Rocky River Public Library > Programs and events

For nearly 12 years the Cowan Pottery Museum at Rocky River Public Library has been privileged to enjoy the dedicated support of the Cowan Pottery Museum Associates (CPMA), an independent non-profit organization that is affiliated with the museum and library. The Associates’ website www.cowanpottery.org, contains detailed information and photos concerning Cowan Pottery, the artists, and Cowan Pottery marks. This website also contains membership information, an online store, news about events, information about the CPMA scholarship program, and links to other art pottery sites. Over the years the CPMA has contributed numerous pieces to the museum and held fundraisers to assist in its support.

To connect online with other Cowan and general pottery lovers, go to the following page on the Associates' website: http://www.cowanpottery.org/forum.htm. After a simple registration process you can be a part of this forum and communicate about sales and auctions, identifying Cowan Pottery, Cowan & Cowan artists on eBay, Cowan history & information sources, Cowan Pottery Museum and Cowan Associates' events, and general news & discussion. Try it, you'll like it!

In addition, Rocky River Public Library‘s print and online sources contain a wealth of information about American art pottery (including Cowan), ceramics, collecting, and antiques. As Les Roberts’ famous detective, Milan Jacovich, learned in The Duke of Cleveland, Rocky River Public Library has a “state of the art collection of materials on ceramics and porcelain, the best in greater Cleveland
(p. 166)!” Please click on the following link to find a selected list of print and online sources.
The Museum’s curator, Carol Jacobs, as well as the library’s reference staff, is happy to assist you with questions about Cowan and its place in local history and the arts world in general. Contact Carol Jacobs at 440-895-3763 or by email at c.jacobs@rrpl.org. Contact the Reference Department either in person or by calling 440-333-7610 and then pressing “3.”

Once again the museum and Rocky River Library will partner with the city of Rocky River in presenting an Antiques Appraisal Fair as part of this summer's Rocky River Days festival, July 11-12, 2009. The appraisal fair will take place on Sunday afternoon July 12 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. Location is the Don Umerley Civic Center (21016 Hilliard Blvd.) on the Rocky River City Hall Campus. Also on that same day there will be an antique car show and Lolly the Trolley tours, all part of the celebration of Rocky River's history. Bring a limit of 2 of your collectibles for a panel of appraisal experts to examine and give informal appraisals. View Program Flyer

The Museum's support group, the Cowan Pottery Museum Associates (CPMA) has commissioned Mort Tucker Photography, Cleveland, Ohio, to create a beautiful giclée print of the Egyptian Maidens tile mural that hangs near the library entrance. The tile mural was created in 1930 for the Cowan Pottery Studio by Cleveland artist, Elsa Vick Shaw. A framed copy of the reproduction hangs in the entrance display case, across from the original tile mural. The giclée print (a print created using digital means) measures 18 in. wide x 40 in. high and has been reproduced in a limited edition of 100 numbered copies. Profits from this sale will go into the CPMA's Museum Acquisition & Preservation Fund. The order form has cost and order information, and can be found at the Greeter Desk near the library entrance, or on the large round table in the Grand Reading Room. Also, you may click here to view and print the order form. Elsa Vick Shaw's husband, Glenn Shaw, was also a muralist who created the large Freedoms Mural in the lobby of the Rocky River Civic Center, where the Antiques Appraisal Fair is held during the month of July (see previous item), For further information contact Curator Carol Jacobs.

On Friday evening, August 21st 2009, help us celebrate the 125th birthday of R. Guy Cowan, found of Cowan Pottery, who was born on August 1, 1884 in East Liverpool, Ohio. The library, museum, and Cowan Pottery Museum Associates will host a memorable evening at the library beginning at 6:15 with a jazz concert of music from the 1920s Jazz Age with pianist George Foley and clarinetist Bill Kenney. A silent auction of Cowan Pottery and related items will follow, along with wine and appetizers. All this can be had for the very reasonable ticket price of $20. Tickets will go on sale later this spring. Net proceeds from the event will go into the Associates' scholarship and preservation funds.

Our 3rd annual festival of films from the era when Cowan was first popular (during the late 1920s, 1930s and 1940s), includes the following selections on the 4th Mondays of September, October, & November.

As always, these films will be shown in the library’s air-conditioned Auditorium and will be accompanied by fresh, hot popcorn! Two of the films (Chickens Come Home and Three Smart Girls) feature pieces of Cowan in the sets. You will be startled to see how Cowan and other ceramics pieces are handled by Laurel and Hardy!

We recently added another film to the list of movies containing Cowan Pottery --Johnny Eager (1942) features two Bird on Wave sculptures sitting on a mantle. Listed below are the festival’s past offerings. The starred films 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 contact Curator Carol Jacobs (c.jacobs@rrpl.org).

