The Cape Fear Studios 2026 Clay Invitational will be held until June 23, at the studio, located at 148 Maxwell Street. The studio is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The studio is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Geniece Baer, Chrisha Dolan, and Charise Kelly are featured artists in this exhibit. General admission to the 2026 Clay Invitational is free to the public. For more information, call the studio at 910 -433-2986.

Early humans discovered that clay hardened when heated. The oldest known ceramic objects were sunbaked and fire-hardened figurines and vessels used for cooking and spiritual practices. 

Artists like Bernard Leasch introduced Asian philosophies of craftmanship to the West, elevating functional pottery to fine art. Today, clay is utilized far beyond its utilitarian roots, according to James Cook, Sculptor.

Pottery has a long history in North Carolina. Native Americans were the first potters in the area, using coil methods to create bowls and jars. 

The state has a clay rich soil perfect for making pottery, and settlers realized they could create storage vessels from the earth using techniques from their previous countries. Settlements around Salem NC and in the Catawba Valley began to form potters’ communities. 

Throughout the centuries, the pottery practices grew in North Carolina, and can still be found today in Seagrove, NC. 

According to Geniece Baer’s artist biography, “Geniece was drawn to creating art. She discovered ceramics ten years ago, and continues to hone her skills. It was not until attending sculpting classes that she developed a new relationship with clay. Geniece is drawn to the precision of realistic sculptures and finds freedom with the creation of an abstract piece of art. Coffee just tastes better from one of her handmade mugs.”

“Chrisha Dolan creates both functional pottery and sculptural pieces. What began as a simple exploration of clay with friends has become an obsession. Her work is a combination of wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery made from stoneware clay, primarily fired in an electric oxidation kiln,” according to her artist statement.

“We are excited to feature the works of the three local artists, Geniece Baer, Chrisha Dolan, and Charise Kelly. Their works range from functional to sculptural and decorative pieces,” said Pandy Autry, President and artist of Cape Fear Studios. 

The Cape Fear 2026 Clay Invitational is “art too important to be missed.” 

For more information, visit https://www.capefearstudios.com/