There’s something special about a handmade gift.

You don’t even have to make it yourself.

Just giving somebody an item that they know was made by an artist or artisan adds to the thoughtfulness of a gift… at least I think so.

And that extends to things you buy for yourself or your home.

That’s why I was pleased to hear about the summer sale at the Clay Art Center in Port Chester.

It kicks off Friday with an evening reception and will feature works such as these by Dalia Berman:

And these by Reena Kashyap:

Here’s the info, as forwarded from the center:

“Clay Art Center presents
Hot Pots:
Clay Art Center Annual Summer Sale

Clay Art Center is pleased to present Hot Pots, Clay Art Center’s Annual Summer Sale, featuring the work of 20 local Clay Art Center artists, and 5 invited guest artists.

The artists will be exhibiting a plethora of “hot” pots for the table, including place settings, servers, butter dishes, salad bowls, candle sticks, cups, mugs and more in our main classroom, which will be transformed into an exhibit space.

The sale begins with an opening reception on Friday, May 29, from 6-8pm.  The sale continues Saturday, 10am – 5pm and Sunday, noon – 4pm. Admission is free.  Proceeds from this sale will support clay in the community year round.

Clay has been traditionally used as a material to make utilitarian pottery, explore the figure and make abstract sculptures, all of which has the potential to involve the table and our experiences of it.

Different events occur at the table as individuals and as a community; from nourishing ourselves, to sharing daily events with others, to revealing intimate details of our lives with family and friends over coffee or tea.

Despite different personal motivations for making work, all participating artists share common yet individualized experiences at the table.

Hot Pots will be displayed on long tables adorned with tablecloths, will feature place settings, sculptural centerpieces and other utilitarian objects from each of the 24 artists, creating an abundance of dining paraphernalia to suit anyone’s feasting needs.

The exhibition will be cash and carry, allowing buyers to bring home their treasures immediately!

Participating CAC artists include: Sally Aldrich, Keiko Ashida, Dalia Berman, Douglas Breitbart, Andrew Coombs, Shanna Fliegel, Audrey Greenwald, Robin Henschel, Beth Herod, Debra Holiber, Reena Kashyap, Denis Licul, Loren Maron, Michelle Martin, Bob Miranti, Rimmie Mosley, Daunell Roller, Roberta Shapiro, Priya Tambe and Georgia Tenore.  Invited guest artists include: Stepanka Horalkova, Brenda Quinn, Deb Lecce, Stephen Rodriguez and Joan Walton.

Simultaneously, in the Choy Gallery and Henry’s Project space upstairs, will be Matthew Hyleck: Field in Flux, a solo exhibition featuring the exquisite utilitarian works drawn from landscape and texture of Baltimore potter, Matthew Hyleck.  The opening reception for this exhibit will be Friday, May 29, 5-6pm, immediately before the opening of Hot Pots.

Clay Art Center is a not-for-profit ceramic art organization offering exhibitions, clay classes for adults and children, studio spaces for clay artists and outreach programs in the community.  It is located in the heart of Port Chester at 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573.   Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10am-4pm or by appointment.”

Visit the center online or call 914-937-2047.

(Photos courtesy Clay Art Center).