Teapot preview gallery now open

The public was given a sneak peek this weekend at what they will find at the Sparta Teapot Museum when it opens in about two years. A preview gallery, located on Main Street in Sparta, has about 2,000 square feet of exhibit space and houses about 70 of the teapots collected over the years by California residents Sonny and Gloria Kamm. About 200 people attended the Sept. 2 grand opening of the Sparta Teapot Museum Preview Gallery, according to Sparta resident Margaret Crouse, who serves as the gallery's volunteer coordinator.

"We had the most folks in the morning, but it stayed pretty steady all day," Crouse said of the attendance.

The pieces in the preview gallery were selected by Mary Douglas, who serves as the curator for the museum that is scheduled to open in June 2008, according to Crouse.

"Although we only have about 70 (teapots) on display in here, there's a pretty wide range of different types," Crouse said. "Our

At Left: Margaret Crouse, the volunteer coordinator for the preview gallery of the Sparta Teapot Museum, stands by Sergei Isupov's "Nerve," a porcelain piece she finds to be one of the more unusual displays at the preview gallery.

At right: Grand Opening—Taking part in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Sparta Teapot Museum's new preview gallery on Main Street on Saturday are (from left) Project Manager Jonathan Halsey, preview gallery Volunteer Coordinator Margaret Crouse, Alleghany Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Bamberg, Sparta Mayor John Miller, 5th District U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-Watauga), 90th District N.C. House Rep. Jim Harrell (D-Alleghany), New River Community Partners Executive Director Patrick Woodie and project initiators Philip and Charlotte Hanes.

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