Sonny and Gloria Kamm address the crowd during a question and answer session held last week at Sparta First United Methodist Church.

Sonny and Gloria Kamm visit Sparta

Visions of a museum full of teapots danced in the heads of about 100 people as they gathered in the Sparta United Methodist Church fellowship hall on July 21 at 10 a.m.

Sonny and Gloria Kamm fielded questions the public had regarding the proposed teapot museum that is planned to be located in downtown Sparta. "They're the most genuine people I have ever met in my entire life,” said Jonathan Halsey, project director of the museum for the New River Community Partners.

A portion of the Kamm's collection is on tour. That group of exhibits is called "The Artful Teapot” and has been on display in North America in Napa, Calif., Montgomery, Ala., Toronto, Long Beach, Calif., Chicago and Charlotte.

Mrs. Kamm said during the hour-and-a-half question and answer session that the couple has more than 3,500 teapots. They also collect sun dials and antique napkin rings.

"We have a superb collection of rubber duckies,” she said. The 250 plus ducks are collected on behalf of their grandchildren. One of the grandchildren has picked up the collector's gene and collects items like rubber bands, according to Mrs. Kamm.

Children in the Museum

Patrick Woodie, executive director of the New River Community Partners, asked the couple to explain their vision of children in the museum. In conjunction with the tour, a booklet, "The Artful Teapot Family Activity Guide,” was distributed among the young attendants.

"There's all sorts of things for children to look at,” explained Mrs. Kamm. "(The booklet) shows you how to read labels, it shows that the art museum is a chance to practice your looking skills and that we generally don't touch.

"There's all kinds of information in here, but the idea is you have something for the children to look at. There's an amazing variety of different material. We had a lot of fun ourselves working on this.” The brochure was submitted and recognized with a prize by the American Museum Association of Museum Publications, Mrs. Kamm said.

She noted that conventionally, teapots are made out of clay. However, there are teapots in the collection made of bottle caps, five dollar bills and wood.

The couple hopes to have a hands-on workshop at the museum, according to Mrs. Kamm.

"In every community in the country, when funding is cut, the first thing that goes is the arts program and there are many kids who never have the chance to experience any arts programs.

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