Steve Abee (potter)
Steve Abee
Steve Abee (born 1968) is an American potter from Lenoir, North Carolina, known for producing traditional Catawba Valley pottery[1], including swirl-ware[2] and face jugs[3]. He is associated with maintaining 19th-century pottery techniques, including the use of a groundhog kiln[4] and locally sourced clays.
Early life
Abee was born in 1968. He learned traditional pottery methods influenced by the Catawba Valley tradition, a regional style in western North Carolina.
Career
Abee produces pottery using historically accurate techniques, such as hand-dug local clay, wood-fired kilns, and alkaline glazes[5]. His work often includes swirl-ware[2], a style achieved by mixing different colored clays, and face jugs[3], a form historically associated with the Catawba Valley and southern folk pottery[1] traditions.
He operates from his pottery studio at 2349 Mystery Trail Lane, Lenoir, North Carolina. His pottery has been featured in regional shows and markets, including the Potters Market Invitational at the Mint Museum[6] in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Abee’s works have appeared in private collections, including pieces associated with the Gorelick Collection.[7] of Catawba Valley pottery[1]
Style and techniques
Abee continues the Catawba Valley traditions through:
- Use of alkaline glaze[5], a hallmark of the region’s pottery.
- Production of swirl-ware[2] by layering different colored clays.
- Creation of face jugs[3] with exaggerated facial features.
- Use of a traditional groundhog kiln[4] for wood firing.
Recognition
His pottery is regularly sold through galleries, at kiln openings, and online platforms. Abee is considered one of the prominent contemporary potters maintaining traditional Catawba Valley methods.[1]
Personal life
Abee lives and works in Lenoir, North Carolina.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ackland Art Museum (2022-07-14). The Extraordinary Pottery Tradition of North Carolina's Catawba Valley. Retrieved 2025-04-27 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Steve Abee Pottery (2017-01-27). Steve Abee Makes Swirl. Retrieved 2025-04-27 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.ourstate.com/catawba-valley-face-jugs/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Craft in America (2014-08-14). Explaining what an Underground Kiln aka Groundhog Kiln Is with Master Potter Vernon Owens. Retrieved 2025-04-27 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Alkaline glaze | Glossary of tiling and mosaic terms". clayandstone.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ↑ "Steve Abee". Potters Market at the Mint. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ↑ "Potters & Patrons: The Gorelick Collection – Blue Ridge National Heritage Area". www.blueridgeheritage.com. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- Steve Abee Pottery – Official Website
- Potters Market at the Mint – Steve Abee 2018
- Chickenman Art – Steve Abee
- Blue Ridge National Heritage Area – Potters & Patrons: The Gorelick Collection
- MutualArt – Steve Abee Biography
External links
Video
Images
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