There’s a lot to be celebrated in the American art pottery sector these days. The Cowan Pottery Museum is currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of this well known and beloved art pottery company. It began this spring and will run through the fall of 2013.
As Cowan Pottery fans know, this American art pottery opened in 1912 and was originally located in Lakewood, Ohio. It mainly produced architectural tiles, but also made a line of vases and bowls called “Lakewood Ware”. This continued until World War I when Mr. Cowan closed his studio so that he could serve in the Army.
Upon his return from war in 1920, he made the decision to move the studio so that he could focus on more commercial designs, which wasn’t uncommon during this period following the war. He employed students from the Cleveland Institute of Art and soon, he was back to the more creative side of American art pottery.
Cowan Pottery was soon gaining recognition and collection awards and eventually, he went international and sold to several retailers in Canada. And just as many companies focused on practical matters following the war, Cowan Party and the rest of the nation began focusing on what would become of their homes, businesses and lives now that they’d been hit by the Depression. By December 1931, the pottery had closed. Fortunately, we’re left with those same original buildings and in fact, one is a museum that houses many of Cowan Pottery pieces. One line includes Victor Schreckengost’s line of Jazz Bowls, which were originally created for Eleanor Roosevelt and can be seen in Cleveland’s Museum of Art.
Naturally, the centennial celebration is an important part of the region’s history.
Among the many celebrations, fans can enjoy events hosted by CPMA, the Cowan Pottery Museum and other regional Arts and Historical organizations. Rest assured – there are many.
August and September brings the opportunity for an art study group in cooperation with the Cleveland Museum of Art and Ingalls Library. The dates run through the end of September and coincide with the special exhibit, “Youth & Beauty: The Art of the American 1920s”.
Also, if you’re going to be in the area on September 9, you might wish to consider the Lakewood House Tour, where you’ll get to see things the public is rarely given access to.
There are also film festivals and other historical events that will coincide with the celebration. Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art’s website for more information on any of the events and exhibit as a whole. Other websites include www.lakewoodhistory.org and http://www.clevelandart.org. You’ll be able to access all of the events from either of these sites.
