Valley potters will be joined by guests from across the country this weekend for the 19th annual Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail.

“Nineteen years ago, it started with five of us,” recalled Greenfield resident Lucy Fagella, one of the founders. “We didn’t have any guest potters at that point. We just wanted to pool our resources and put together a show of just pottery, rather than going to a craft fair and packing up pots and going somewhere else.

“It worked out great,” she added. “It created a community among the potters. Each year it just kept growing and more potters joined us.”

This year, between host potters and their guests, 27 potters will take part in what Fagella described as a “self-guided tour” of eight studios in the Valley. Though the event kicks off remotely on Friday at noon via potterytrail.com, the in-person element of the tour will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Four of the studios featured in the show are in Hampshire County — three in Northampton and one in Hadley. In Northampton, the studios include potter Tiffany Hilton at the Arts & Industry Building, 221 Pine St., Studio 336 in Florence; potter James Guggina at 908 Ryand Road; and potter Steve Theberge at 319 Rocky Hill Road in Florence. The Hadley studio features potter Donna McGee at 47 East St., Hadley.

“Between all of us, we work together,” she said. “There’s no competition. We bring this love of pottery to the community and all these pottery lovers end up coming from all over the place.”

At each tour stop, pottery will be available for sale in a range of wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramics for tabletop, home and garden. Visitors will also have the opportunity to talk with the artists about their work, techniques and sources of inspiration.

Fagella, whose work incorporates her love of food and gardening, will be on display at her studio on 86 Leyden Road in Greenfield.

“I’ve been making pottery since I was a senior in high school, so 40 years,” Fagella said. “I got into it because ever since I was a kid, I knew I was going to be an artist. I was also very athletic and when I found pottery, it combined creativity and physical stuff. It’s a very physical craft.”

Among the 27 potters included on the tour will be Molly Cantor. Her work will be on display at The Handle Factory at 49 Conway St. in Shelburne Falls.

“I really like to connect with people who are super interested in pottery,” said Cantor. “It’s really fun how enthusiastic people, the customers, are and it inspires me to make new work that I can show to people during the event. I also really love the community of pottery that puts together the tour.”

Pottery Trail Passports are available at each stop, according to an event announcement from organizers. Those who have their Trail Passport stamped at all eight studios will be entered to win a mug or cup. Twenty-seven prizes will be awarded.

“We look forward to sharing our vibrant pottery community with them,” said potter Tiffany Hilton, who has been one of the hosts for 18 years.

“Beautiful, functional objects and a connection to those who make them are what the Pottery Trail is all about,” Hilton continued. “The pandemic has heightened our need for human connection, as well as our appreciation for the objects we choose to live with in our homes.”

A map of the tour is available at asparagusvalleypotterytrail.com/map.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.]]>