Between the years 1911-1918, Arequipa Pottery existed first as a way to provide therapy to patients at a California sanitarium and then as a financial endeavor that might had been successful were it not for World War I. Arequipa, meaning "the place of peace" was the brainchild of Dr. Philip King Brown. After having founded the Arequipa Tuberculosis Sanatorium, it was his belief art would play a significant role in one's recovery efforts. Soon, he attempted to make it a profitable company, if for no other reason than to offset the costs associated with providing supplies to the patients. After having brought on board a few different people to assist in the management efforts, Dr. Brown brought in F.H. Wilde. Wilde was experienced in the details of starting an art pottery and knew how it make it financially successful. He promptly took to his new position and did quite well until the war made it unfeasible to continue.
Still, the patients, who were most likely pre-teen and teen girls, were allowed to display their artistic wares at the Panama Pacific Exposition in 1915. They were allowed to keep a small percentage of their pieces that sold as well as small salary. It was Dr. Brown's belief this type of therapy was as important as proper nutrition and the medications used to heal the girls' physical ailments. As mentioned above, Arequipa Pottery was not able to turn a profit and eventually, it came to rely solely on donations until they too began to decrease. 1918 marked the final year of the art pottery company. Many of the pieces these young patients were responsible for creating are on display at the Smithsonian Institution. The pieces that are in circulation are considered quite valuable and each is one of a kind since the patients either created at will or would complete a piece and promptly begin another project.
On a final note, it wasn't until 2001 another showing that rivaled the size of the 1915 Panama Pacific Expo displayed Arequipa Pottery. While many pieces remain at the Smithsonian Institute, there are a significant number that can be found in Oakland's Museum of California.
Donna McGill – Just Art Pottery
