Nancy K. Butterworth is a college English professor turned
potter. Her interest in clay began during the late 1970s as a hobby
and grew by the early 1990s into an obsession and finally a
profession. All of her work is hand-built. Fascinated by the
plasticity yet strength of clay, she works mainly with thin porcelain
and stoneware slabs that she rolls by hand. She is also intrigued by
textures, especially delicate leaves, lace and fish, which she
impresses into the forms. Fired to cone 6 in an electric kiln, the
dishes, bowls, and platters are meant to be functional. Their glazes
are food safe, and they can be used in conventional ovens, though
microwaving and dishwashing are not recommended. The thin open cutwork
pieces are intended for decorative use only.
Nancy works out of her new home studio in Columbia, SC, where she also teaches English at the University of South Carolina. She has pieces in numerous galleries in the Carolinas. Her work was displayed from June 1998-1999 in Wren House at the Clemson University Botanical Garden and featured in the September 1998 issue of Southern Living. She also participates yearly in the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League Designer House sale and Harvest Home Food Bank Empty Bowls auction, as well as in shows such as the spring and fall Columbia Craftsmen's Classic Arts and Crafts Festivals at the State Fair Grounds and the Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Fair in Charleston over Memorial Day weekend.
For additional information, you can contact Nancy by emailing nkbutterworth@gmail.com.
