Sarah Wells Rolland Ceramic Artist
Canton,NC
Summary
I am a passionate ceramic artist and business owner with 38 years of experience, co-founding The Village Potters Clay Center in 2011. It is a woman owned business and has a very unique business model. I am an accomplished artist and craftsperson, I spend much of my time teaching and inspiring emerging artists in all things clay. I lead a mentor team, where our mission is to foster emerging artists' growth. I am currently working tirelessly on our recovery initiative post-Hurricane Helene. I offer strong leadership and foster teamwork in restoring our community of artists.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Potter, Instructor, Mentor and Business Owner
Self-employed
11.2011 - Current
- I am the co-owner and co-founder of The Village Potters Clay Center in Asheville, NC. As president, I lead the staff and oversee operations of our premier clay center, which includes gallery showrooms, three fully equipped educational studios, a clay supply company, and studios for over 25 professional potters.
- With 38 years of experience as a ceramic artist, I create functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, and large-scale works. I also lead our mentor team in our three-year Advanced Studies Program, where I teach and mentor emerging artists. This program focuses on honing skills, developing an original body of work, and building a sustainable business in the arts. We have many working professional ceramic artists who studied in our program since 2016.
- Additionally, I teach weeklong intensive workshops for intermediate and advanced potters. Currently, I am on a 2025 Workshop Tour, offering 15 workshops across nine states. This tour is about sharing my approaches to working with clay while raising awareness and funds for our recovery from Hurricane Helene in Asheville NC.
- My current primary responsibility is leading the restoration of our clay center, which was lost to 26 feet of floodwater.
Education
Associate of Arts - Ceramics
Haywood Community College
Clyde, NCIndependent Study
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
St Andrews Presbyterian University
Laurinburg, NCSkills
- Business Owner and Staff Manager
- Team leadership
- Instructor and Mentor
- Wheel Throwing
- Slab construction
- Glazing expertise
- Multiple Firing techniques
- Functional pottery
- Surface decoration
- Ceramic design
- Ceramic techniques
- Staff management
- Task delegation
- Verbal and written communication
Accomplishments
I am a proud member of the prestigious juried organization, The Southern Highland Craft Guild, and our Education Center is also a member. The Village Potters has been recognized as Business of the Year in Asheville, NC. We have been featured three times in Ceramics Monthly, the premier ceramic magazine in the U.S. I have received a business award for the most accomplished pivot during COVID. Additionally, my work is part of the Corsaw Collection at Alfred University, one of the top ceramic programs of it's kind in the US located in Alfred, New York.
Affiliations
- Southern Highland Craft Guild SHCG
- River Arts District Artists Association RADA
Timeline
Potter, Instructor, Mentor and Business Owner
Self-employed
11.2011 - Current
Associate of Arts - Ceramics
Haywood Community College
Independent Study
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
St Andrews Presbyterian University
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