Local pottery artist Heather Morrow lets us know of an "invitation-only" event with a conspiratorial twist next Sat., July 18, at Amy's Patio Cafe, 900 E. Altadena Dr.:
Come, select a hand-made tea cup and enjoy a refreshing cup of tea brewed in tea pots created by the artists at charming Amy’s Patio Café in Altadena. And after you have enjoyed your tea and other delightful refreshments, you get to take your tea cup with you to enjoy for years to come.
Cost is $35 per person, including tea, refreshments, and the tea cup of your choice, to keep forever.
Participating artists include Morrow and fellow Altadena potter Evan Vieser, as well as Sally Ann Stahl, Celeste Iida, and Chris McCormick.
Here's the conspiratorial twist:
Most of the above artist are "covert" potters. During the week we are mild mannered office coordinators, chefs, IT trainers, etc. We dream of the day when we can be just potters. Add the prevailing economic climate and things don't look too good. Enter the Covert Potters Association (CPA).
The idea for the "Take Your Tea Cup with You Tea Party" started on a drive back from Phoenix, AZ, after the 2009 National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference. Seven hours of driving and a lot of new information in our heads gave us the incentive to take matters into our own hands. We could hold to the idea that the economy is bad and there's no reason to even try, or we could do something. Store sales are down and many stores are not buying new/untried stock. We decided to take our passion for pottery to the people and stage our own events that would, yes, sell our product, but also cultivate a relationship with our customers.
Our first event is this Tea Party. The ceramic artists putting together this event are filled with passion and excitement, believing that the handmade movement and functional art can enrich our daily lives. We're creating an event that takes art off the shelf and puts it in your hands to use. Our hope is that the tea party is filled with good food, laughter and beautiful cups that will creating an impression that will last a lifetime; as well as creating a connection with our customers that goes beyond the buyer/seller relationship.
There are two seatings: 3:30-4:30 PM, and 5-6 PM. For reservations and more information, check out their website, http://www.teacupparty.com/