283 Hwy 255 North, Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia 30571
Whimsical, devilish, human, someone you have met, someone you know, these are all the impressions from seeing the extensive collection of fine face jugs on display right now at the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia. The museum is one of the finest collections of folk art by self-taught Southern artists in America, and North Georgia is one of the country’s meccas for enthusiasts, curators, appraisers, and collectors of self-taught art, folk art, and outsider art. This exhibit highlights just a fraction of the museum’s permanent collection, and includes history and background of the face jugs that you will learn have origins that trace back to Africa and also to Europe. Here are just a few highlights from this fine exhibit.
The Blonde is a 2023 masterpiece by Celena Schoen. Sculpted by one of the handful of lady potters, this work is distinguished by how off-putting it is not because of whimsy or exaggerated features, but by how non whimsical and anti-whimsical it is. The realism of this face jug sets is apart as one of the very special works in this exhibit.
This vintage masterpiece by one of the North Georgia most well known artists had us staring at the eyes, wondering are we supposed to see an image in the eyes? Look at the blue eyes and tell us when you see this masterpiece if you see an image or something represented in the eyes.
This face just is amazing as the teeth are genuine, real teeth of the late potter, the well known David Meaders, that became “available” for ornamentation of this face jug after one of his dental procedures!
These three face jugs are a FRACTION of the fine works of art in the museum. Plan 90 minutes to 2 hours to see this exhibit and the rest of the fine permanent collection, and you will think twice and regret if you do not visit their gift shop for a souvenir or an original work of art.
Please tell them you read this review here at North Georgia Culture; this fine exhibit is on display until September 13, 2026.
