February 6 - February 28

Opening Reception: February 7 from 6-8pm

After Hurricane Mitch devastated much of Central America, Ron Rivera, the international coordinator for Potter’s for Peace, developed the ceramic water filter to help relieve the problems in Nicaragua. The filter is made by pressing a mixture of clay and sawdust into a flower pot shape. When it is fired, the sawdust is burned away, leaving numerous holes to allow water to pass through the permeable walls. The filter is then impregnated with nano-particles of silver that act as an antimicrobial agent. The filter element fits into a standard-sized 5 gallon bucket as a water receptacle. A plastic spigot at the bottom enables the clean water to be drawn off. In some countries where the water filter is produced, local potters make ceramic vessels as receptacles.

Water borne disease is the world’s biggest health challenge. Each day, over 5,000 children die from bad drinking water. In an effort to promote the water filter and gain greater recognition of the viability of this simple, life-saving design, members of the Slippery Rock University Potter’s Guild organized the first Potter’s for Peace water filter receptacle show.

An exhibition of ceramic receptacles was mounted in Slippery Rock in November of 2005. The show traveled to West Virginia, then North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas and Missouri. At each venue, more ceramic artists joined and contributed pieces. Some of the water filter receptacles to be displayed at the Braddock Gallery were first exhibited in Pittsburgh during the NCECA Conference. New work has been added and afterwards, the pieces will be shipped to Phoenix and continue to travel on the West Coast.

Our Braddock exhibition will serve as a launch point for the pottery shop in the original Carnegie Library. Currently, Jeff Swartz, an AmeriCorps volunteer, is the director of the first filter production facility in North America.

More information at:
Shoulder to Shoulder Pittsburgh
Pure Water for All - Forest Hills Rotary