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BURLON CRAIG - 1914 - 2002

BB Craig At Work In His Shop FEB. 19 2002

Burlon Craig, introduced to pottery making as a teenager, worked for various potters until the end of the 1930"s. After a stint in the war, Burlon settled in Catawba Valley's Vale, North Carolina and revived an almost extinct tradition in that area - face jugs. Firing in a groundhog kiln several times a year, using hand dug clay and his own glaze mixtures, Burlon began his career. However, it was after his retirement from 20 years of furniture employment that he turned to pottery making and farming full-time. Functional pottery such as jugs, jars, milk crocks and pitchers evolved into folk art work at the advice of a friend, as Burlon began creating face jugs and snake jugs.

These wares became guaranteed sell-outs at his kiln openings. In 1975 Craig began stamping his pottery, B.B. Craig, Vale, NC, and he was well on his way as a genuine, well known folk potter. Featured in numerous magazines and the book, "TURNERS AND BURNERS: The Folk Potters of North Carolina," Burlon's most prestigious boost of fame came when he was awarded the National Folk Heritage Award by the National Endowment of the Arts in 1984. Since the 1980's Burlon's folk pottery pursuers have virtually emptied his yard of wares in only minutes after the sale began at his kiln openings. In the 90's he resorted to the drawing of numbers to insure many who traveled far and near a better chance at his wares without being trampled in the process. Burlon Craig could be called the "God-Father" of present Catawba Valley potters. Certainly the following potters have either directly or indirectly been inspired and helped by his skill and goodwill. Today, Burlon still digs his clay from clay pits and grinds the glass for his glazes as potters did hundreds of years ago. Burlon lives in Vale in Lincoln County.