A celebration of all things clay will include an exploration of Cambridge City’s Overbeck sisters and their nationally known pottery creations.
Former Western Wayne resident Bob Ammerman will discuss the famous family at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, during Richmond Art Museum’s 11th Potterypalooza.
Ammerman has been a collector of Overbeck pottery for more than five decades and will describe how the sisters became nationally recognized.
Four of the five Overbeck sisters made pottery in the home now owned by Phyllis Mattheis.
Ammerman’s grandmother was a friend of the sisters, and an uncle took art lessons from one of them.
Last year, the retired mail carrier gave a talk at the American Art Pottery Association Convention in Blue Ash, Ohio.
RAM now owns more than 250 works by the Overbecks including paintings, pottery, drawings, design tracings and linens.
Last year, Ammerman donated a complete set (157 issues) of Keramic Studio Magazines to RAM that represent examples of the Overbecks’ artwork in each of those issues.
Potterypalooza takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day on the museum’s lawn, 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, on the Richmond High School campus. Admission is free.
Regional artists will sell their handmade functional ceramics such as bowls, plates and mugs, along with sculpture and art pieces.
A children’s clay zone is planned as well as a wheel demonstration area.
Richmond Art Museum is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
A version of this article appeared in the September 6 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.