Pottery Rowe

Handmade, wheel-thrown stoneware pottery by Melvin D. Rowe

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About the Artist

    Melvin Rowe:
Colonel of Clay

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

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.

** Since this article was published, Rowe has sold the Frankfort Ave. property and moved his studio to Henry County, Kentucky.

Resumé — Melvin D. Rowe

Education

Master of Arts, 1978,
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1973,
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

March 1981 – Present
Studio potter, self-employed, fulltime

January 1999 – May 1999
Art Instructor, adjunct,
Jefferson Community College, Louisville, KY

August 1980 – May 1986
Instructor of Art, adjunct,
Spalding University, Louisviller, KY

March 1977 – March 1981
Director,
Metro Arts Center, Louisville, KY

August 1974 – March 1977
Assistant Director,
Metro Arts Center, Louisville, KY

August 1973 – August 1974
Art Instructor,
Metro Arts Center, Louisville, KY

January 1973 – May 1973
Assistant Director,
University Craft Center,
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Shows & Publications

Solo and Two-Artist Exhibitions

 

“A Night of 100 Flames,” BeBe’s Artisan Market, LLC., Paducah, KY September, 2001

“Recent Works By Melvin D. Rowe,” UPS Corporate Headquarters, Louisville, KY August-September, 1998

“Spirits and Whimsy,” City Art Center, Cincinati, OH, February, 1998

potteryrowe-about3-rockhorse.jpg“Ancient Ways and Modern Days, Neo-Primitive works by Melvin D. Rowe,” Earthworks Gallery, Waynesville, North Carolina, July 18-August 19, 1997

“Bright Ideas and Random Thoughts,” Current Works of Melvin D. Rowe and Doug Simon, Kentucky Gallery of Fine Craft and Art, Lexington, Kentucky, February 1-March 31, 1997

“Horsing Around with Melvin D. Rowe,” Persimmon Tree Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky, April 25 – May 31, 1996

“The Wacky, Wonderful Worlds of Keith Ottermann and Melvin D. Rowe,” Persimmon Tree Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky, December, 1994

“Vessels and Images”, One Artist Show, October, 1980, Jefferson Community College Southwest

“Images”, One-Artist show, May 1970, The Darkroom, Louisville, Kentucky

One Artist Show, April 1973, Metro Arts Center, Louisville, Kentucky

Group Invitational Exhibitions

“In the Market 25 Years,” Kentucky Crafted, The Market, March, 2006, Louisville, KY

“For the Love of Flowers,” Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, March 5-April 1, 2005, Louisville, KY

“Bottled Spirits,” Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, May 8-June 30, 2005, Louisville, KY

“For the Love of Flowers,” Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, March 5-April 1, 2005, Louisville, KY

“Bottled Spirits,” Kentucky Museum of Arts + Design, May 7 – June 19, 2004, Louisville, Kentucky

“Dessert Works ‘02,” Indiana University Southeast, January, 2002,New Albany, Indiana

“Third Annual Dynamic Dolls,” Coyote Woman Gallery, June, 2001, Bryan, Ohio

“DinnerWorks 2000,” Louisville Visual Art Association, January, 2000, Louisville, Kentucky

“Soup Tureen 2000,” Indiana University Southeast, January, 2000, New Albany, Indiana

“Fifteen Years On Main Street,” Traveling Exhibition, Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, November, 1999 through November 2000, Madisonville Community College, Carnegie Art Center, Ashland Area Art Gallery, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, Southern Ohio Museum, Capitol Arts Center, Bowling Green

“Horsing Around,” Traveling Exhibition, Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, Louisville, Kentucky, March, 1999, Lexington Public Library Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky, May, 1999

“Tiles and Basins,” Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, Louisville, Kentucky, January, 1999

“Bourbon Bottles,” Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, Louisvillle, Kentucky, October, 1997

“Teapot VIII,” Gallery Alexander, La Jolla, California, July-August, 1997

potteryrowe-about4-craftco6a.jpg“Kentucky Crafted, a Special Invitational Exhibition,” Craft Company # 6, Rochester, New York, May, 1997

“A Homage to Freda Kahlo,” invitational exhibition, Sister Dragonfly Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky, May, 1997

“Platters,” Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, Louisville, Kentucky, January 17- March 1, 1997

“Time Flies,” Pegusus Gallery, Louisville International Airport, Louisville, Kentucky, October, 1996

“Teapot VII,” Gallery Alexander, La Jolla, California, July-August, 1996

“Good Dog,” Bank One Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky, October – November, 1995

“Teapot VI,” Gallery Alexander, La Jolla, California, July – August, 1995

“Rheinland-Phalz Austellung,” Mainz, Germany, February, 1995

“Kentucky Studio Potters, ’94,” 2days Gallery, October, 1994

“Teapots,” Stone Soup Gallery, June, 1994, Chicago, Il.

potteryrowe-about5-herrbeck1.jpg“Louisville-Pr„sentation am H”fchen,” exhibition of Kentucky crafts (also personally attended as a representative), May, 1994, Mainz, Germany

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, September/October 1993, Washington, D.C.

