MRF’s “Art Summer” Blog Series – TENA PAYNE, Earthborn Studios

As we get ready for Moss Rock Festival’s 10th anniversary coming up on November 7 & 8 at The Preserve in Hoover, we decided to kick off this milestone with an “Art Summer” Blog Series spotlighting some of our favorite artist exhibitors over the last 9 years of the eco-creative Fall festival. We’ve chosen a local, Tena Payne of Earthborn Studios, as our first feature.

You may have seen Tena Payne’s pottery designs being used to plate the artful culinary creations by Chef Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club as he battled for and won the Iron Chef title on the popular  tv show competition. Tena’s Earthborn Studios has forged a successful relationship for her ceramic tableware collections with other restaurants around the country from the Bellagio in Las Vegas to Century Restaurant & Bar right here in Birmingham. For a complete list of where you can eat off her creations, click here. Or you can own your own by visiting a local art festival or her amazing studio in Leeds!

Each piece by Earthborn Studios is a labor of love; handmade, heartfelt, and designed with inspiration from nature in all its glory: the greens of pine trees, the blues and violets of the sky, the downy warmth of cotton fields, golden hues of honey, and the deep reds from our Alabama soil. The abrasive-resistant and proprietary glazes are gorgeous, and fired at such high temperatures that the clay and glaze form a bond making each piece extremely durable. Tena’s designs are simple, clean, and elegant. Plus, no two pieces are exactly alike, adding to their unique beauty and allure.

This homegrown art talent has made huge strides with her work, and we applaud how far she has come. Her future is bright. We hope you have taken the opportunity to pick up one of her platters, plates, bowls, and more over the years at Moss Rock Festival.