Catalina Collectors Blog

Here’s a heads up for our Catalina Collectors. Come on down to Pasadena this Saturday and Sunday, January 23 & 24th for the 11th Annual L.A. Pottery Show. We’ve packed up our wares and will join all the other amazing dealers exhibiting and selling. Lots of Catalina, and lots of good prices! We will offer 10% off all items at the show, including our books and sale items, just for mentioning this site or our on line web shop: www.potteryhound.com.

You can also meet Author Susan Toomey Frost, who will be there signing her new book, “Colors on Clay: The Art of the San Jose Workshops”, right next to our booth. Check out the NFS showcase of interesting pieces from our collection, along with historic imagery provided by Susan herself.

Hope to see you there!
Carole Coates

It is that time of year again! Next month on September 20th, Saturday only, the small but choice 12th (?) annual Catalina Pottery and Tile Sale on the Island is the place to be for both serious Catalina collectors and newbies. It is the only “All Catalina” show, so it is no wonder that some people fly across the country to attend. Rarities always bring top dollar, but the more common pieces seem to be relatively affordable. The show has been ably organized all these years by our long time pal and fellow-collector Steven Hoefs. This year we understand that the sellers will be outdoors in the Hotel Metropole breezeway under canopies. Considering the people crunch and oppressive heat in the small conference room during years past this could be a welcome change. People line up for this show prior to its 9AM opening, and it runs until 4PM. Figure to catch a boat, get there a day ahead of time, and join in the fun. There is even a legendary miniature golf contest with specially made Catalina pottery prizes. More soonest on the Catalina Island Museum and their 10th annual special pottery exhibit that runs the entire month of September, but remember, September 20th is a one day “Sale” with sellers (including “us”) coming from all over California, and set-up in a tucked away locale off of Avalon’s main street, and the “Exhibit” is run by the Museum and can be seen at the Casino throughout September (although their gift shop offers some wonderful reproduction wares for sale).

The Catalina Exhibit at the SFO (San Francisco Airport) Museum is up and running as of February 2nd through August 2008, although finishing touches are still being added. This is the largest display ever of vintage Catalina tile, pottery, and related imagery in over 40 cases and it can be viewed by passengers in the United and American Domestic terminal. Millions of passengers will pass through this airport over the next 7 months, and it is hoped that they will be informed and enlightened regarding Catalina’s colorful ceramic legacy. We will be able to arrange tours for up to 20 interested collectors at a time in the coming months, so contact us if you would like to be included. Serendipitously, Catalina collectors Gerry Orcholski and Jim Phillips were stuck at the airport that first day and stumbled upon the exhibit. More to follow…..

Catalina Collectors web site and blog is launched. Now we have to get to work.