If you show it, they will come.

That’s been something of a mantra over the years for a group of Hilltown potters who joined forces to open their studios over a weekend and invite customers and art lovers in, both to see the wares and get a view of how the work is done.

Now, 17 years later, the Hilltown 6 Pottery Tour is still going strong, and it’s set to take place this weekend, July 29 and 30, with work from 26 artists – eight regional potters and 18 guest artists – on display in studios in six communities.

From hand-crafted cups, plates, bowls and other functional art, to more decorative pieces, and work that’s been glazed, painted, or embossed, the tour – from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days – offers a wealth of material and a chance to meet the artists in person.

Christy Knox, a Cummington potter and one of the six co-founders of the group, says part of the impetus for starting the tour came from an informal conversation she had with a couple local potters after she’d attended a craft show outside the region.

“I remember saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to bring people to us rather than having to schlep our stuff all over the place?’” she said with a laugh.

It was more than that, though. Knox, who’s lived and worked in the Valley for over 25 years, says the region is home “to some of the most talented potters I know” and as such has become a significant draw for visitors from outside the area.

“We get people from Boston, Connecticut, New York City, and sometimes further away,” she said. “We started in a small way, but we’ve been able to build up steadily over the years.”

And since Knox rarely brings her work to craft shows any longer – she says she was able to build a strong online customer base during the pandemic – the Hilltown Tour gives her the chance to meet one-on-one with customers, something she misses from the craft shows.

“That is such a big part of this,” said Knox. “To be able to show (visitors) how we actually do the work, the techniques we use, just brings this really personal element to it. And part of our mission is education.”

Indeed, the eight Hilltown artists will all be hosting demonstrations and talks over the weekend in their studios, and some of the guest artists will be part of those events as well.

Goshen potter Michael McCarthy, for instance, another co-founder of the tour, will host a session Saturday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at which he’ll show how he makes a mug from start to finish.

“We all enjoy sharing those kinds of details with people,” he said. “I think it makes the work more appealing when you not only can talk to the person who makes it but see how they do it, see the kind of kiln they have and how they shape their clay.”

McCarthy began his career in 2000 with an apprenticeship with another potter who’s part of the Hilltown group, Mark Shapiro of Worthington. On his website, McCarthy says he specializes in what he calls “wheel thrown, woodfired functional pottery” that’s intended “to add to, not overpower one’s personal space.”

He says the last couple years have seen a particularly good turnout for the pottery tour after the pandemic forced the forum to go online in 2020.

“I don’t know if it’s been a kind of a pent-up demand to see artwork and do things together again, but it seems like there’s been a pretty big interest (in the last two years) in making this connection with handmade objects,” McCarthy said. “I’m anticipating a busy time this year.”

The tour has gained enough visibility over the years, potters say, that it’s also become a draw for the guest artists who attend. Knox says she believes the 18 artists invited this year comprise the largest number yet to take part in the event.

Some are coming from pretty far afield, including Minnesota, Georgia, Virginia, and New York state. McCarthy is hosting Jenny Mendes, a potter from Chesterfield, Ohio, who he’s known for many years.

“I met her at a craft fair when I was starting out, and she was always nice to me, really encouraging,” he said. “We stayed in touch, and we’d see each other at other events. I wanted to give something back to her, plus I love her work and really enjoy her as a person.”

Mendes crafts functional ceramics as well as standalone pieces, such as painted tiles and wall hangings, and her work is artfully painted with humorous faces and other decorative touches, such as a pair of cups with faces and protruding ears.

Connecticut potter Hayne Bayless, who will exhibit at the studio of Westhampton potter Sam Taylor, makes a variety of stoneware material, including pitchers with ornate, curled handles.

Knox, the Cummington potter, will be sharing her space with Easthampton artist Liz Rodriguez, who she met about 20 years ago after Rodriguez, who had trained as a painter, was switching to making ceramics.

“I’ve been able to watch her grow, which has been a lot of fun,” said Knox. “Now to give her some more exposure up here is really satisfying.”

Knox also notes that people who participate in the Hilltown 6 Tour seem increasingly driven to come for the whole weekend so that they have time to visit all the participating studios, which in addition to Cummington, Goshen, Westhampton and Worthington are located in Ashfield and Windsor.

The other regional potters who are part of the tour are Robbie Heidinger of Westhampton, Maya Manchin of Ashfield, Hiroshi Nakayama of Worthington, and Constance Talbot of Windsor.

All parts of the tour, including the demonstrations, are free. Knox says a percentage of proceeds from sales will be donated to art programs in some local elementary schools.

“We want to give back to the community, because the community has supported our work so much,” she said.

More information on the Hilltown 6 Pottery Tour, including a map of participating studios, is available at hilltown6.com.

Steve Pfarrer can be reached at spfarrer@gazettenet.com.

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