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GREENSBORO - When some Seagrove potters started a new pottery festival last year, it ruffled feathers in the small Randolph County town.

Now, Seagrove potters are bringing a new festival to Greensboro - and it has some potters here feeling defensive.

The new festival at the Greensboro Coliseum was scheduled for the same April weekend as a show at the Farmers' Curb Market that has long been a favorite of local potters.

The Triad Area Spring Pottery Festival is in its 11th year and features dozens of area potters showing their work.

The Greensboro potters have since moved their show to an earlier weekend in April, but concerns remain about whether two festivals within two weeks are too many.

"They could have picked a different month," said Thomas Thornburg, a Greensboro potter and instructor. "We're going to have pottery coming out of our ears."

Jim Gutsell, who operates South Elm Pottery & Gallery and who created the Greensboro festival a dozen years ago, isn't thrilled about the idea of the coliseum show, either.

"It feels a bit like poaching," he said.

Gutsell said he began the show to give local potters an outlet to show and sell their work.

The coliseum show isn't a good option for many, he said, because of its relatively steep $350 entrance fee.

"That's a nonstarter right there," he said.

Another factor in the reaction of some area potters is a sense that their Seagrove brethren tend to soak up a lot of the media and public attention.

Ruth Martin, who displays her archaeological reproductions of vessels from ancient cultures at the market show, said there is often an assumption that pottery is a Seagrove-only activity.

Phil Morgan, a Seagrove potter and an organizer of the coliseum show, said there was no intent to go head-to-head with the market show.

"We actually were not aware of it at all until about three weeks later," he said. "There was nothing intentional."

Morgan said that weekend is one when many Seagrove potters have traditionally held kiln openings, where the public is invited to drop by and check out new pieces.

Although billed as a Seagrove show, the coliseum show is open to anyone, he said, not just Seagrove potters.

"We'd love to have Greensboro potters involved," Morgan said. "We ... would never try to step on anyone else."

It remains to be seen how many will take up that offer. Potters involved in the market show like to point out that parking and admission are free there, while admission to the coliseum show is $7.

For many, it's a chance to show what Greensboro potters can do.

"There are a lot of people who don't realize there is a lot of good quality potters in this area," said Molly Lithgo, a professional Greensboro potter. "We have a large clay community here."

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com