From Left to Right: Front row – Brad Warstler, Ellen Shankin, Silvie Granatelli,
Josh Manning, Hona Knudsen, Andrea Denniston, and Ron Sutterer.
Back row – Sarah Mccarthy, Wendy Wrenn Werstlein, Abby Reczek, Seth Guzovsky

New members and new fall tour dates are on the agenda for 16 Hands in 2022! Following these past months of Covid-related limitations, the members of 16 Hands are happy to announce that they are resuming face-to-face studio tours, welcoming friends and new customers to their studios and galleries twice a year.

The 16 Hands Studio Tour started over twenty years ago, offering visitors a unique look into the lives of the artists, as well as the opportunity to view and purchase new works from nationally known talents.

In 2022, the Spring Studio Tour will be held April 30 and May 1. The Spring tour will also be introducing two new members to 16 Hands: Abby Reczek and Ron Sutterer. Abby and Ron have been guest artists in the past, so they are no strangers to the Studio Tour.

Abby has been living and working in Floyd since moving from her home state of Pennsylvania in 2013. There, she graduated from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. After graduation, Abby did a year-long residency at the Cub Creek Foundation in Appomattox, Virginia. It was during this residency that she learned about the little mountain town of Floyd, as well as an apprenticeship offered there by Silvie Granatelli.

After completing a two-year apprenticeship with Silvie, Abby stayed on in Floyd to continue her life in a community rich with the culture of craft. Abby is also co-owner of Troika Gallery, located in downtown Floyd.

Ron’s interest in pottery can be traced back to his graduate school days in North Carolina. He developed an appreciation for form, as well as the craft of production, while collecting pottery and visiting multiple potteries throughout central North Carolina.

Ron began taking pottery courses while teaching Psychology in Syracuse, New York. When Ron and his wife relocated to Floyd, he set up a studio that allows him to create pretty much anything he can imagine. Ron is drawn to two different firing methods. One utilizes ash glazes in a gas reduction kiln. The other uses crystalline glazes in an electric kiln. Appreciating the beauty of both approaches, Ron continues to learn from the challenges unique to each, and he continues to explore the possibilities. Check out new work from both Abby and Ron, as well as their new locations, along with the new works of all the members of 16 Hands this spring.

This spring’s tour will also feature three visiting artists. First, Silvie Granatelli will be hosting Marc Maiorana. Having learned blacksmithing from his father, Marc earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Metalsmithing from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and is also the recipient of a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Professional Fellowship. His work has been featured in American Craft, Metalsmith, Food and Wine, and the New York Times.

Next, Sarah McCarthy will be hosting member Donna Polseno as her guest artist. Donna is one of the founding members of 16 Hands, as well as the creator and director of the annual “Women Working with Clay” symposium.

And finally, Josh Manning and Hona Knudsen will have guest artist, Aaron Anslow. Aaron owns and operates Earthsmith Studio, located in Bethany, West Virginia. Aaron’s work has been shown internationally and he has taught in an academic setting for over a decade. Aaron is currently teaching in the Department of Media and Visual Arts at West Liberty University, West Virginia.

Fall of 2021 was the final tour for members Josh Copus and Benjie Osborne. However, these two incredibly talented and much loved members will return as guest artists in future tours. Both are still working in the arts and crafts field.

As for the Fall Tour for 16 Hands, the dates have been changed to October 22nd and 23rd. Moving the Studio Tour to an earlier date in October will not only open up the experience for those who have not been able to attend in the past, it will also allow tour visitors to see Floyd County’s landscape during one of the most beautiful times of the year. Attending the 16 Hands artist studios under the full color of fall foliage will not disappoint.

For more information on tour dates, members, and studio maps, visit online at 16hands.com. The members of 16 Hands look forward to welcoming you to their studios this April 30th and May 1st where you will find the perfect birdhouse, planter, or vase to celebrate spring.

16 Hands • 16Hands.com • www.facebook.com/16HandsTour/