“The largest concentration of independent artisans in North America creates pottery, jewelry, wood carvings and artwork daily,” is how the local chamber of commerce boosts its 8 mile long loop on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, TN. The effort started in 1937 and was boosted by special maps which showed the artists home studio locations.
In 1978, 28 original members formed the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community along the trail. Today the community has grown to over 100 artists. Only four of the original 28 are still there and I visited with one of them, Judy Bailey, who is also the current president of the community. She started Gatlinburg Ceramics (www.gatlinburgceramics.com) in 1973.
She was busy loading her kiln with product when I visited but I got time to snap a picture of her, get some information on her shop and a promise to send me additional information on the establishment of the community in 1978. I hope to post more in a couple of weeks, when I receive the information from her.
Efforts like the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community make a lot of sense for other communities to copy. They can be an economic development tool for fostering new entrepreneurs, help to create a special “sense of place”, and can act as a catalyst to entice more visitors to a town.
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