“The spark hit me at the age of 14 when I saw a Japanese woman on TV making a pot on the wheel. I was completely in love,” recounted Jan Pugh, head potter at Packer Creek Pottery. Pugh began her own gallery specializing in majolica (pronounced muh-jol-i-kuh), a painterly style of pottery glazing. The glazed earthenware is fired to 2000 degrees before dipping the items in an opaque white glaze and fired a second time, with the colorful results. Now, after years as one of the region’s most prominent potters, Pugh is passing the torch. She recently sold her Genoa-based studio/gallery, Packer Creek Pottery to her protege, Julie Harbal.
Pugh has been creating her pottery since the 1970s, when she worked late into the night at a warehouse her parents owned. She purchased a studio and showroom space in 1980, followed by buying a separate building to partition her studio and showroom in 1996.
Handing over the reigns
After 34 years, it seemed an appropriate time to step back from the business, Pugh said. While Pugh will remain involved in pottery design, Harbal will run the business. Pugh is confident that Harbal is up to the challenge-after all, she stoked Harbal’s passion for pottery in the first place.
“I met Jan when I was around the age of 10,” says Harbal. “I grew up in Genoa, Ohio, and my mom was a big fan of Jan’s work. I used to love going to her shop and looking at all the beautiful pieces. It really made an impact on me and I knew I had to work there. So when I turned 14, I would call her often and ask if she had any job openings. One day, to my utter delight, she said ‘Yes!’”
That enthusiasm prompted Harbal to attend Bowling Green State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, later obtaining a master’s degree in business also from BGSU. She paired her fine arts skills with a business degree to balance her creativity with entrepreneurship. “For me, art and business go hand and hand. I believe all artists are inherently entrepreneurs. Both allow for avenues of ideation and creativity,” she said. It is this emphasis on business that prompted Pugh to hand the financial reins of the company over to Harbal, in order to focus on her craft, family and traveling.
Harbal takes the responsibility seriously. “I have a passion for the shop. I plan on continuing the tradition of creativity and quality of Packer Creek Pottery, while implementing improvements to nurture and support the growth of the business,” Harbal said.
“With Julie onboard, I am now able to continue in the creative side of the business and have more time for friends and family. I would love to further explore the roots and traditions of majolica pottery by traveling to Italy and Majorca, Spain [where the art form originated],” said Pugh of her newfound free time. It has been a long journey since setting up her small studio in her parent’s warehouse.
Packer Creek Pottery, 103 E. 8th St., Genoa. 419-855-3858. packercreekpottery.com
