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USA
South
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Lula, GA
Melvin and Michael Crocker
Michael 1956- Melvin 1959-
Pottery
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Information:
The Crocker family of five boys and two girls grew up directly behind Wilson’s Pottery near Lula, Georgia. The proximity of the pottery led Michael, Dwayne, and Melvin to work there for various periods of time. As a result they all have become first generation potters. In the early 1970’s much of the work in a pottery was still done by hand. There was clay to mix, "balls"" of clay to be wired and fixed for the potters in this case J. H., and Monteen Wilson, and their son Jimmy. There were kilns to load and un-load and firewood to stack to fire the kiln, and general work to be performed. Michael and Dwayne "played" at the wheel and learned the rudiments of turning. Melvin spent his time absorbing the art of fine detail work.
Melvin, like his brothers, worked at Willson's Pottery, but unlike them he did not "play" on the wheel. He worked there for about five years full time until he started to work for Michael, part time at first and then full time. From the very beginning Melvin did the decorating and Michael did the turning. Melvin worked for his brother for fourteen years decorating face jugs, grape pitchers, snake jugs, and etched out scenes on jugs and churns.
In 1999 he had the opportunity to go on his own, but a dilemma presented itself; he didn't know how to turn. His brother Dwayne had little experience at the decorating, so a deal was struck, and they each helped the other. Dwayne still turns vessels for his brother and they both sign these pieces. This arrangement is temporary so any pieces signed by both will be limited and collectable. Melvin's work is flawless, and anything done by him either with his brothers or by himself will enhance any collection.
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Bibliography:
"20th Century American Folk, Self Taught, and Outsider Art" by Betty-Carol Sellen, Cynthia J. Johnson, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York, 1993.
"Contemporary American Folk Art - A Collector's Guide" Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Abbeville Press, 1996.
"Self Taught, Outsider, and Folk Art—A guide to American Artists, Locations and Resources" by Betty-Carol Sellen with Cynthia J. Johnson, 2000.
"American Self-Taught Art: An Illustrated Analysis of 20th Century Artists and Trends with 1,319 Capsule Biographies" by Florence Laffal and Julius Laffal, 2003.
Slotin Folk Art Auction Catalog, Masterpiece Sale, November 4, 2006 |
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