In the May 29th LOUISVILLE ECCENTRIC OBSERVER

Melvin Rowe is a soft-spoken potter and a good example of an artist making a living at his pursuit. His shop (Pottery Rowe and More, 2048 Frankfort Ave.) is full of hundreds of pieces from his own hands, and his wheel is the center of activity when he is at it. He wields his fingers and thumb as a template to drag into existence the forms in his head. There is no more immediate and direct way, beyond music, to bring a thought into physical reality than throwing clay on a wheel.

Rowe likes his shop, and he owns the building.

“For most potters, you wholesale or go to art fairs,” he says. “When you go to an art fair … you’re only going to take what you have confidence in. And if you’re wholesaling, you have to pick something and produce it over and over and over. With a shop, I can make six [pieces], try a new idea, try a new technique and put it out.”

The shop allows Rowe to bypass gatekeepers and get a direct response from customers. It allows unfettered experimentation, an ether you can feel as soon as you walk in the door.

 

NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Bridal Registry!

Friends and relatives of our registered wedding couples can order and purchase registered gifts right from my webpage!

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. Stop in for a visit sometime, and give Daisy the Basset Hound a pet..... she'll expect it!

It's Gonna Be A Hot Summer At Pottery Rowe!

RAKU FIRING! At the next F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop! (See Events Page!)