Cracked Pots at Edgefield

Last week we attended the annual Cracked Pots art show at McMenamins Edgefield.  For those of you who are not from 'round here, the McMenamin brother are brewers, wine makers and distillers.  They purchase broken down, but historic, old properties and renovate them.  The result is some of the most unique brewpub destinations you could imagine.  Their "rescues" include old public schools, hotels, and theaters.  This particular location is called Edgefield and was originally the county poor farm and later a nursing home.  You can learn more about it by visiting here.

 The Cracked Pots Art Show has become an annual event in mid-July.  Cracked Pots artists specialize in art from recycled materials.  In their words, "Cracked Pots uses art to encourage our community to creatively look at trash.  Reuse is at the heart of all we do.  Think before you throw."  You can learn more about them and peruse some thumbnails of each artist's work here.

I apologize for the quality of the photos.  It was overcast and near dusk when most were taken.

The front entrance to the main building which is now a hotel and event venue.  There are many buildings on the property and this is the largest.  The old architecture and workmanship is beautiful.  It's hard to imagine the original function was a poor farm!

There are two separate restaurants, one high-end and the a moderately priced brewpub with indoor and out door seating.  There is a large outdoor amphitheater that draws top name performers.  There are many tiny bars scattered across the property in what were once garden sheds.  Some seat as few as four people but you can purchase a drink and enjoy it as you stroll the grounds.

This is one of the side entrances to the main building. 

The property is still a small-scale working farm in addition to producing small-batch spirits.  There are extensive flower, herb, fruit and vegetable gardens.  There is also a small golf course.

Edgefield is the perfect venue for the Cracked Pots show since the property is decorated with unique, original garden art made from recycled materials. There are two of these archways made from old water pipes and plumbing fittings.  They are functional and water drips from the faucets to water the plants potted in retired beer kegs.

This garden gate is one of my favorite pieces.  This flower and vegetable garden is enclosed inside a wire fence with this old wooden door as an entrance.  I LOVE this!

It was too dark and too many people to get permission from the artists to take photos but I couldn't resist stealing just this one.  The garden art ran the gamut from wind chimes made from salvaged keys and bottle caps, mosaic hubcaps, glass birdbaths to jewelry. The15 foot fire-breathing dragon wasn't there this year but this giant seahorse made up for it!