Ephraim Pottery: A Season for CERF Fundraiser

A Season for CERF 2009: The Bloodroot Vase for CERF
Please note: The entry deadline for this drawing was October 20th. No more entries are being taken for this year's piece. We encourage you to enter the buyers' drawing again next year. Thank you. Ephraim Faience Pottery is participating in the Craft Emergency Relief Fund's (CERF) fundraiser A Season for CERF again this year. CERF assists American craftspeople who are experiencing a career-threatening illness or tragedy by providing them with low-cost loans and grants. The funds raised during this annual event enable CERF to continue to assist craftspeople who would otherwise be in danger of losing their livelihoods due to critical illnesses, accidents, fires and natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires, among other tragedies. In 2002, Ephraim Pottery created what was to become the first piece in a special limited edition series of vases to raise funds for CERF. Each piece in the series features a flower that has a symbolic meaning that relates to CERF's mission. In Victorian times, an elaborate system of symbolism was developed that assigned underlying meanings to common flowers. Some of this symbolism has carried forward to the present day; for example, red roses are still commonly associated with romantic love. Much of the flower symbolism, however, has been forgotten, although a little internet research will turn up long lists of flowers and their traditional meanings.	The Bloodroot Vase for CERF Click for larger view Approx. 6.50"h x 6.50"w Limited edition of 100 pieces Bears special CERF mark in addition to our regular studio and artist marks $248 +$20 s/h
The first seven pieces in the Flower Series for CERF featured flowers with established symbolic meanings. Part of Ephraim Pottery's mission is to reinterpret valuable traditions from the past and carry them forward into today's world. In that spirit, we have created our own symbolic meaning for the Bloodroot. The Bloodroot gets its name from the blood-red sap that runs through its roots. Even though Native Americans used them for medicinal purposes, the roots are toxic when ingested in all but very small amounts. The beautiful, pure white flower of the Bloodroot plant springs from this paradoxical root that has the power to give life to the plant while simultaneously being able to take the life of anyone that consumes it. Stories of renewal after chaos, destruction, disaster, war and death abound in the annals of history and mythology of humankind. The Bloodroot plant symbolizes the difficult truth that sometimes devastation gives rise to something beautiful that could not have existed without it. This parallels the beautiful work that is created by the craftspeople who have been helped by CERF after a devastating event threatened to end their careers. Ephraim Pottery will create 100 Bloodroot Vases for CERF. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each piece will be donated to CERF. In addition to our 2009 mark and the artist’s signature, each piece will bear an additional impressed mark on the foot designating this as part of the CERF series.	Photo by tacojim/istockphoto.com The Bloodroot plant is a living paradox, with beautiful pure white flowers nurtured by roots filled with toxic blood-red sap
How to purchase a Bloodroot Vase for CERF
Since the demand for pieces in our CERF series historically has been greater than the supply, pieces are sold through a drawing. People who are interested in purchasing one of these special vases submit their names by a certain deadline, 100 names are drawn, and those people are given the opportunity to purchase one of the limited edition pieces. Replacement names are drawn if anyone declines to purchase the piece. This year, there are three ways to enter the buyers' drawing to purchase the Bloodroot Vase for CERF: Mail in a postcard Send an email Fill out an entry postcard at our gallery You may enter in any one of the above ways, but to be fair to all interested potential buyers, you may only submit one entry for each household or couple residing at the same address. After the deadline, we will sort through all of the entries received. If duplicate entries are found or if we determine that someone has attempted to “stuff the ballot box,” all of the entries submitted by or on behalf of that person will be discarded and all persons involved will be excluded from the drawing. To enter by mail, send a standard-sized postcard to Bloodroot Vase for CERF, c/o Ephraim Pottery, 203 W. Lake St., Lake Mills, WI 53551. To enter by email, send an email to info@ephraimpottery.com with "CERF entry" in the subject line. Please include the following information on your postcard or in your email: Your first and last names Your address Your daytime and evening telephone numbers with area code Your email address If you wish to enter at our gallery, you can find hours and location information on our gallery page. Blank entry postcards will be available during the gallery's open hours. All entries must be received by midnight on Tuesday, October 20. (To ensure fairness for all types of entries in the drawing, emailed entries will be transferred to cards that are similar in weight and size to postcards.) The drawing will take place on Thursday, October 22 and we will begin contacting winning buyers shortly thereafter. Your patience is appreciated, as it will take some time to contact all 100 winning buyers. Payment and shipping information will be taken at that time. Unreachable and non-paying buyers will forfeit their entry and another name will be drawn from the remaining eligible entries. If you plan to be out of town during this time, please make sure to include where/how we can contact you if your name is drawn. Good luck in the drawing, and thank you for your support of CERF!