The reception was amazing, let me just tell you! We ate, we drank, we partied with all our friends and families. Everyone was lucky enough to have family members come to town. The resident house was packed with parents inhabiting the front porch on a 24 hour schedule. It was a great weekend, and we now have bags of chicken in the freezer! The food was over ordered just a bit, but it was delicious! Thank you El Primo II!! We were also lucky enough to have the dazzling talents of Sir Kevin McGuire providing us with lovely musical entertainment. The hokie pokie was rocked out at the end of the evening, for the tiny guest.

This past weekend, Shawn, Andy and Jenn all traveled to Chattanooga for the Four Bridges Art Festival. Friday was rainy, Saturday was windy, but Sunday was just right! We met many fabulous people and of course could never say enough wonderful things about AVA and everyone working with/for them. Pictures to come of both the reception and Four Bridges!

We know everyone has been watching the news as images and stories come in from Japan. An amazing ceramic artist Ayumi Horie has set up an online fundraising auction for Japan. 100 % of the proceeds will go to Global Giving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. The auction is set to take place between March 24th- March 27th. We're asking for you to please pass this along to everyone you know, every little bit helps. Thanks everyone.

Well the first weekend workshop has come and gone! This year Arrowmont extended the weekend workshops by one day, and the reviews went well. We started thursday evening with a few hours of instruction and getting everyone familiar with studios. Friday morning we all hit the ground running!

Andy taught a figurative ceramics class and rocked out, making up to the last moment and putting the hot box to good use. Jennifer's enameling class had the kilns going all weekend, making and laughing as hard as they could. Both Andy and Jenn had an amazing time teaching the workshops, and can't wait until next time.

The residents would like to send a huge THANK YOU out to everyone who came this weekend. The energy on campus was amazing to have after the long winter. The staff was excited, the instructors and students were amazingly wonderful and of course the work study rocked it out! We are super stoked for this next year of workshops and are already looking forward to this coming thursday when we get a whole new group in!

Also, as a side note spring had sprung here in Gatlinburg and the flowers are up! Daffodils, tulips, forsythia, japanese magnolia and those tiny pale purple flowers by the road are all in bloom! Jenn is raiding the flower beds to decorate her hair and constantly getting chased away by Big D and Big E, the two men who keep Arrowmont's grounds looking so beautiful!

The Show is up! YAH! Oh joy! Now I have a few more moments to spend with your lovely faces.. gazing into your eyes. How they shine like diamonds in the sky... what? That is just the reflection from your glasses. Oh... well... close enough.

For those of you who won't be able to make the show.. or simply can't wait until you do, here are a few sneak peek photos! Taken by our very own Shawn "kiss me I'm Irish" O'Connor. His holiday is coming up soon... get ready with the green dye in the water fountains.

Shawn, Andy and Jennifer are also preparing for the Four Bridges Art Festival in Chattanooga, TN. The three of us received 3 of the 5 emerging artist awards. Go Arrowmont! Rolling deep! So if you happen to be in the Chattanooga area April 16th and 17th stop on by and we'll be more than happy to sell you a few pieces of beautiful original artwork! Until next time my darlings.

Hello again, sorry to have been gone for so long. A few updates, our show is getting closer so we are all in the grind of making lots.

We also wanted to share with everyone a website about the Radical Jewelry Makeover, this is a project that is a collaboration of re-made jewelry. Donations in the form of "old" jewelry are made and then revamped by students and volunteer jewelers. A wonderful project, the pieces that have been made from RJM are beautiful and inspiring.

Residency at Arrowmont also has its perks. Recently we were honored with a backstage tour of the Ripley's Aquarium across the street from Arrowmont. We got to stand nearby as Sharks were fed, pet an octopus and learned how much it cost to feed a leafy sea dragon each week. They only eat live food.. the name I don't fully recall, something along the lines of snailmice? krillmice, maybe?

We also have a lovely photo of our dear ceramic residents showing off their mad clay working skills at Roswell Art Center West, Ga. The audience was spell bound, even if the jokes were bad. Both Shawn and Andy greatly enjoyed their time there and appreciated the support of everyone who participated.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, just to let you know, according to channel 10 News, Live at 5. Arrowmont Residents are FAMOUS! We're on T.V!!! Check it out! Of course we chose Shawn to do the talking for us... him being Irish.

Well Hello to the New YEAR!!! 2011!! whoooo hooo! Everyone has returned from a restful Christmas Holiday and we are all jumping back into the swing of things here. This week we are sadly taking down the Figurative Symposium Exhibition, but good news the Sevier County Biennial Juried Exhibition is going up! Everything will be installed by this Friday, just in time for the opening reception.

Next week we begin teaching adult and children's community art classes! Our show is going up in about 2 months and we are all feeling the pressure building... building .... building!!!! AH! Care packages containing baked goods, toothpaste and whiskey, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much! You are all such dears.

Also, our busy ceramic residents are headed to Georgia this weekend to set up their show at the Art Center West. Above is their show card. If you would like to read more about the exhibition, click here, and you will be taken to a magical land filled with ceramic wonder and the beautiful creations of Shawn (kiss me I'm Irish) O' Connor and Andrea (that's amore) Moon.