Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery is quite literally all things ceramics. The building houses a ceramics studio, school, shop, and museum. Mary Chase Perry, a ceramicist from Hancock in Michigan’s Copper Country, partnered with Horace James Caulkins, a dental supplier who developed a special kiln for bonding dental enamel. Combining the science of kiln work with creative glazing techniques, Pewabic Pottery has been able to stand the test of time, and the list of historic buildings that feature work from Pewabic is staggering. Not only can Pewabic Pottery installations be found all over the Metro-Detroit area, but across the country as well. Notable installations include Herzstein Hall at Rice University, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Today, Pewabic Pottery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public. I have to admit that I am not a fan of ceramics, barely staying away in class when I had to take it in high school, but after every visit to their 1908 building, I am happy that I went. Their unique pieces focused on Detroit and support of local and international artists is significant to the history of Detroit, and I guarantee you will learn something new before you leave!
