Perched high above the shores of Center Hill Lake, the Appalachian Center for Craft has earned a national reputation as one of Tennessee’s premier destinations for fine craft education. While many visitors know the campus for its galleries, exhibits, and beautiful setting, the heart of the Center comes alive inside its working studios, where artists of all experience levels gather to learn, create, and connect.
More than an Art Class
The workshops offered throughout the year are designed for a wide range of participants. Some arrive with years of professional experience, while others are trying a new medium for the very first time. Regardless of skill level, the atmosphere is welcoming, collaborative, and centered around the creative process. Rather than simply following step-by-step instructions, participants are encouraged to experiment, ask questions, and develop their own artistic voice. Every project becomes an opportunity to learn new techniques while exploring personal creativity.
One recent clay workshop demonstrated just how diverse these experiences can be. Participants ranged from complete beginners to experienced ceramic artists, each working alongside one another while learning from Nashville artist Audry Deal-McEver.
The environment allowed newcomers to gain confidence while giving seasoned artists the opportunity to refine advanced techniques and exchange ideas.
The Enduring Value and Unlimited Possibilities of Handmade Craft
Walking through the studios, visitors are surrounded by shelves filled with work created by students, instructors, and visiting artists. Functional pottery sits beside sculptural pieces. Earth-toned vessels share space with vibrant glazes, intricate textures, and bold contemporary designs. Each piece reflects a different artistic vision, demonstrating that there is no single approach to working with clay.
For many first-time participants, one of the biggest surprises is the sheer number of possibilities. A single lump of clay can become a coffee mug, serving bowl, sculpture, vase, or completely abstract work of art. Different clay bodies, glazing techniques, firing methods, and finishing processes create dramatically different results, revealing the limitless creative potential of the medium.
Learning from Accomplished Artists
One of the Appalachian Center for Craft’s greatest strengths is its instructors.
Artists from across Tennessee and beyond travel to Smithville to teach workshops, giving participants access to nationally recognized professionals who actively exhibit, teach, and work within their fields.
Among them is Audry Deal-McEver, a functional potter based in Nashville’s Sylvan Park neighborhood. Drawing inspiration from botanical motifs and historical textile patterns from India, Deal-McEver has been connected with the Appalachian Center for Craft since 2007, first attending workshops before eventually becoming an instructor. The recent clay workshop marked her fourth time teaching at the Center.
In addition to maintaining her own studio practice, Audry Deal-McEver serves on the Tennessee Craft Board, supporting craft education and promoting artists. Her work has been featured in exhibitions at the Appalachian Center for Craft, and you can find her at art shows throughout Tennessee, Atlanta, and beyond.
According to Deal-McEver, facilities like the Appalachian Center for Craft are rare.
Fine craft schools with this level of equipment, studio space, and educational opportunities are few and far between. Participants not only gain access to talented instructors but also to specialized tools, kilns, furnaces, materials, and professional workspaces that many artists would never have available in their own studios.
She also notes that the Center regularly attracts highly respected artists from across the country. Some have become influential figures whose work appears in textbooks and educational materials used by art students nationwide. The glass program, in particular, has earned national recognition, supported by sophisticated equipment that is both difficult and expensive to maintain.
A Community Built Around Creativity
While technical instruction is certainly important, many participants return year after year because of the community the workshops create.
Michelle of Tuscaloosa attends annual creative retreats and recently returned to study with Deal-McEver once again.
“I love Audry’s work and follow her, so I wanted to sign up for this workshop,” Michelle said. “She is a great teacher. Every year, I plan a trip where I can get away, be around creative people, and learn from others. It’s a stress reliever, and I always meet wonderful people. My husband and I are staying on-site, and he is participating in the wood workshop.”
Others discover the Center through Tennessee Tech University.
Po, an art education and metals major, has spent the past two years living on campus while completing her degree.
“It’s a great place with amazing people,” she said. “You get to meet so many different people, and there are programs available for everyone.”
For many participants, the workshops become an annual tradition.
Amber describes her summer workshop as a creative staycation. Inspired by the experience, she even converted part of her home into a personal studio.
“I come back to continue learning and to improve techniques,” said Amber.
Like many fine craft disciplines, working with clay takes patience, practice, and immense skill, making each new technique learned and every finished piece all the more rewarding. Her story reflects a common theme: these workshops don’t simply teach a new skill. They often inspire a lifelong creative journey and passion.
Opportunities for Every Age
The Appalachian Center for Craft is committed to making fine craft accessible to the community.
Residents of White, Putnam, and DeKalb counties can take advantage of discounted tuition for many workshops, making nationally recognized instruction more accessible to local artists and hobbyists.
The Center also hosts free youth workshops that introduce children to a variety of artistic mediums while allowing them to learn from professional artists in a supportive environment. These programs help encourage creativity at an early age and provide opportunities that are rarely found in rural communities.
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A Creative Destination Unlike Any Other
Visitors often come to Center Hill Lake for boating, hiking, waterfalls, and events. Yet tucked away just above the water is an institution that has quietly become one of the country’s most respected centers for fine art.
The Appalachian Center for Craft offers something increasingly difficult to find: direct access to accomplished artists, professional studios, specialized equipment, and a welcoming community that celebrates handmade craftsmanship.
Whether someone is interested in shaping clay for the first time, exploring glassblowing, learning traditional woodworking techniques, weaving baskets, or expanding years of artistic experience, the workshops provide an opportunity to create, learn, and connect in an environment unlike anywhere else in the region.
For those looking to experience another side of Center Hill Lake, the Appalachian Center for Craft offers more than a workshop—it offers a chance to discover the enduring value of making something by hand.
Get Involved
Whether you’re interested in taking a workshop, exploring the galleries, or simply experiencing the creative energy of the Appalachian Center for Craft, there are plenty of ways to get involved throughout the year.
The Center hosts several signature events that celebrate fine craft and connect visitors with artists from across the region. The Celebration of Craft invites guests to tour working studios, watch live demonstrations, shop handcrafted artwork, enjoy live music, and participate in family-friendly activities. The annual Holiday Festival offers a festive opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind handmade gifts while enjoying artist demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages. Meanwhile, Bacchanal, the School of Art, Craft and Design’s premier fundraising event, features exceptional artwork, fine food, and a live auction supporting scholarships for future artists.
For those who want to make an even greater impact, the Appalachian Center for Craft also welcomes donations that help support student scholarships, educational programming, exhibitions, and future generations of artists. However you choose to engage, a visit to the Craft Center is an opportunity to experience the creativity, craftsmanship, and sense of community that make this institution one of Center Hill Lake’s most remarkable cultural treasures.
A note from the author: I really cannot recommend the Appalachian Center for Craft enough! This place is an amazing and special place. I participated in this clay workshop, and for me, this was a brand new experience and one I was a little nervous about. In a classroom full of very talented and advanced artists, I felt overwhelmed, but Audry made it easy to learn. I was fascinated watching others work. I really felt like I was watching magic tricks all week.
Whether you are local and looking for something equally challenging, interesting and rewarding, this is it. If you are visiting, this adds another layer to your trip. New classes, exhibits and galleries are added and updated often. Visit the Appalachian Center for Craft online for more information and to sign up for a workshop. This will easily be one of the best things you do.
