We're All Mad Potters Here

I'm going to take a little break from books, and switch to Gulf Coast art for a change.

George Ohr was a 19th century potter whose mantra was "no two alike." And he meant it. Even today, potters can't quite figure out how he did some of the things he did.

He was also known as a rather colorful fellow. Now, I live in L.A., so I know a think or two about flakes and eccentrics, but honestly, I think the South has the market cornered when it comes to the care and nurturing of those we call "characters."

But while Ohr cultivated his reputation as an eccentric, he was deeply dedicated to his art, and a dogged worker. When his studio burned in 1894, over 10,000 pieces were lost. So he made more.

You can read more about Ohr at the Ohr O'Keefe Museum website, and see more examples of Ohr's pottery here.

And good news! About a month ago, the museum got the green light to rebuild both it and a replica of the Pleasant Reed House, a landmark of 19th century African-American culture in the Deep South.