KADRI PÄRNAMETS in: Revolutionary Teapots

The Berkshire Potters Collective will contribute to the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by hosting a regional potters’ show at Chesterwood focused on teapots themed as revolutionary.

Presented in conjunction with the Berkshire Potters Collective, Chesterwood’s upcoming exhibition will honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with artful teapots that use this familiar and historic object as a lens through which to reflect on liberty, creativity, and tradition.

On August 1, 2026, Chesterwood and the Berkshire Potters Collective will launch a new exhibition entitled Revolutionary Teapots, which will run through September 27th in The Woodshed Gallery at Chesterwood. Revolutionary Teapots honors the iconic beginning of the American colonists’ revolt against English rule – the Boston Tea Party – and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a collection of these familiar and historic objects as a lens through which to reflect on liberty, creativity, and tradition.

For this juried exhibition, regional ceramic artists were invited to enter their interpretations of what it might mean to be either a “Revolutionary” teapot (endowed with the forms, colors or symbols associated with 1776 and our early history) or a “revolutionary” teapot (a vessel that defies norms or stretches boundaries). Leslie Ferrin, gallerist and leading specialist in contemporary ceramic art, will judge the show and designate award winners. Awards will be provided by fine tea purveyors Harney & Sons.

Ceramicists Anne Ferril (Curator) and Moira O’Grady (Co-Curator) of the Berkshire Potters Collective agree that guiding the choices of teapots in the exhibition was a “broad idea of the term ‘revolutionary’ as a challenge to norms – political, creative, conceptual. Some of these selections reflect a definite political view, while others push creative boundaries, or explore concepts of color and form in a unique way.”

Artists included in the exhibition include Julie Becker, Daniel Bellow, Donna Bernstein, Ashley Bowman, Amy Butterworth, Anne Ferril, Stephanie Jaffe, Alyssa Kenny, Maya D. Machin, Regina Mason, Kadri Pärnamets, Sharon Pollock, Ingrid Raab, Barbara Roth, Hannah Saltz, Cole Seitz, Paula Shalan, Nadine Sobel, and Hannah Wheeler.