It is early morning, and the fog is lifting off the Smoky Mountains. On Glades Road in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, there’s a string of artisans from one end of the winding road to the other; my stop this morning will be Alewine Pottery to meet Robert Alewine. From Sevierville, my GPS takes me the scenic (or rather, “where the heck am I”) route. Boogertown Road, Powdermill Creek. Shorter in distance than the main route through Gatlinburg, the curvy mountain roads delays my arrival time.
Having been told that Alewine is an early riser, I knew he would be waiting.
The gallery sits around a curve of Glades Road, in a building which has expanded over the years. Shelves display his work, his vision of mugs, bowls, even bacon cookers, most with the signature Alewine maple leaf. He walks toward me, hand outstretched sporting an electric smile. I take his hand and it’s not the greeting or the introduction I remember; it’s the size and softness of his hands.
There’s excitement each time I interview strangers. Like Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, “You never know what you’re gonna get.” With Robert Alewine, it was simple. The unexpected is that we hailed from the same part of northern Georgia; the expected, that his passion for pottery is only exceeded by his passion for his family. A great combination and two that intersect each time he gets his hands dirty.
Get to know the man behind the mugs, the vases and the bacon cookers. Meet Robert Alewine here.
Judy and Len Garrison are at home in Farmington, Georgia, just on the outskirts of Dawg country – better known as Athens. Len, an IT manager for a major Atlanta company, and Judy, an editor, author and travel writer, invite you to travel along with them as they explore the best of the South. Email them at seeingsouthern@gmail.com. Visit their website at Seeing Southern, and follow them on Twitter at @judyhgarrison, @seeing_southern, LIKE them on Facebook and on Instagram.
