Bluemont Fair Announces Winner of 2024 Juried Crafts

BLUEMONT, VA — Organizers of the Bluemont Fair are pleased to announce the selection of Amy Oliver of Monkeytown Pottery, located in Airmont (historic village near Bluemont), as Juried Crafts Winner of the 54th Annual Bluemont Fair. The prize for winning Juried Crafts is complimentary display space at the 55th Annual Bluemont Fair, to be held September 20-21, 2025, a very large blue ribbon, and bragging rights!

Oliver has participated in Juried Crafts at the Bluemont Fair for many years and her demonstration of wheel-thrown pottery is a fair favorite. In her own words:

“I have been a potter for over 30 years; my focus is on form and function as well as surface design. I mix and use colored slips on bare clay to carve and sculpt illustrations, often featuring nature, especially trees and mountains, and many recurring animal characters from the woods and fields of Bluemont. I strive to make beautifully crafted functional art. I have always been fascinated by pots that tell a story and the human desire throughout history to tell a story. With each pot I make, I make a unique and original story. Some of the characters you might find is the tortoise or turtle, many owls, ravens and birds, bears and deer, foxes, bunnies, and horses. I love to have them interact with each other as if there are wonderful things happening, right outside our windows in the wild — maybe there is! I also love to add dinosaurs, and many mythical ‘monsters,’ to the stories as well.”

The extraordinary works from Monkeytown Pottery, as well as the work of many other fine artisans, will be on display and available for purchase during the 55th Annual Bluemont Fair. In addition to Oliver, a number of artisans will demonstrate their craft on-site, which provides a fascinating learning experience for all!

For more information about the fair, visit bluemontfair.org or call (540) 554-2367.

Photo courtesy of the Bluemont Fair.

Posted on: January 28, 2025