2008:
Next Time We Love,* with Jimmy Stewart
42nd Street, with Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell
The Woman in the Window*, with Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett

2007:
The Divorcee*, with Norma Shearer
Gold Diggers of 1933, with Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell
Baby Face, with Barbara Stanwyck

The 2009 Cowan Pottery Symposium was held on Saturday, May 9 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Auditorium and Community Room at Rocky River Public Library. This annual event is especially appealing to those who are interested in Cowan Pottery, antiques, collecting, local history, and the arts in general. The day featured much networking and three fascinating speakers who broadened our horizons. Sarah Vodrey, director of the Museum of Ceramics in East Liverpool, and Dee Ann Horstman, director of the Scio Historical Museum in Scio, Ohio described their respective potteries and placed Cowan Pottery into the context of other major Ohio potteries. Alfred Cali, a fine arts appraiser and auctioneer, spoke about the practical, legal, and ethical issues involved in protection our valuable collections.

The R. Guy Cowan Scholarship was presented to Cleveland Institute of Art ceramics student, Melissa Horner. The Cowan Pottery Museum Associates fund this scholarship named in honor of the founder of Cowan Pottery who also taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The Associates’ annual meeting, a raffle, a continental breakfast and lunch catered by Great Scott’s Bakery, and a dinner offsite at the Beachcliff Tavern in Rocky River rounded out the day. .

Next year’s Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Rocky River Library.

The 2008 Symposium held on May 10 is now history, and it was a memorable day, starting with moving tributes to Viktor Schreckengost, who died on 1/26/2008). Members of the Schreckengost family were present for the entire day. Over 50 people gathered to hear fascinating new information on artist Frank Wilcox presented by Heather Tuck-Macalla, librarian at the Cleveland Institute of Art's Gund Library. Two members of the Wilcox family added their personal recollections. Almost the entire second/third grade class at Grant School in Lakewood, and their teacher Nadine Bluemel, presented their year-long project on Cowan Pottery including a 35-minute movie and several rounds of "Cowan Jeopardy." An abridged version of the movie will be up soon on the class's website: http://www.lkwdpl.org/schools/elempath/discovery/index.html. Mark Erdmann from the Intermuseum Conservation Association presented a detailed description of the restoration of the Egyptian Maidens tile mural by Elsa Vick Shaw. The Cowan Pottery Museum Associates presented scholarships to two ceramics students at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The day ended with the Associates' annual meeting, and a dinner at Treats Tea Room.

As part of its outreach and in recognition of Cowan’s historical connections to the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Cowan Pottery Museum Associates annually gives a scholarship, which is sometimes split, to promising ceramics students at CIA. This year’s award was split between Alexandra Marchant and Brendan Barnes, who both attended the Symposium and talked about their ceramic creations.

RECENT LOANS AND ACQUISITIONS

Be sure to stop by the Jazz Bowl display case in the Cowan Alcove and see a rare Jazz Plate! Viktor Schreckengost designed three different Jazz Plates to compliment his three different designs of Jazz Bowls. Not often seen, “Danse Moderne” has been loaned to the Cowan Pottery Museum for an extended period of time by James Corcoran of Corcoran Fine Arts Gallery, 12610 Larchmere Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44120.

Mr. Corcoran also made it possible to borrow from Carin Fine of Potomac, Maryland, Viktor Schreckengost’s sculpture, “Teacher’s Training.” Completed in 1952, this sculpture is a fine example of Viktor’s later ceramics work, following his time with the Cowan Pottery Studio (1930-1931). This piece is included in an exhibit of Viktor’s other ceramics works (in addition to his Jazz series), which is located in one of the small display cases across from the administration offices on the first floor.

Art Deco Charger

The Cowan Pottery Museum acquired two significant pieces in Fall, 2008. Both are on view in one of the small display cases to the left of the Jazz Bowl in the Cowan Alcove. The Cowan Pottery Museum purchased the above 12- inch plate (also known as a charger or plaque) in early September 2008. This highly unusual, possibly unique, piece was a collaborative work by Thelma Frazier Winter, who did the design and scrafitto decoration, and Richard O. Hummel, who did the black and terracotta glazing. It was created in 1930. The lovely and distinctive Art Deco design of a woman and bird is reminiscent of the style of Elsa Vick Shaw, who created the Egyptian Maidens tile mural hanging near the library’s entrance. The plate is signed by both artists on the back (also unusual), along with the year and the Cowan mark.

