Melvin

As artisans using techniques stemming from 18th century traditions, the Owens family of Seagrove run the oldest continuing pottery workshop in North Carolina. At 83, paterfamilias Melvin Owens is still going strong and he's happy to provide us with a running commentary on his activities: cutting clay and working at the wheel, cooking up a storm in his rustic kitchen or pickin' on his guitar. While Melvin's reflections are charming, his thick Southern accent is consistently difficult to understand, making listening a tedious experience for non-Southerners with untrained ears. Aside from that reservation, however, Melvin offers an authentic, homespun slice of life unknown to most Americans, and is well worth considering for regional and oral history collections. Optional elsewhere. Aud: P. (J. Reed)