William J. Gordy (May 18, 1910 – August 19, 1993[1]) was an American potter based in Cartersville, Georgia, who has won several awards and honours for his work. Trained as a folk potter, he branched off and created a style uniquely his own. His work is well known and loved by people throughout the country and by the people in his community.
Gordy was born in Aberdeen, Georgia in 1910.[2] His father was a potter who owned his own business in Alvaton, Georgia.[3] He learned to make pottery by watching the men his father had hired from all over the United States as they made primarily butter churns, jars, pitchers and jugs. He left his father's shop and worked in several pottery businesses in North Carolina and Georgia, seeing and learning new techniques. These experiences helped him develop his own extraordinary style. He served on a destroyer in the Navy during World War II, and enjoyed traveling to different ports and seeing the local pottery. Gordy was married to Jewell Gordy and together, they had three daughters and two sons.[4] He opened his own pottery studio in 1935, in Cartersville,[5] where he made the pottery while his wife handled the business and sales. He was a lifetime member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, and was also an instructor at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.
Styleedit
Gordy was one of the first potters in Georgia to transition from the common functional, utilitarian style to an artistic style. Some people consider him a folk potter, but while he may have begun his career making folk pottery, he developed a style that was quite unique. While still being functional, his pottery is beautiful enough to be displayed as art. He sold to his neighbors, as well as to people throughout the country. Both Cornelius Vanderbilt and Sir John Wedgwood visited him in his studio and purchased several sets of pottery from him. Gordy not only had his own signature style of pottery, but also created his own blend of clay and exclusive glazes. He was the first Georgian potter to use colors in his glazes.
Awards and legacyedit
Gordy's pottery has been on display in the Smithsonian Institution since 1940.[2] He received the Governor's Award in the Arts in 1983 and the Heritage Award from Bartow County. Encyclopædia Britannica lists W. J. Gordy as the "foremost potter in the southeastern United States".[4] This heritage is survived by his grandson, Darrell Adams.[4]
Referencesedit
^"Gordy's Obituary on GenealogyBank.com". GenealogyBank.com.
^Crocker Farm Auctions, W.J. Gordy (Primrose, Georgia) Stoneware Devil Figural Bottle, Lot #: 184, Fall 2020: « William Joseph Gordy (1910-1993) was the son of Georgia potter, William Thomas Belah Gordy (1877-1955). According to Burrison's Brothers in Clay, W.J. Gordy was turning "bigware" by the age of fourteen at his father's shop in Alvaton. (...) »
^ abcEvolution of a Potter Lindsey King Laub, The Bartow County History Center 1992
gordy, neutrality, this, article, disputed, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, remove, this, message, until, conditions, december, 2020, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, william, gordy, 1910, august, 1993, american, potter, based, ca. The neutrality of this article is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met December 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message William J Gordy May 18 1910 August 19 1993 1 was an American potter based in Cartersville Georgia who has won several awards and honours for his work Trained as a folk potter he branched off and created a style uniquely his own His work is well known and loved by people throughout the country and by the people in his community W J GordyBornWilliam J Gordy 1910 05 18 May 18 1910Aberdeen Georgia U S DiedAugust 19 1993 1993 08 19 aged 83 NationalityAmericanOccupationPotterSpouseJewell GordyChildren5 Contents 1 Biography 2 Style 3 Awards and legacy 4 ReferencesBiography editGordy was born in Aberdeen Georgia in 1910 2 His father was a potter who owned his own business in Alvaton Georgia 3 He learned to make pottery by watching the men his father had hired from all over the United States as they made primarily butter churns jars pitchers and jugs He left his father s shop and worked in several pottery businesses in North Carolina and Georgia seeing and learning new techniques These experiences helped him develop his own extraordinary style He served on a destroyer in the Navy during World War II and enjoyed traveling to different ports and seeing the local pottery Gordy was married to Jewell Gordy and together they had three daughters and two sons 4 He opened his own pottery studio in 1935 in Cartersville 5 where he made the pottery while his wife handled the business and sales He was a lifetime member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and was also an instructor at John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown North Carolina Style editGordy was one of the first potters in Georgia to transition from the common functional utilitarian style to an artistic style Some people consider him a folk potter but while he may have begun his career making folk pottery he developed a style that was quite unique While still being functional his pottery is beautiful enough to be displayed as art He sold to his neighbors as well as to people throughout the country Both Cornelius Vanderbilt and Sir John Wedgwood visited him in his studio and purchased several sets of pottery from him Gordy not only had his own signature style of pottery but also created his own blend of clay and exclusive glazes He was the first Georgian potter to use colors in his glazes Awards and legacy editGordy s pottery has been on display in the Smithsonian Institution since 1940 2 He received the Governor s Award in the Arts in 1983 and the Heritage Award from Bartow County Encyclopaedia Britannica lists W J Gordy as the foremost potter in the southeastern United States 4 This heritage is survived by his grandson Darrell Adams 4 References edit Gordy s Obituary on GenealogyBank com GenealogyBank com a b Mr W J Gordy Retrieved 2023 11 30 Crocker Farm Auctions W J Gordy Primrose Georgia Stoneware Devil Figural Bottle Lot 184 Fall 2020 William Joseph Gordy 1910 1993 was the son of Georgia potter William Thomas Belah Gordy 1877 1955 According to Burrison s Brothers in Clay W J Gordy was turning bigware by the age of fourteen at his father s shop in Alvaton a b c Evolution of a Potter Lindsey King Laub The Bartow County History Center 1992 Southern Arts Journal A Publication of Robert C Lock Inc Archived from the original on 2009 06 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title W J Gordy amp oldid 1187646502, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
