Katherine Petke has an eye for driftwood like some people have an eye for cars or interior design. The driftwood she finds around her sister’s house is carefully chosen to become the handle for a bowl or the perch in a bird bath. The driftwood, some with barnacles still attached, is then taken back to Rock Hill and used to create beautiful driftwood pottery.
The driftwood is special because of how it was collected. Katherine loves spending time with her sister Mary Lyon and brother-in-law Ed. She enjoys it when they get together and walk down the shoreline collecting driftwood. She challenges herself to fill Ed’s crab boat to the brim with driftwood. Then it is taken back to her studio in the Rock Hill Pottery Center, where she is always happy to go to work. The driftwood pottery is made with and surrounded by so much love that you can feel it when you walk into her studio.
Katherine only started her work eight years ago with the passing of her father. Her pottery was therapy and then it became a passion. With the love and support of her family, she started making pottery full time which allows her to show off her talents far and wide.
In the early days before she was a full time pottery maker, she would work in her garage in the early morning when the crows were the most active. Crows are misunderstood because they are actually one of the most intelligent birds. She would hear them talking to each other and grew comfortable in their presence. Katherine named her pottery business, Black Crow Pottery, after her early morning companions. Black Crow Pottery has grown over the years due to Katherine’s talent and will continue to grow thanks to the love and hard work she puts into it.
Where you can get Katherine’s pottery
Rock Hill Pottery Center | 201 E Main Street | Rock Hill, SC 29730 | 10a.m.–4p.m. (M-F) | (803) 322-0781
Olde English Market and Visitors Center | 3200 Commerce Drive | Suite A | Richburg, SC 29729 | 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. (7 days a week) | (803) 385-6800
Two Social Butterflies | 27 Dilworth Lane | Suite 103 | Rock Hill, SC 29732 | 10 a.m.—6 p.m. (M-F), 10 a.m.—4 p.m. (Sat) | (803) 327-4438