George Jr Mr Biography

George Ohr Sr., also known as “The Mad Potter of Biloxi” was born July 12, 1857 (Powell 269). Alsace was the place where the great George Ohr Sr. was born (George E. Ohr: A Chronology 2). “When I found the potter’s wheel I felt it all over like a wild duck in water.” this quote was one of George’s best quotes that inspires most people today (Black 1). George Ohr is most known for his unique pottery which can be found across the Gulf Coast. George Ohr’s Sr. parents were John George Ohr and his wife, who were German immigrants. George Ohr Sr. grew to be an exquisite, and talented potter although some people thought of him as crazy (Black 1). Most people believe that George was not that crazy to began with it was just people assuming that he

went to New Orleans to find a job after gaining knowledge about the blacksmith trade from George Ohr, his father. George Ohr tried working 19 different jobs but they all did not work out for him (Black 1). After a while George found a new job as a apprentice working for Joseph Fortune Meyer (Wiggins 4). Joseph was kind enough to train George how to use Biloxi’s natural resources (Black 1). In 1879, Joseph Meyer decided to work at a college in New Orleans called famed Newcomb College. In early the 1880’s, George experienced the beautiful works of pottery by going through 16 different states and visiting a variety of very talented potters which triggered his interest in the beautiful art of pottery. In 1883, George Ohr returned to build his first studio. George Ohr build his pottery studio with only his savings of twenty-six dollars and eighty cents (Wiggins 4). The wonderful studio that Ohr built fascinated visitors that could watch the “Mad Potter of Biloxi” at work (Black 2). His shop became a tourist attraction making many people satisfied on the Gulf Coast. In 1909, George abandon his career as an potter. The remarkable ceramic store landmark later on became the first Biloxi repair shop that was ruined by George Ohr's sons (Black 4). His shop became a tourist attraction making many people satisfied on the Gulf Coast. Many people have called George Ohr the first art potter in America and most people say the best and finest even

never out of all of his variety of his pots never had two alike each other (Powell 269),but in 1894, a vast fire swept through the coast taking most of George Ohr’s pottery with it. Thinking that the pottery was a wonderful treasure and afraid it would sell for less than it was worth, he put thousands of baffling shapes of “eggshell-thin walls and sensual, richly textured glazes” into creates (Powell 269). His beautiful pieces were identified for their inspirational appearance in the 1960’s (Wiggins 6). His gift of pottery that was over seven thousand pieces of the art were founded by the world in the 1970’s (Powell 269). “Now Ohr’s vessels are stored in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in addition to the Ohr- O'keefe Museum in Biloxi” (Wiggins 6). Even though he sold little pottery during his existence many people say he is the earth's greatest art potter. This quote is probably one of my most favorable quotes of his, “I am making pots for art’s sake, Gods sake, the culture generations and my own satisfaction… but when I am gone my work will be prized, honored, and cherished, It will come.” (Powell 269). George E. Ohr created his last pot in 1910 but he was suffering with Catarrhal fever. On the Day of April 7, 1918 George Ohr died at the time of 3:10 A.M. (George E. Ohr: A Chronology