New Cowan Aquisition

In October 2008, the museum was fortunate to obtain another Cowan plate, this time by Thelma Frazier's husband, H. Edward Winter. The 11-inch plate shown above is signed on the back in dry point. It was a magnificent donation to the museum by Roger Stanbridge, Cowan collector and president of the Cowan Pottery Museum Associates. The museum and library are most grateful for Roger's generosity. This plate is only one of a very few pieces that Winter created for the Cowan Pottery during his three short months at the Studio during 1931. It is the museum's first piece by this artist, and it is especially rare since Winter spent most of his career as an enamelist and did few ceramics works. Thelma Frazier and Ed Winter married in 1939, after their Cowan Pottery days, and created many significant works in the Cleveland area including the Twelve Apostles enamel on steel mural on the exterior of St. Mary's Rumanian Orthodox Church on Warren Road in Cleveland. Both plates are on display together in the Cowan Alcove, off the Grand Reading Room on the library's first floor.

COWAN POTTERY MUSEUM DISPLAYS

Two of the display cases in the Grand Reading Room feature exhibits on the works of R. Guy Cowan and Waylande D. Gregory. The other two cases contain exhibits on the seasonal colors of Cowan (currently winter) and the Cowan glaze known as Oriental Red. If you're looking for the famous Jazz Bowl by Viktor Schreckengost, it is located in the mirror case in the alcove off the Grand Reading Room, along with other cases that highlight the distinctive glazes of Cowan Pottery. In addition, one of the cases in the alcove shows fine examples of hand-decorated Cowan Pottery. An exhibit of Viktor Schreckengost’s other ceramics works (besides the Jazz Bowl) may be found in one of the smaller display cases in the hallway between the Grand Reading Room and the Teen Room (near the Administration offices). Also in that same hallway are display cases featuring Cowan Pottery pieces used in everyday life, a display about Cowan Pottery artist Elizabeth Andersen who was also the third wife of Eliot Ness, a display about Paul Manship, the prominent 20th century sculptor who created "Europa" for Cowan, and a table-top case that showcases the sports plaques of Viktor Schreckengost as well as the Trojan Horse plaque of Russell Barnett Aitken.

PAST COWAN POTTERY NEWS

On March 10, 2009, the Cowan Pottery Museum hosted an important g Kensington Elem visits Cowan Pottery Museum -March 2009

roup-- Mrs. Meredith Muccio’s 4th grade class from Kensington School in Rocky River. As part of their study of Cowan Pottery, the students had a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cowan Pottery Museum. They examined pieces of pottery, molds, pottery tools, a manuscript in R. Guy Cowan's own hand, and they even got to hold shards of pottery found on the grounds of the Cowan Pottery Studio.

On March 3, 2009, a special student exhibit in the library's display case on the first floor next to the restrooms was taken down and the items returned to the students. For two months the library was privileged to host this fascinating exhibit by Mrs. Patty Tobin's Advanced Ceramics class at Rocky River High School. This class and the Cowan Pottery Museum partnered during the 2008 fall semester in the class’s study of Jazz Age arts and the Harlem Renaissance. The students were especially inspired by Viktor Schreckengost and his most famous piece, the Jazz Bowl. During this past fall semester, the students conducted research, heard a presentation by the Cowan Pottery Museum curator, took a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum, and spent three weeks creating their own conceptions of modern-day Jazz Bowls. Their study of the visual and aural arts of the 1920s Jazz Age culminated in the library exhibit of 13 Jazz Bowls created in the manner of Viktor Schreckengost, but with updated themes and styles unique to each individual student artist. The photo below, which appeared in the 2/11/2009 West Life along with an in-depth article, shows the students with some of their bowls.

VIKTOR SCHRECKENGOST, 6/26/1906 – 1/26/2008:
COWAN POTTER AND “AMERICAN DA VINCI”

The art world lost an all-around genius, skilled artist in many media, inventor, industrial designer, and true gentleman when the beloved Viktor Schreckengost died on January 26, 2008. This “American DaVinci” of course belongs to the world. But Viktor did spend a small part of his early career with the Cowan Pottery Studio, where he created his celebrated Jazz Bowl. He was the last surviving potter associated with the Cowan Pottery Studio. Viktor never forgot his early roots at the Studio, and he was present at the opening of the Cowan Pottery Museum in 1978. In addition, he attended most of the Cowan Pottery Symposia held at the library, including the May, 2007 Symposium. Viktor’s obituary appeared not only on the front page of the Plain Dealer, but also in the Associated Press, the New York Sun, the Washington Post, and USA Today. Click on the following link to read some of these published obituaries and tributes: http://www.viktorschreckengost.org/. Also, be sure to stop by the museum (on the main floor of Rocky River Public Library) and view the Jazz Bowl, along with one of his Jazz Plates, “Danse Moderne.” (on loan from Corcoran Fine Arts). Another display case contains Viktor’s other ceramics works. In addition, the table-top display case across from the public elevator on the first floor contains all of Viktor’s famous sport plaques. His whimsical pen and ink drawing, The Elephant, hangs nearby.

