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A Self-Guided Pilgrimage of Ceramics

16 Hands

October 1, 2024

On a crisp, clear October day, the winding roads of Southwest Virginia trace the gentle curves of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The air hums with autumn’s glow as the leaves burn bright in hues of red, orange, and gold. Through the dense weave of the forest, trees part, revealing glimpses of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling endlessly into the horizon. Farmland unfurls across Floyd County like a homesteader’s dream. As you round the bend, a pink and yellow sign beckons – your next destination awaits – one of six stops on the 16 Hands Fall Studio Tour.

Twice a year, in the bloom of spring and the blaze of fall, eight master potters open their doors, inviting you into their studios to witness their craft where it’s born.

The 16 Hands Studio Tour is a self-guided driving tour around the county surrounding Floyd, Virginia. 

At each stop, you are greeted with a warm smile, a quiet welcome into this intimate space. Perhaps the guest artist is a potter whose delicate creations have long stirred your curiosity, or maybe a woodworker from a far-off place, their craft breathing life into humble timber. The studio thrums with a relaxed energy, inviting you to linger – sip tea, savor a homemade treat, and lose yourself in the beauty of new work. Time stretches here, and you feel no rush, only the gentle rhythm of conversation and creation.

In this close-knit circle, bonds are forged. Artists and visitors share more than just the art; they share stories, a connection that deepens with each return. Collectors and admirers alike watch the makers' journey unfold, witnessing the evolution of their craft. For over thirty years, the members of 16 Hands have shaped not just clay and wood but a welcoming, vibrant community where artistry flourishes and friendships grow.

What has allowed this studio tour to endure, change, and grow over those three decades? 

During the 1980s, several artists moved to the small mountain community of Floyd to build a life centered around a studio and studio practice. Independently of each other, eight artists were holding sales at their studios around the winter holiday season. They decided to move their sales to the same date and pool resources, and with that, the 16 Hands Studio Tour began in 1989. 

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