The Reece Museum Exhibition Publications

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Introduction

An exhibition by artist Rack Cross, Clay, Culture, and Change explores the ceramics of Southern Appalachia that have been associated with land and water for generations. Pottery once functioned as a necessity for storage and transport. When the the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) transformed river systems in the twentieth century, the Holston Valley and surrounding regions experienced rapid and widespread change. Flood control and electrification changed lifestyles on farms and beyond. Because of this massive transformation, folk pottery also shifted from primarily utilitarian ware to include more decorative and collectible pieces. In the artist’s opinion, face jugs, with their sculpted features, became far more popular than the once familiar and simple jug form. This exhibition traces cultural change through clay form evolution, as clay continues to serve as material witness.

Start Date

7-27-2026

End Date

10-23-2026

Table of Contents

  • 2: Exhibition Introduction
  • 6: Life Along the Free River
  • 9: When the Water Rose
  • 13: Clay as Memory
  • 22: About the Artist
  • 23: Colophon & Acknowledgments

Exhibition

Rack Cross (Artwork & Curation); Spenser Brenner (Design & Installation)

Publication Contribution

Rack Cross (Research & Development); Spenser Brenner (Photography, Layout & Design); BMC Creative (Printing)

Reece Museum Staff

Rebecca Proffitt (Director); Spenser Brenner (Exhibition Coordinator); Savannah Bennett (Collections Manager); Ashley Gregg (Education Curator)

Clay, Culture, & Change: Southern Folk Pottery & The Tennessee Valley Transformation

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