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Rookwood Pottery Co. to Create 2012 World Choir Games Champions Trophies Based on Winning Design by Art Academy of Cincinnati Student
Date: 2/14/2012
CINCINNATI (Feb. 14, 2012) — The Rookwood Pottery Co., which has been chosen to produce the Champions Trophies for the 2012 World Choir Games in July, has selected a design for the awards by Art Academy of Cincinnati student and former science teacher Eunha Chung.
Rookwood, historic maker of one-of-a-kind handcrafted architectural tile and art pottery, chose Chung’s creation from a pool of submissions from students at the Art Academy and the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati. Rookwood is awarding Chung $1,000 for the 14-inch design – an elegant, bud-shaped cup adorned with a musical staff.
The Rookwood-produced trophies will be awarded to the Champion of the World Choir Games, known as the “Olympics of choral music,” in each of 23 musical categories. The champion is the gold-medal winning choir in The Champions Competition with the highest score in its genre from a panel of seven international judges.
“Eunha’s design captures the essence of the World Choir Games’ message – that music is a universal language – and combines it with the unique dynamics of clay,” said Martin Wade, chairman of Rookwood Pottery. “It is positive, inspiring and energetic, reflecting the games’ purpose of fostering an international community. We are so privileged to create the awards that the participants will carry home.”
Chung, a visual communications design student in her senior year, was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, and moved to Cincinnati in 2006. A former high school science teacher, she has long been interested in the intersection of science and art, and is scheduled to graduate from the Art Academy in 2012.
Cincinnati USA was selected as the first U.S. city to host the World Choir Games, held every two years. The 2012 Games, to take place July 4 to 14, are expected to attract 20,000 participants and tens of thousands of visitors from more than 70 countries.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a world-renown company such as Rookwood Pottery to make the World Choir Game Champions Trophies right here where the games will take place,” said Dan Lincoln, director of the Cincinnati Organizing Committee and president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Every winner will be able to bring home a piece of Cincinnati history.”
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About Rookwood Pottery:
Founded in 1880 by Maria Longworth Nichols as the first female-owned U.S. manufacturing company, Rookwood Pottery won the grand prize at the 1889 Paris Expo, transforming the world’s perception of American art. It became one of America’s most coveted luxury brands in the 20th century and can be found in grand homes, hotels and public spaces including Union Terminal in Cincinnati, the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, and Grand Central Station, New York. From its studios in Cincinnati, Rookwood’s uniquely talented artists craft art tile, art pottery, corporate gifts and commissioned products for designers, architects, homeowners and businesses. Rookwood sets the standard for what can be achieved in design and ceramics. Visit Rookwood at www.rookwood.com or our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/RookwoodPottery.
About the World Choir Games:
The World Choir Games is the largest international choral competition in the world, taking place every two years. The event is expected to have a local economic impact of $73.5 million. The World Choir Games is the signature event of INTERKULTUR, a Germany-based organization that produces elite international choral events all over the world. For more information, visit www.2012worldchoirgames.com.
Contacts – Rookwood Pottery: Lisa Biank Fasig
lisa@jzmcbride.com, 513.231.5115
World Choir Games: Michael Perry
mperry@vehrcommunications.com, 513.381.8347
Rookwood Pottery Co. Brings World-Renown Artist Patrick Dougherty to Its Staff as Vice President: Art, Design and Development
Date: 12/05/2011
Rookwood Pottery Co. Brings World-Renown Artist Patrick Dougherty to Its Staff as Vice President: Art, Design and Development
Dougherty, a Top-40 International Artist, Will Lead National Initiatives
CINCINNATI (Dec. 1, 2011) — The Rookwood Pottery Co., historic maker of one-of-a-kind, handcrafted architectural tile and art pottery, has appointed Patrick Dougherty, one of the world’s most-recognized and awarded ceramic artists, to the newly created position of Vice President: Art, Design and Development.
In his new role, Dougherty will draw on almost 30 years of experience to lead several national initiatives designed to continue Rookwood’s revival as an American leader in fine art pottery, fireplaces and architectural projects.
“Patrick is recognized as one of the top-38 ceramic artists internationally in the 2010 book Masters in Earthenware by Ray Hemachandra and Matthias Ostermann,” said Chip DeMois, CEO of Rookwood Pottery. “It is only fitting that one of the best names in art tile and pottery should have one of the world’s most accomplished artists under its roof.”
Dougherty is known for his intricately designed and skillfully hand-painted art pottery and architectural ceramics, including tables, sinks and mantels. His sanguine, inspiringly colored pieces have been featured in several well-known books and publications, including “Smithsonian Magazine,” “American Craft,” “Masters Earthenware,” “Surface Design for Ceramics,” “The Artful Home,” and “The Best of Pottery.” He has earned more than 30 awards for his ceramics work at shows across the country, most recently the Purchase Award, at Feats of Clay in Lincoln, Calif.
