Donnie Rogers & Deborah G. Rogers  
Virginia

Hand carved wood, shell fragments, paint, ink color, pencil, wax, and paper
Non-functional
Bird Teapot: 7"w x 2"l x 13"h
Tree Base: 3.5"w x 6"l x 20.75"h
Together: 11"w x 3.5"l x 20.75"h

About the Teapot
Ideas for new pieces often begin as conversations between Donnie and Deborah, volleyed back and forth until they land on a concept and title that feels right. Their long‑running series of carved rattles - this one incorporated into the teapot - began as an exploration of non‑verbal communication. Rattles offer vibration, rhythm, music, attention, celebration—and sometimes a way to release frustration.

About the Artists
Donnie Rogers is a self‑taught Virginia woodcarver who has been carving for more than half his life. Long before he picked up a carving knife, he was accustomed to working with his hands—first as a brick mason and later as a groundskeeper—before adding woodcarving to his creative pursuits. He grew up fishing and exploring the outdoors, finding in nature a place of calm, solitude, and restoration. It’s no surprise that his carvings reflect that lifelong connection.
Using only simple tools—a hand saw, rasp, X‑Acto knife, pocketknife, and drill—Rogers whittles each of his one‑of‑a‑kind pieces from basswood, old furniture parts, and found wood. While carving came naturally to him, painting did not. Over the years, he has grown more confident in finishing his own pieces. However, he still occasionally collaborates with his wife, Deborah, a lifelong sculptor and painter, to complete the surface work.
For the National Teapot Show, Rogers created a non‑functional teapot titled “Make Some Noise in the Woods - Maybe It's Time for Tea!” Noting that many people soothe their frustrations with a cup of tea, he designed the teapot to contain a removable rattle, inviting viewers to interact with the work—whether to calm themselves or to “call” others to tea.

Deborah G. Rogers is a self‑taught American ceramic sculptor who uses air‑dry clay to create charming, narrative‑driven works that explore subjects ranging from marital friction to childhood bee stings. Her sculptures merge her distinctive drawing style—shaped by her background as both a children’s book illustrator and a pen‑and‑ink realist—with antique influences that lend her pieces an otherworldly presence and occasional retro flair.
Rogers approaches her art as a visual statement, offering viewers her perspectives, insights, and the lessons gathered throughout her life. Her work aims to push buttons: often with humor, sometimes with gentle familiarity, and, when necessary, with a touch of discomfort. Through confronting overlooked issues, eliciting laughter, and stirring emotion, she invites audiences to consider the stories and truths that are too often swept under the carpet.

*Teapots that are purchased will remain on display in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition, through September 14, 2026. 
After the show closes, teapots will be carefully packed and shipped by September 28, or they may be picked up at the gallery.