“Kentucky Studio Potters”, 2days Gallery, October, 1993, Somerset, Kentucky

“Interpretations By:”, Invitational, April 1983, Jubilee Gallery,Jeffersonville, Indiana

“Pots”, Invitational, Old Towne, November 1982, Louisville, Kentucky

Group Show, December 1975, Hunter Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky

Faculty Exhibitions, 1974-1986, Metro Arts Center, Louisville, Kentucky

Numerous Exhibitions and Displays though Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, 1982 – Present

Competitive Exhibitions

“Juried Member Exhibition, Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen,” Eastern Kentucky University, June, 1996

potteryrowe-about6-hyatt.jpg“Louisville Craftsman’s Guild Annual Juried Show,” Louisville, Kentucky, August, 1994

Louisville Craftsman’s Guild Annual Juried Show, 1993, Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville Craftsman’s Guild Annual Juried Show, 1991, Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville Craftsman’s Guild Annual Juried Show, 1986, Louisville, Kentucky

1979 Mid-States Craft Exhibition, March 1979, Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences, Evansville, Indiana

Hyatt Regency, Louisville Exhibition, May 1978, J. B. Speed Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

Publications

Making Pottery Functional, book, published March, 2015, by Melvin D. Rowe, Butler Books

“A Greenhorn Goes A Rendezvousin'” Smoke and Fire, Fall, 2016

“Camp Names,” Smoke and Fire, Winter, 2017

“Glazes: Materials, Recipes, and Techniques, A Ceramics Monthly Handbook”, The American Ceramic Society, 2004

“In Praise of Material Objects,” Illuminations, May, 1998

“Kentucky Crafts in Germany,” The Crafts Report, October, 1994

“Promotions,” Craftlink, Crafts Council of Australia, Brisbane, Australia, March 1991.

“Combining Retail Space with Work Space,” Craftlink, Brisbane, Australia, June 1991.

“Sharing Responsibilities Can Increase Production and Profit in a Retail Shop,” Craftnews, Toronto, Ontario, 1989.

“Opening Your Own Shop,” an eight month series, The Crafts Report, October l988 through May 1989.

“Test Marketing,” The Crafts Report, accepted for publication September 1987.

“Sales Aids Help Stores Sell Your Work,” The Crafts Report, January, 1988.

“Craftworker’s Budget Planning,” The Crafts Report, March 1984

“A Craftsman’s Point of View,” Made in Kentucky, a publication of the Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, regular column, July 1984 to end of publication.

“Creating Variation with a Single Base Glaze,” Ceramics Monthly, June 1981.

“A Japanese-Style Handwheel,” Ceramics Monthly, October, 1980.

“Converting to Oxidation Glazes,” Ceramics Monthly, February, 1985.

“The Professional Crafter,” monthly column, newsletter of Louisville Craftsman’s Guild, 1985.

potteryrowe-about7-npscholar.jpg

Organizations, Offices, and Committees

Louisville Craftman’s Guild, President, June l990 -June 1994 (four consecutive terms)

Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, March, 1994 -2001, Board Member at Large, June 1995 – January, 1996

Visual Arts Network, Fall, 1992 to Present, Secretary, October, 1994 to October 1995

Kentucky Craft Marketing Program Advisory Committee, !993- 1996

Sister Cities of Louisville, Mainz, Germany, Chairman, Sub-Committee of Cultural Exchanges, March, 1995 – January, 1996

Henry County Arts and Crafts Guild 2012-present

ArtsWatch, 1994-2000

Frankfort Avenue Business Association, 1991 – 2014

Plainview Village Center Merchant Association, Board Member, October 1987 – 1988

Bakery Square Merchant Association, President, July 1985 – October 1986

Louisville Craftsmen’s Guild, Vice President, July l985 – July l986

Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation Board, Representative, 1988

The ManKind Project

Sons of the American Revolution

potteryrowe-about8-kcm07ribboncuttingcropped.jpgKentucky Commerce Cabinet Secretary Ward, Phylis George, Louis Mateus of Brown and Foreman, and Melvin Rowe cut the ribbon to open the 2007 Kentucky Crafted, The Market

Special Commissions

1997 Flying Pig Dinnerware Set, Whippourwill Crafts Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

1993-2006, Home Brew Club Awards, Kentucky State Fair

1993 QVC Cable Television Shopping Channel

1993 Governor’s Derby Breakfast Julep Cups

1986-1996 WKPC Channel 15 Art Auction Overbid Bonus Incentives

1998 KET Art Auction Overbid Bonus Incentives

Private Collections

potteryrowe-about9-iris2.jpgThe White House

Suitcase Exhibition, Kosair Children’s Hospital

Phyllis George

Reverend and Mrs. Alfred Shands

Charlotte Price

Ginny Marsh

Dr. Homer J. Custead

Sarah Frederick

Workshops, Juries, Etc. Conducted

2016 Introduction to Clay, Small Town Gallery, Brooks, KY

1999 Introduction to Glaze Chemistry, Studio Ceramic Supply, Louisville, Kentucky

January – May, 1999 Part Time Instructor, Jefferson Community College, Louisville, KY

1998 Pirtfired Masks, Louisville Visual Art Association

1998 Introduction to Glaze Chemistry, Louisville Visual Art Association

1998 Finding One’s Life Message for One’s Art, Louisville Visual Art Association

1993-1994, The Art of Marketing Your Craft, Annual Workshop, Louisville Visual Art Association, Louisville, KY

1997 Juror, Old Brownsboro Road Arts and Craft Festival, Louisville, KY

1993 Keynote Speaker, Annual Meeting, The Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, Berea, KY

Awards

potteryrowe-about10-georgewardseccommercecab.jpgRowe receives special award from Commerce Cabinet Secretary George Ward for 25 years participation in the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program

potteryrowe-about11-emeritus2.jpg

2007 Emeritus Award, Kentucky Arts Council

1997 Best Contemporary Exhibit Award, Kentucky Crafted, The Market

1992 Recognition Award by Kentucky Craft Marketing Program

Kentucky Colonel, Honorary Captain of the Belle

Distinguished Citizen Award Key to the City
Golden Shovel Award Recognition of Dedication Presentation, LCG

Big Brother Award, ManKind Project Louisville

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Pottery Rowe
Melvin D. Rowe-Artist in Clay

Sulphur, Kentucky  40070

502 291 3365

Hours:  Studio Visits by Appointment Only

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