COWAN CHRISTMAS TREE AND DISPLAY OF COWAN'S WINTER COLORS
Rocky River Public Library opened in 1928, at the same time that Cowan Pottery approached its height of popularity. These two local developments occurred within the larger context of the period known as the Roaring Twenties, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Jazz Age. Viktor Schreckengost captured the spirit of this time in his iconic Jazz Bowl, which may be seen in the Cowan Alcove off the Grand Reading Room.
The 2011 Cowan Christmas Tree was meant to evoke this long ago era of optimism, innocence and enthusiasm. In years past, a larger version of this tree appeared in the Cleveland Play House’s Festival of Trees in its former location at E. 85th Street. In December 2011, it came home to Rocky River Public Library and Cowan Pottery Museum. Its specific location was in the small alcove next to the elevator on the first floor (near the restrooms). Across the way was the Library’s community display case with a beautiful display of White House Christmas Tree ornaments. The lights of the Cowan Christmas Tree were visible through the window of the alcove, as you entered the Library.
Cowan Christmas Tree Photos
Click to view larger images.In addition, the seasonal Cowan display case located in the Grand Reading Room has a display of Cowan Pottery’s winter colors. It will remain through mid-March 2012. Click here to read more about the pieces in that display.
Our 5th annual festival of films from the era when Cowan was first popular (during the late 1920s, 1930s and 1940s), took place in the fall of 2011 on the 4th Mondays of September, October, & November. At the showing of She Done Him Wrong in November, we learned that a woman in the audience had an aunt who made corsets for Mae West! When asked if her aunt had just sent the corsets to Ms. West, she replied, “Oh no, my aunt fitted Mae West!” If that woman would contact Carol Jacobs (440-895-3763) it would be greatly appreciated. Or, if anyone in the audience for that film on November 28 knows who that woman was, please contact Carol Jacobs. We’d love to get the full story!
A few classic films used Cowan Pottery in their sets, probably due to the fact that a dealer in Los Angeles sold Cowan Pottery. Click Here to find an updated list of movies with Cowan Pottery. The starred films in the following list have pieces of Cowan in the sets, and most are available in the library's DVD collection. If you have suggestions for future film festivals please contact Curator Carol Jacobs(c.jacobs@rrpl.org).
Films Featured in Past Festivals:
2011
- Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin, and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (documentary)
- Johnny Eager*, Robert Taylor & Lana Turner
- She Done Him Wrong, Mae West & Cary Grant
2010
- Theodora Goes Wild*, Irene Dunn & Melvyn Douglas
- Three on a Match, Joan Blondell & Bette Davis
- Footlight Parade, James Cagney & Dick Powell
2009
- Chickens Come Home and Blockheads*, Laurel & Hardy
- Night Nurse, Barbara Stanwyck & Clark Gable,
- Three Smart Girls*, Deanna Durbin & Ray Milland
2008
- Next Time We Love,* Jimmy Stewart
- 42nd Street, Ruby Keeler & Dick Powell
- The Woman in the Window*, Edward G. Robinson & Joan Bennett
2007
- The Divorcee*, Norma Shearer
- Gold Diggers of 1933, Ruby Keeler & Dick Powell
- Baby Face, Barbara Stanwyck
The 2011 Antiques Appraisal Fair, sponsored by the Library/Museum and the City of Rocky River, took place on Sunday, July 10 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Don Umerley Civic Center at Hilliard & Wagar in Rocky River. We had seven wonderful expert appraisers this year: Julie Breznai (Patten & Breznai), Cynthia Colling & Laura Sherman (Aspire Auctions, Inc.), Rachel Davis (Rachel Davis Fine Arts), Paul Fusco (Fusco Auctions), Michael Kodysz (fine arts consultant), and Bill Tregoning (Tregoning & Co.). Slightly over 400 people attended this year, and once again, we had our current library director (Nick Cronin) and past library director (John Lonsak) cheerfully assisting. One of the more valuable items that came through was a charming wooden wagon valued at approximately $4,000!
Click to enlarge images.
The 21st annual Cowan Pottery Symposium is now history, and by all accounts it was a successful day. Even though we had some last-minute speaker changes, all presentations were excellent. Craig Bara and Lynn Kennedy from the Viktor Schreckengost Memorial Foundation showed slides and discussed plans for the new Schreckengost Museum, which is to open this summer. Rob Gerrity, a local collector, presented his re
search on Cowan’s crystalline glazes. A new exhibit on the first floor is related to this topic and will be up until mid-July. Matt Sandwisch discussed his latest research about his great-grandfather, Cleveland sculptor Steven Rebeck, who knew R. Guy Cowan. The Cowan Pottery Associates’ 2011 R. Guy Cowan Scholarship was awarded to Cleveland Institute of Art ceramics student, Emily Giuliano. Emily, and professor Judith Salomon, exhibited and discussed her work with Symposium attendees.
For a look at the Symposium flyer, click here.
The Affordable Cowan Pottery Sale on Sunday, April 10, 2011 was a runaway success! By 1:00 p.m. when the library opened and the sale began, the line was out to the street. Within 24 minutes, all 450 items were off the tables and sold to about 116 people. This sale was run by the Cowan Pottery Museum Associates, and was co-sponsored by Rocky River Public Library and Cowan Pottery Museum. None of the Museum’s collection was sold. All items came from a longtime collector who dispersed his collection. The net profit was $10,022.18, which will go into the Associates’ Museum Fund.
For the third year, the Cowan Pottery Museum hosted Mrs. Meredith Muccio's 4th grade gifted class from Kensington School in Rocky River.
This year’s group was large - 18 students! They spent the morning touring and discussing the Cowan Pottery Museum, and visiting the Museum’s storage room. The students were able to handle some pieces of pottery and examine primary source materials from the Museum’s archives. They finished off the morning by having lunch in the Community Room while hearing the story of a real-life potter in 19th century America. The photo to the right shows the students in front of the Library on this bright, icy day.
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