Holden Community Gallery

James Goode is a professor, curator, author and collector. He was born in Statesville, NC and earned his doctorate from The George Washington University. He has taught at George Mason University and worked at the Library of Congress.

From 1970 to 1988 Goode was the curator for the Smithsonian Institution Building. His books includeThe Outdoor Sculpture of Washington D.C. (Smithsonian, 1974), Capital Losses: A Cultural History of Washington’s Destroyed Buildings (Smithsonian, 1979) and Best Addresses: A Century of Washington’s Distinguished Apartment Houses (Smithsonian, 1988).

Goode is also a passionate pottery collector and recently began focusing on contemporary craft pitchers from the American South. He designated the Asheville Art Museum as the recipient of his pitcher collection in 2005 and has since given 127 pitchers to the Museum’s permanent collection.

Let It Pour: Contemporary Craft Pitchers from the James Goode Collection will explore a portion of Goode’s collection. The pitcher, like the teapot, has inherent elements which speak to function including overall shape, handle and spout. These vessels vary in scale, size, technique and surface treatment, but all reflect the artists' attention to detail.

Goode has collected work from across the southeast including potters from Western North Carolina and the Seagrove NC area such as Cynthia Bringle, Kevin Brown, Kenneth George, Jill Hinckly and Skeff Thomas among others.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and guest curated by Brian and Gail McCarthy, owners of Highwater Clays and founders of Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts.

Image credit:

Nicholas Joerling
Untitled pitcher, circa 2005
Glazed stoneware, 14.5 x 9 x 5.5 inches
Gift of James Goode
Asheville Art Museum Collection

Related programs:

Exhibition opens
Friday, May 2, 5:00 p.m.

Opening reception + Annual Meeting
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 p.m.

Art Break, Docent led tour of exhibition
Friday, May 23, 12:00 p.m.

Artist’s Talk with Cynthia Bringle
Up for Discussion lecture, Friday, June 27, 6:00 p.m.

Art Break, Discussion with Guest Curator Brian McCarthy
Friday, July 18, 12:00 p.m.