Josh Copus at work

UNC Asheville's Craft Campus will continue its year-long lecture series, "Meet the Maker: Conversations of Meaning with Craftspeople," with talks by noted local artists Josh Copus and Michael and Micah Sherrill in November. The events are free and open to the public.

Copus, a noted potter and UNC Asheville alumnus, will speak at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at UNC Asheville's Owen Hall, room 237. Copus began exploring ceramics as a child in Floyd, Va. While still a student at UNC Asheville, he and two other young potters formed Clayspace Co-op in Asheville's River Arts District. The Co-op is flourishing as an arts destination for buyers and artists alike, and has been featured in WNC Magazine and Mountain Xpress. Copus works primarily in wild clay harvested in Marshall, N.C. in styles drawing upon his studies of Korean, Japanese, English and Appalachian folk pottery traditions.

"Dream of Wildflower" By Michael Sherrill

Father and son artists Michael and Micah Sherrill will speak at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at UNC Asheville's Owen Hall, room 237. They will speak again at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. Michael, a resident of Hendersonville, is a self-taught artist who has risen to international acclaim. In addition to being a frequent instructor at Penland School of Crafts, Michael was a featured presenter and lecturer at the U.S. Clay exhibition of the Smithsonian's Renwick Museum of American Craft. In 2003, he was honored as Artist of the Year by the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte. The following year, Michael was one of just 10 artists invited to build outdoor sculptures to be placed permanently at the International Ceramic Museum in South Korea. When not sculpting, Michael is a part-time inventor. Recently, he designed a line of tools for potters and sculptors.

"Penland Parader" By Micah Sherrill

Micah grew up in his father's clay studio and began making his own pieces at an early age. He has worked in clay, but now is focusing on painting. He has held solo exhibitions in Asheville, Hendersonville Charlotte, Brockton, Mass. and Lenox, Mass. Micah, who lives in Asheville, is also a songwriter. He performed with a number of bands, including Tunnel Road, The Micah Sherrill Band and Black Eyed Dog.

For more information about about the lecture series, call 828/250-2392 or click on www.unca.edu/craftcampus/MeetTheMaker.htm.