About Black Cat Pottery

Cheryl M. English, a long—time resident of the metropolitan Detroit area, has traveled as far as Singapore and Turkey in her peregrinations, only to return to her childhood dancing grounds. Having earned a BA in Art History from Michigan State University and an MA in Art History and Archæology from Cornell University, she realized she much preferred making art to analyzing it. Educated as an Art Historian and Archæologist and a life-long autodidact, Cheryl first began her ceramics studies with Gene Pluhar through Grosse Pointe Community Education. Taking advantage of Mr. Pluhar’s classroom at Grosse Pointe South High School, she reveled in the challenges of propane torches, sand blasters and drill presses while investigating the potential of slab rollers, extruders and the wheel. She continued her studies at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center under Jan Sadowski and at Pewabic Pottery under Tom Gennette and David McGee. Cheryl’s work reflects her “other” passion: gardening, especially with native plant species with an eye to establishing and expanding sustainable habitat. As an Advanced Master Gardener, her abiding interest in things natural – and indigenous – is reflected in her whimsical creations. She has taught at Anton Art Center in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio in Rochester, Michigan, and now teaches out of her studio in Detroit. She opens her habitat garden to the public free of charge twice a year.Read their story