For more information about Rookwood Pottery, please visit www.rookwood.com.
•••••
About Rookwood Pottery
Founded in 1880 by Maria Longworth Nichols as the first female-owned U.S. manufacturing company, Rookwood Pottery won the grand prize at the 1889 Paris Expo, transforming the world’s perception of American art. It became one of America’s most coveted luxury brands in the 20th century and can be found in grand homes, hotels and public spaces including Union Terminal in Cincinnati, the Mayo Clinic, Rochester and Grand Central Station, New York. From its studios in Cincinnati, Rookwood’s uniquely talented artists craft art tile, art pottery, corporate gifts and special commissioned products for designers, architects, homeowners and businesses. Rookwood sets the standard for what can be achieved in design and ceramics. Visit Rookwood at www.rookwood.com or our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/RookwoodPottery.
Contact: Lisa Biank Fasig
JZMcBride and Associates
lisa@jzmcbride.com or 513.231.5115
Rookwood Pottery Co. Revives Historic Line Through Product Agreement With Aurora Casket Co.
Date: 11/17/2011
Rookwood Pottery Co. Revives Historic Line Through Product Agreement With Aurora Casket Co.
Companies Partner to Produce Line of Cremation Urns, Building on Tradition of Community and Craftsmanship
CINCINNATI (Nov. 17, 2011) — The Rookwood Pottery Co., historic maker of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted architectural tile and art pottery, is partnering with the largest family-owned supplier in funeral service, Aurora Casket Company, to make an exclusive line of cremation urns.
The deal marks Rookwood’s return to the funeral industry, where familial connections and legacies carry notable significance. In the 1940s, when World War II caused a severe shortage of metals in the United States, Rookwood produced ceramic urns to meet demand. In fact, one of the designs in the Aurora line is a modernized version of a 1940s classic.
Under the agreement, Aurora commissioned Rookwood to create a line of eight urns, comprising two designs in four colors. Rookwood’s artisans will produce the urns, which will bear the Rookwood logo and time stamp, at its Over-the-Rhine facility in Cincinnati.
The timing of the partnership with Aurora is important as demand for cremations continues to rise, with an estimated 44.4 percent of the population expected to choose cremation by 2015, according to the Cremation Association of North America. That compares with 34.3 percent of the population in 2007.
Chip DeMois, CEO of Rookwood, said the company decided to bring back its urns after recognizing this trend.
“In our research we find that most urns come from overseas and they are not ceramic,” DeMois said.
“Aurora gives Rookwood a chance to revive American-made, ceramic urns. A Rookwood urn represents the finest in American ceramics and is one of the new business cornerstones of Rookwood’s current revival as the leader in architectural tile and art pottery.”
Aurora Casket has prominently featured the urns in its recent cremation products catalog. They are available to the thousands of funeral homes which Aurora serves, said Steve Jones, President of Meierjohan-Wengler, an Aurora subsidiary which manufactures and distributes cremation urns.
“We’re really honored that Rookwood chose us as partner,” Jones said. “Part of Aurora’s mission is to help bring an honorable closure to every life. Rookwood, because of its beauty and uniqueness, will help us take a step toward our mission. That is important to a family-run company.”
“Aurora, through Steve Jones, has demonstrated a true respect and appreciation for the quality that Rookwood represents,” DeMois said. “Likewise, the brand integrity and quality of the Aurora name ensures us the best opportunity to offer our urns throughout the country.”
In addition to the line of urns available through Aurora Casket, Rookwood is offering customized, hand-painted urns through Rookwood. For more information about either company, please visit www.rookwood.com or www.auroracasket.com.
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About Rookwood Pottery
Founded in 1880 by Maria Longworth Nichols as the first female-owned U.S. manufacturing company, Rookwood Pottery won the grand prize at the 1889 Paris Expo, transforming the world’s perception of American art. It became one of America’s most coveted luxury brands in the 20th century and can be found in grand homes, hotels and public spaces including Union Terminal in Cincinnati, the Mayo Clinic, Rochester and Grand Central Station, New York. From its studios in Cincinnati, Rookwood’s uniquely talented artists craft art tile, art pottery, corporate gifts and special commissioned products for designers, architects, homeowners and businesses. Rookwood sets the standard for what can be achieved in design and ceramics. Visit Rookwood at www.rookwood.com or our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/RookwoodPottery.
About Aurora Casket Co.
Aurora Casket is the largest family-owned funeral supplier in America. Founded in 1890, the company operates five manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada, and provides a full range of burial, cremation, and technology products to funeral home clients across America. Aurora is a fifth-generation family business, owned and operated by the Barrott and Backman families. For more information, visit www.auroracasket.com.
Contact: Lisa Biank Fasig
JZMcBride and Associates
lisa@jzmcbride.com or 513.231.5115
