Jim Thompson

Meet Jim Thompson, the hands and heart behind One Oak Pottery, a beloved artisan right here in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee!  Jim has been a pillar of the Cumberland Gap Artists’ Co-op (CGAC) since May 2018.

A retired educator, Jim transitioned his passion for teaching into a lifelong mastery of clay, a journey he began nearly 30 years ago.  Upon retiring, he transformed a portion of his back porch into his dream studio, creating functional, beautiful art under a name that says it all: One of a Kind.  Aside from a few specialized classes over the last three years, Jim is entirely self-taught.  He honed his craft through decades of dedicated experimentation and video study.  Jim focuses on throwing simple, highly functional vessels meant to be used and loved daily.  Because every single piece is made individually by hand, no two items are ever identical—when you buy from Jim, you are truly taking home a one-of-a-kind treasure.  Jim's commitment to our non-profit co-op extends far beyond his pottery wheel.

He works shifts twice a month to keep our gallery doors open to the public, and he has lent his leadership skills to CGAC as our dedicated organizational Treasurer since 2019.  Jim also plays an indispensable role behind the scenes in planning and executing our major community celebrations.  You can experience his hard work at our premier annual Cumberland Gap, TN events: the Art & Wine Festival (the last Saturday in April), the Harvest Moon Festival (the last Saturday in September), and our magical family-focused Victorian Christmas.

When you support Jim and purchase a piece of One Oak Pottery, you directly fuel the local arts and sustain CGAC's non-profit mission to enrich the cultural heritage of our historic region.  Stop by the co-op this week to explore Jim's beautiful, functional pottery display and find your next favorite everyday mug or serving bowl!