Public voting open for NC modernist house design contest

Voting open for N.C. modernist house design contest

Public online voting for the 2016 George Matsumoto Prize, awarded for excellence in N.C. modernist residential design, is now open.

The public will help determine three “People’s Choice” winners. Anyone may vote by email (one time per email address) for his or her favorite entry until 5 p.m. June 29. Winners receive cash prizes from a pool of $6,000.

“These entries inspire people dreaming of a modernist house to know modernist design is affordable, efficient, sustainable and most importantly, a house their families will love for decades,” said N.C. Modernist Houses executive director George Smart, whose organization organizes the awards. “We’re looking forward to record-breaking participation in this year’s online voting.”

N.C. Modernist Houses created the prize in 2012 to honor George Matsumoto, one of the founding faculty members of N.C. State University’s School of Design, who designed some of North Carolina’s best-known and best-loved modernist houses. Matsumoto, now based in Oakland, Calif., is the honorary chair of the jury.

For more information about the 2016 Matsumoto Prize, go to ncmodernist.org/prize2016

2 shows at N.C. Pottery Center

The N.C. Pottery Center in Seagrove has a show through July 2 that may appeal to gardeners.

“Flower Power: Pottery and Plants” offers a collection of pottery decorated with plants and flowers by more than two dozen artists. All the pottery on display is available for purchase.

Then from July 16 to Oct. 29, the center’s show will be “Penland Clay: Shaping North Carolina Ceramics,” which will explore the influence of the Penland School of Crafts clay program on the state’s ceramics industry. The pottery on display will be done by current and former Penland students and resident artists.

The pottery center is at 233 East Ave., Seagrove, 336-873-8430, ncpotterycenter.org

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Save the date: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands

If you are a fan of crafts, the 69th annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in Asheville has two upcoming events. The summer event is July 21-24 and the fall event is Oct. 20-23.

More than 200 makers, who are selected by two juries, will be selling their contemporary to traditional wares of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, paper, mixed media, natural materials, leather and jewelry. Almost 20,000 people come to downtown Asheville each year for the events, which are held at the US Cellular Center.

Admission is $8; free for children under 12.

You can win two complimentary tickets to the July show. Send an email to giveaway@newsobserver.com and put Craft Fair in the subject line by midnight June 25. Good luck!

Info: 828-298-7928, craftguild.org

This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Public voting open for NC modernist house design contest."