Kids Line Up at Homer Laughlin to ‘Paint-A-Plate’

November 13, 2018—Newell, WV— Hundreds of kids and their parents came together Saturday, Nov. 2, within view of Homer Laughlin headquarters for the 10th annual Kids’ Paint-A-Plate event. Held in conjunction with the Top of West Virginia Arts Council, kids explored their creativity by decorating their very own Homer Laughlin plates. More than 600 kids participated, a new attendance record.

It’s become a highly anticipated celebration each year. “A factory outlet manager started it almost on a whim, as a fun thing for kids to do while their parents shopped at our outlet store,” said Shannon Giambroni, national retail account manager and event chairman. “For the first couple of years, we held it in a tent on the grounds at HQ—but we quickly outgrew it! Some people drove four hours to be here today, so it’s really expanded beyond the immediate area.”

Participating kids were given free reign over their designs, with imagination being their only limit.

Maybe the best part? It’s art you can use. After the design phase of the event, each kid’s plate is returned to the plant and fired in Homer Laughlin’s kilns. The finished plates are returned to the artists the following Saturday at which point they’ll be ready for display—or even to add to the table setting. Once fired, each piece will be a bona fide piece of Homer Laughlin, meaning it will be a fully vitrified, American-made, foodservice-quality dinnerware.

“It’s a fun event and people really love it,” said Katie Bricker, marketing manager for Homer Laughlin. “It’s always been a way for the community to come together, and now it’s grown even more as Homer fans make it a destination event. We’re very pleased at the turnout for this year’s 10th anniversary.”

Paint-A-Plate was held at the Wells Building in Newell, W. Va. The free event is a fun way to celebrate the pottery heritage of the region while making a memento that can be enjoyed at every meal.

About The Homer Laughlin China Company

The Homer Laughlin China Company, founded in 1871, is the largest domestic tableware manufacturer in the United States, employing over 800 skilled craftsmen in a 37-acre facility. Together, the Homer Laughlin China Company and Hall China are the HLC Inc. family of companies. HLC’s diverse range of lead-free commercial dinnerware meets every conceivable need for today’s discerning chefs and restaurateurs. Setting the tone — not just the table — is at the heart of the HLC commitment to its customers. For more information, please contact HLC Inc., 672 Fiesta Drive, Newell, WV 26050. Phone: (800) 452-4462. Fax: (800) 533-8918. Web: www.hlcdinnerware.com Email: hlc@hlchina.com.