Troy-based potter Walter Black will do a wheel-throwing demonstration at studio 116 in downtown Brundidge at 1 p.m. Saturday. The event is free and open to the public.

Black was awarded “Best of Show” at 2012 TroyFest. As the award winner, he was a featured artist at the Johnson Center for the Arts in Troy during the months of April and May.

A Troy native and graduate of the Troy University Fine Arts program, Black shows at arts events throughout the state and is widely recognized for his work. Moreover, he takes advantage of all opportunities to put art before the public.

“When communities experience economic hardship, they understandably turn toward necessities rather than luxuries,” he said. “Art, not being something needed for physical survival, is often the first thing to go. The world is having to choose which parts of its communities to support and keep alive. The arts are fundamental in the growth and maturity of society.”

Black said his hope is that communities will realize the important contributions that art makes to everyday life and will support the arts in their communities.

Black shows at arts events throughout the state and is widely recognized for his work.

Sara Dismukes, studio 116 co-director, said Black will present an educational demonstration and workshop on Saturday.

“Using a pottery wheel, Walter will show how he ‘throws’ pots,” Dismukes said. “Whether you are interested in pottery-making or not, it will be fun to watch Walter at work. It’s amazing to see how he can take a lump of wet clay and turn it into a vessel form,” she said.”

After the wheel-throwing demonstration, Black will conduct 2 p.m. workshop for older children and adults teaching a different process of pottery making.

“Those who participate in the workshop will be hand building using clay coils and slabs,” Dismukes said. “The work participants make will be kiln-fired. Each participant will have something he hand-made to keep.”

The cost of the hand-building workshop is $20 and includes all materials.

For more information or to register for the workshop, call studio 116 at 334-268-4436.