Writer, Photographer, Cartoonist, Old Woman, Reluctant Activist
Writer, Photographer, Cartoonist, Old Woman, Reluctant Activist
Studio Potter Edna Arnow
Photos from art fairs and demonstrations, 1955-1971
Edna Arnow footing a pot, all dressed up for a photo for a newspaper article about her. About 1961.Edna Arnow in her basement studio at 2126 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago, in Rogers Park on the North Side of the city, throwing a pot in 1960. Pottery demostration for flower arrangers by Edna Arnow, March 1970. Though she continued to make purely functional mugs, plates, bowls and pitchers, Edna started making more complicated, oddly shaped pieces that contemporary flower arrangers loved. She developed a following in their community, and her work appeared in many shows and books.
Edna Arnow demonstrating pottery making, 1971. Mike Banner is in the background. This might have been one of Edna’s first shows, in 1955. She was 34. Her first wheel was made by husband Bob from an old washing machine. Edna at the Old Town Art Fair in 1960. She liked to get a big hat for every show. The owls were her signature pieces. They faced you, no matter which way they were turned–as do the heads of real owls Edna said. Daughter Maureen is behind her, drinking from a mug. Maureen later married another art fair regular, jeweler Michael Banner. Maureen took up jewelry with him, and they became silversmiths in Monterey, Mass. Here is their website. Edna and her pottery at the Old Town Art Fair in 1969. The pottery at right is covered in her characteristic “crud” glaze that she developed.
For a couple of years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Arnows rented a storefront from the CTA under the “el” tracks on Lunt Avenue on the far north side (Morris Avenue stop). Here is Edna’s pottery on display for an open house. Michael Banner is standing by his jewelry case. Edna dressed in red at an art fair, in the 1960s.A collector, Paul Kowalchuk, brought pieces he had acquired to show Edna in 2012 when she was 90. She didn’t remember making some of the work. She said, “I made that? I was good.”
For photos of some of Edna’s pottery throughout her 40-year career, see arnow.org/ednaarnow/
Photos of Edna and Bob. They were married for 30 years. Robert Arnow was born in 1912 and died in 1973. He encouraged and facilitated Edna’s pottery career, made her first wheel out of an old washing machine, worked the art fairs, threw a fine bowl, created the distinctive signature, set up molds and kilns, and retired to join the pottery business full time, but sadly, died at age 59. They were great partners.
A curious mention:
Edna’s name appeared in an article by Myra Janco Daniels in Chicago Magazine, “I married a Mad Man,” about a legendary ad executive (like the one in the television show, Mad Men). It’s about how she didn’t make it to Edna’s exhibition:
“The next day, August 19, 1967, he picked me up to go to an Edna Arnow pottery show. On the way, he asked if he could stop for a minute at the courthouse. … There was a large room across the hall where marriages were performed and Dan said to me, “Myra, let’s go ahead and do it.” …The next thing I knew, … we were married.” Click here for the whole article.
Edna was born Jan. 15, 1921, and died Feb. 8, 2013.
Edna’s pottery from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, click here.
