From the Winter 07/08 Made in KY Newsletter of the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft.

Melvin Rowe:
Colonel of Clay

Louisvillian Melvin Rowe, an integral part of the Kentucky ceramics world for more than 30 years, loved creating as a child.  "I'd make things out of whatever I could get my hands on: oatmeal boxes, coat hangers, scrap wood," he says.

Melvin entered Western Kentucky University to study fine art to become a cartoonist, but upon taking ceramics became hooked on that instead.  He earned his B.F.A. at WKU and his M.A. in ceramics at the University of Louisville.  And he still loves it.  "It's 35 or so years later, and I still can't wait to open the kiln, to see the new stuff, the new experiments," he says.

For years while creating his own work, Melvin worked full-time, including serving as director of Metro Arts Center in Louisville, and also taught part-time.  In about 1981 he was offered a job in Montana, but he chose to stay in Louisville to become a full-time production potter.  "I knew I'd be better with the material if I threw 100 mugs a day rather than creating a space for others to do that," he says.

In the 1980's Melvin operated retail venues first in Bakery Square and then on Frankfort Avenue, where he has lived and operated his studio and shop ever since.  "Direct retail is about half of what we do," he says.  "I have a lot of repeat customers.  Some have been coming for over 25 years and have become friends."

Today Melvin also sells his work through wholesale and speciality accounts.  Melvin's diverse accounts include making religious vessels for churches and mugs for local bars.  "Flanagan's on Baxter--- I've made over 500 mug for their mug club," he says.  He also makes the mugs awarded to prize winners in the home-brewed beer competition at the Kentucky State Fair.

Wine carafes and decanters are among Melvin's favorite items to make, and he enjoys making wine as well.  In 2006 he won a first place ribbon at the Kentucky State Fair for his Colonel Mel's Green Apple Honey Mead, and this year he won a third place ribbon for his Heap Big Medicine Mouthwash and Pain Killer.  Part of Melvin's charm is a great sense of humor, which spills over into his wine labels.

Melvin notes the similarity between making wine and ceramics.  "The chemistry of wine making is similar to glaze chemistry," he says.  "You have to understand the ingredients and what something is going to be after going through the process."  Louisville is lucky to have Melvin going through these processes here.

 

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Pottery Rowe is the studio and showroom of Louisville potter Melvin D. Rowe. With over thirty five years working in clay, Rowe has created a wide variety of functional, artistic, and decorative pieces. His shop is open to the public six days a week, and visitors can watch him at work at his potter's wheel. Or simply browse these pages to search for that special dinnerware set, gift or artwork for your home.

Rowe creates all the pieces himself. Each pot is hand formed on the potter's wheel from a blend of clays selected for their color, thermal shock capacity and other characteristics. After a first bisque firing (at 1750 degrees F), the pieces are glazed and decorated. Rowe develops his own glazes and has published articles in Ceramics Monthly on glaze chemistry. Finally, the pots are fired a second time to almost 2300 degrees F. The entire process, including drying time, takes three weeks.

Functional stoneware is a speciality of Melvin Rowe. All of his work is microwavable, ovenproof, dishwasher safe, lead free and non toxic. He produces entire dinnerware sets which can be purchased in one set or built over a period of time. Of course, mugs are a speciality, and he produces everything from demi-tasses for expresso, to standard and large coffee mugs, soup and chili mugs, as well as beer mugs and steins. Other beverage service includes full tea service, including teapots, cream and sugar bowls, and tea cups. As Rowe is an award winning amateur winemaker, he fully understands the nuances of wine glasses, goblets, chillers/coolers, wine stoppers and carafes.

And don't forget bowls! Bowls for fruit, bread, cereal, vegetables, soup, salads. Bowls that are large and small and square! He can make bowls with holes (colanders). He's even designed a special bowl for microwaves with a handle that doesn't get hot.

With his interest in glaze chemistry, Rowe has developed over twelve unique glaze patterns that reflect his outdoor enthusiasm. His most popular items and glaze patterns are offered on this site. Custom patterns are also available.

Everything Rowe produces can not be represented even on a webpage.

Finding Pottery Rowe (click here)

OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 10 AM - 5 PM

SHIPPING: Most orders are shipped within 48 hours via USPS Priority Mail (2-4 days). Occassionally, some items are out of stock and must be made. This may take 2-3 weeks, and I will email you if this is necessary.

 

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