Jemerick Art Pottery

Simplicity and Honesty in Form and Decoration...

Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Movement, particularly those made in New England during the period from 1890-1930. All of the pottery is hand thrown on the wheel from stoneware clay and sculpted by the artist. Each one carries the artist's mark.

The Artists are Steve Frederick & Cherrie Jemsek. Originally from Iowa, Steve studied pottery at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine under Mutsuo Yanaginara and Jack Troy in 1973. Quickly establishing himself as a studio potter, he first produced hand thrown functional stoneware fired at Cone 10-11 reduction in a Minnesota flat top gas kiln. After attending the 'Clay from Molds' Workshop sponsored by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in 1978 with Richard Knotkin and Jack Earl, he added cast and assembled sculptural one-of-a-kind pieces to his repertoire. In 1997, antique collector and friend, Art Accardi, introduced Steve to the pottery of the Arts & Crafts Movement. All of his work is now in this style. Each piece is hand thrown on the potter's wheel and then sculpted with repetitive leaf and floral patterns.

Cherie met Steve in the 60's while they both were attending Coe College in Iowa. She joined him in the pottery in 1976. Her artistic ability is strongest in sculpting. All of her experience in clay is in hand building, first with press molding, then with cast and assembled porcelain and now in sculpting on the surface of vases thrown by Steve. While the more elaborate pieces are one-of-a-kind, lately she has concentrated on smaller more accessible work.

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Classics are a definitive reference to the traditional Arts and Crafts Style.
Petals stretch that definition to embrace a more sensual character reminiscent of Art Nouveau.
Prairie reflects the architectural element of the Arts & Crafts Style.
Botanicals focuses on Nature.

Motawi Tileworks

Handcrafted Tiles in the Arts & Crafts Tradition...

Nawal Motawi, founder of Motawi Tileworks, was first exposed to the tile of the Arts & Crafts Movement at Pewabic Pottery, which she visited during her first college ceramics class. “My professor had just completed a gigantic tile mural created with Pewabic Pottery, which he took us all to see,” says Nawal, “and I immediately began to fantasize about someday making tilework like that!” In 1992 she set out on her own, starting what soon became the Motawi Tileworks. Her brother, Karim, joined her as a business partner after graduating from college later that year.

In the beginning the pair spent many hours researching the ideas, aesthetics and production techniques of the period. Through their interest and continued study they have gained a keen understanding of the work of the Arts & Crafts period.

There are a few particular potteries of the period that are the lodestars for the Motawis on their artistic journey. Pewabic, Rookwood, and Grueby in particular inspire their glaze surfaces and palette of colors. Louis Sullivan, Ernest Batchelder, and Frank Lloyd Wright among others inform the sculptural work. The Motawi style is a fusion of influences that makes for a style all their own.

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Since 1992, the artisans at Motawi Tileworks have hand crafted art tile in their Ann Arbor, Michigan studio. These distinctive tiles are known for their rich glazes and uniquely American designs, inspired by nature, art and architecture. We offer a nice sampling at our store or they may be ordered in as well.

These tiles are available individually, framed in Quarter Sawn White Oak Frames from Dard Hunter Studios, or also may be framed into some of Schlabaugh & Sons Clocks and Lamps.