Peter Anderson (artist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Anderson was an American ceramist and founder of Shearwater Pottery
in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
. He was born in New Orleans to George Walter Anderson, a grain broker, and Annette McConnell Anderson, member of a prominent New Orleans family, who had studied art at Newcomb College, where she had absorbed the ideals of the American Arts and Crafts movement.
Anderson was the eldest of three brothers, the others being Walter Inglis Anderson
(1903–1965) and James McConnell "Mac" Anderson
(1907–1998). Like Walter, Peter attended St. John's School
in Manlius, New York
until their schooling was interrupted by World War I
and they enrolled in Isidore Newman School
(then called Isidore Newman Manual Training School) in New Orleans.
In 1918, the Andersons purchased a large wooded tract of coastal land in Ocean Springs
. It was Annette's firm intention that all three of her sons become artists, and her husband's, that they learn to make a living from it. By 1924, a year after the family moved to Ocean Springs, Peter was experimenting with pottery, and in 1928, after training with Edmund deForest Curtis at the Conestoga Pottery (Wayne, Pennsylvania
) and with Charles F. Binns at the School of Clay-Working and Ceramics at Alfred, New York
, the Andersons opened a family business, Shearwater Pottery
, which is still in operation in Ocean Springs, under the management of his daughter Marjorie Anderson Ashley. Peter Anderson's son James Anderson is now Shearwater's master potter; his daughter, Patricia Findeisein, principal decorator; and another son, Michael Anderson, manager of the Shearwater Annex. Devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the Shearwater workshop was rebuilt by Jason Stebly and other members of the family.
Shearwater Pottery
Shearwater Pottery is a small family-owned pottery in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson , with the support of his parents, George Walter Anderson and Annette McConnell Anderson. From the 1920s through the present day, the Pottery has produced art pottery, ...
in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. He was born in New Orleans to George Walter Anderson, a grain broker, and Annette McConnell Anderson, member of a prominent New Orleans family, who had studied art at Newcomb College, where she had absorbed the ideals of the American Arts and Crafts movement.
Anderson was the eldest of three brothers, the others being Walter Inglis Anderson
Walter Inglis Anderson
Walter Inglis Anderson was an American painter, writer, and naturalist.Known to his family as "Bob", he was born in New Orleans to George Walter Anderson, a grain broker, and Annette McConnell Anderson, member of a prominent New Orleans family, who had studied art at Newcomb College, where she had...
(1903–1965) and James McConnell "Mac" Anderson
James McConnell Anderson
James McConnell "Mac" Anderson was an American painter, muralist, and pottery designer and decorator, youngest of the three brothers who collaborated at Shearwater Pottery, Ocean Springs, Mississippi .Born in New Orleans, Anderson attended schools there...
(1907–1998). Like Walter, Peter attended St. John's School
St. John's School
St. John's School is a coeducational independent school in the Upper Kirby district of Houston, Texas, United States, presenting a 13-year sequence of university preparatory training...
in Manlius, New York
Manlius (town), New York
Manlius is a town in Onondaga County, east of the city of Syracuse, New York, United States. The population was 32,370 at the 2010 census, making it the third largest suburb in metropolitan Syracuse...
until their schooling was interrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and they enrolled in Isidore Newman School
Isidore Newman School
Isidore Newman School is a private, nondenominational, co-educational college preparatory school located on an campus in the Uptown section of New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:...
(then called Isidore Newman Manual Training School) in New Orleans.
In 1918, the Andersons purchased a large wooded tract of coastal land in Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Ocean Springs is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States, about east of Biloxi. It is part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,225 at the 2000 census...
. It was Annette's firm intention that all three of her sons become artists, and her husband's, that they learn to make a living from it. By 1924, a year after the family moved to Ocean Springs, Peter was experimenting with pottery, and in 1928, after training with Edmund deForest Curtis at the Conestoga Pottery (Wayne, Pennsylvania
Wayne, Pennsylvania
Wayne is an unincorporated community located on the Main Line, centered in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. While the center of Wayne is in Radnor Township, Wayne extends into both Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County...
) and with Charles F. Binns at the School of Clay-Working and Ceramics at Alfred, New York
Alfred (village), New York
Alfred is a village located in the Town of Alfred in Allegany County, New York, USA. The population was 3,954 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Alfred the Great....
, the Andersons opened a family business, Shearwater Pottery
Shearwater Pottery
Shearwater Pottery is a small family-owned pottery in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson , with the support of his parents, George Walter Anderson and Annette McConnell Anderson. From the 1920s through the present day, the Pottery has produced art pottery, ...
, which is still in operation in Ocean Springs, under the management of his daughter Marjorie Anderson Ashley. Peter Anderson's son James Anderson is now Shearwater's master potter; his daughter, Patricia Findeisein, principal decorator; and another son, Michael Anderson, manager of the Shearwater Annex. Devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the Shearwater workshop was rebuilt by Jason Stebly and other members of the family.