North
and South Carolina artists, and houses some 10,000 square feet of oils,
acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, art glass, fabric art, pottery,
sculpture, turned and carved wood and artisan-created jewelry.
Due to state mandates and Covid 19 restrictions, masks or face
coverings are required.
The gallery continues to host Coffee With the Authors, a series of presentations by local and regional authors. Social distancing is maintained. Sunset River Marketplace is located at 10283
Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11
a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the
website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Daily updates are
available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.