I remember sitting in art class as a first grader, making a pottery ashtray that ended up looking more like a turtle. So, it was uplifting for me these many years later, to find a gentleman and his wife living on our Island that have gone way beyond ashtrays, creating beautiful pottery destined to become treasured pieces of art. This week Steve Burrow and his wife, Dee, sat down with me to share their story of how they landed in Gulf Shores to become valued members of the Island.

Steve was born in Norfolk, Virginia while his dad was stationed there in the Navy. Steve’s mom was from Mobile, so when his dad retired, the family came to Mobile to settle down. While growing up and attending high school in Mobile, Steve developed a strong interest in pottery and sculpture. He graduated in 1978 from the University of South Alabama as an art major and gradually narrowed his focus to pottery when he began spending more time working the clay. Prior to and after college graduation, Steve had worked in Gulf Shores where his family owned a motel on West Beach called Surf’s Up Motel, now the site of the Sea and Sun condos. He built a little workshop on the property and worked on his pottery whenever things were slow at the motel. The winter months afforded him time to do more art and prepare for upcoming shows that he hoped to enter.

Just about the time life seemed perfect for Steve, running the motel, creating pottery and hitting the beach for surfing and sunsets, along came Hurricane Frederick reducing the motel to rubble. While things were being rebuilt, Steve was able to stay on the Island in a FEMA trailer that he had rent-free. He had the time to work on his pottery, which turned out to be the silver lining from the dark clouds of Frederick. Steve ultimately bought the FEMA trailer and moved it to a friend’s land up on County Road 8. He got his business license in 1981 and started teaching pottery at both the Academy of Art in Fairhope, and at the Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education. He enjoyed teaching, but really wanted to be outdoors and to be creating his own masterpieces.

Eventually, Steve bought a lot on Canal Road, designed a home and started building. He worked on it every free moment and ended up with a great home and studio where he still lives.

Steve met his wife, Dee, back in college when they were both working part time in the trophy shop at the Camila Bowling Lane. They dated but drifted apart when college ended. Each was married to other spouses and both marriages ended. One day, upon returning home, Steve found a note on his studio door. It was signed by Dee and read, “YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE. I’M AT THE BEACH. LETS MEET.” They found each other again and have not been separated since.

They honeymooned in Eleuthera in the Bahamas, where Steve had surfed in his college days. They bought a small lot on the island back off the beach and still spend about three or four months of the year there during the slow winter months of Gulf Shores, and the busy months of Eleuthera. Steve discovered a special type of clay there, and spends time creating and enlarging stock pottery collections.  He also has a friend with a gift shop that carries his pottery. Steve keeps them well stocked during his winter stay with enough to carry them through their busy winters and slow summers.

Steve’s studio, Sea Oat Studio, is a two-person operation. Through the years, Dee has become an accomplished potter, working together with Steve on their creations. Dee also does the accounting and keeps the records for their business. They do about five or six art shows between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, sometimes out of state. In addition to showing and selling his creations, Steve is an ambassador for Gulf Shores. He invites the people at the shows to come down, visit the area, enjoy our people and our beaches, enjoy our food and our music and visit his studio over on Canal Road.

Steve is on the Steering Committee for the Orange Beach Festival of Art, the Gulf Shores Beautification Board and is one of the oldest members of the Chamber of Commerce. He said, “In all my travels, and all the places I’ve seen, I really like it here. This is where I am, and this is where we plan to stay.” Steve and Dee enjoy the Island to the fullest. They ride their tandem bike on the Island trails, sail in both the Bays and off the Coast, walk the beach, surf, or just find a place to watch the people.

Finally, Steve took me through the “tourist” tour of his studio. He explained the different processes for making the right mixture of clay, for firing the pottery and for creating works of art. I encourage the readers to stop by his studio one day (call first), and see it for themselves. Steve and Dee are most gracious hosts and celebrities in their own right. How lucky we are to have them ON THE ISLAND.