RETURN OF THE EGYPTIAN MAIDENS TILE MURAL

Thanks to funds raised by the Cowan Pottery Museum Associates’ recent benefit and the support of

the library’s board of trustees, the restoration of the Egyptian Maidens tile mural has been completed and the piece was reinstalled at the library on February 20, 2008. Be sure to stop by and examine this stunning example of the work of Elsa Vick Shaw, who designed this mural for the Cowan Pottery Studio in 1930 (at the same time that she completed the mural paintings for the Grand Foyer of Severance Hall, home of The Cleveland Orchestra). Since only five copies were made of this tile mural, it is a rare piece.

The photo at right shows this exquisite mural on the day it was re-hung at Rocky
River Public Library. It is located on a wall close to the main entrance, near the circulation department’s book drop and across from the Cowan Pottery Museum’s introductory display case. Conservation treatment measures included replacement of missing pieces, in-painting, and creation of a new backing. The Egyptian Maidens now looks better than ever, and we are delighted to have this unique piece of Cowan back home and on public view! This restoration project was part of the Cowan Pottery Museum’s 30th anniversary celebration..

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!

On Sunday afternoon, February 24, 2008 Rocky River Public Library rocked with the sound of music, as Ernie Krivda and his Jazz Quartet delighted the audience (and perhaps the entire building) with two full sets of marvelous jazz. Cowan Pottery was a product of the Jazz Age, and its popularity also coincided with the opening of Rocky River Public Library in 1928. One of the museum’s signature pieces is Viktor Schreckengost’s Jazz Bowl. Viktor himself was a jazz saxophonist who performed with local bands. Thus it seemed appropriate to celebrate the museum’s 30th anniversary with a concert of live jazz music, and a special Jazz Bowl birthday cake, as seen in the photos below.

The Cowan Pottery Museum at Rocky River Public Library is the largest publicly owned collection of Cowan Pottery in the world! It is located within the library at 1600 Hampton Rd., Rocky River, Ohio. This museum, with holdings of 1200 items, preserves and displays the ceramic works of R. Guy Cowan and fellow artists who strove to produce both art pottery and commercial wares. Cowan, himself a ceramics engineer, teacher, designer and artist, utilized the talents of such artists and designers as Alexander Blazys, Paul Bogatay, Waylande Gregory, Edris Eckhardt, Margaret Postgate, Thelma Frazier Winter, Frank Wilcox, Viktor Schreckengost, and others.

The Cowan Pottery Studio (also known as the Cleveland Pottery and Tile Company in its early days) existed from 1913 to 1917 in Lakewood, Ohio, and from 1920 to 1931 in Rocky River, Ohio. The studio produced unique art works as well as commercial items such as vases, bowls, bookends, candlesticks and lamps, all with unique and colorful glazes. Cowan Pottery’s outstanding ceramic sculptures were widely acclaimed and won local and national awards. By the end of the 1920s, the Cowan Pottery Studio produced 175,000 pieces annually that were sold in showrooms across the country including in Rocky River (on the eastern end of Lake Road).

The refurbished Cowan Pottery Museum came about as part of Rocky River Library’s 2006/07 renovation project. The Museum is now a cohesive, centrally located part of the library and may be found in the Grand Reading Room on the first floor. Click here to see a map of the museum's exhibit cases. It includes dark oak display cases (four large cases and 11 smaller ones) that are brand new and feature dramatic lighting to enhance our unique and distinctive collection. The centerpiece of the collection, Viktor Schreckengost's "Jazz Bowl," is now beautifully displayed in a case with mirrors on three sides so that the viewer may examine the design of the entire bowl. Seven smaller cases line the passageway between the Browsing Room and the Teen Room. A display case in the library’s entrance lobby contains introductory material about the museum as well as several larger pieces from the collection. In addition, a large double display case is located on the library’s Lower Level near the public elevator. Behind the scenes, the museum also includes a storage room and a modest archive containing some of R. Guy Cowan’s work notes, correspondence, and manuscripts. At any given time, about 40% of the collection is on display. For further information or to schedule a tour, please contact the museum's curator, Carol Jacobs, at 440-895-3763 or by email at a tour, c.jacobs@rrpl.org.

Cowan Alcove in Grand Reading Room, featuring
The Jazz Bowl by Viktor Schreckengost, April 2007

Home > Programs and events > Cowan Pottery Museum