Shearwater Pottery

Shearwater Pottery is one of the oldest continuously operating craft studios in the region and a quiet gem of Ocean Springs. It was founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson, brother of the artist Walter Anderson, on a wooded stretch of shoreline, and it has been run by the Anderson family ever since. The pottery grew from a small workshop making simple vases to a recognized name in American craft, with distinctive glazes, hand-painted decorations and shapes that echo the Gulf Coast's birds, shells and plants. A visit centers on the showroom and grounds, where you can see finished pieces for sale and often watch potters at work. The atmosphere is more like a family home than a retail store, with shade trees, outbuildings and an informal, unhurried feel. Dishes, mugs, vases and decorative tiles sit alongside special series and seasonal pieces, and the prices range from modest to collector level.

It is a rewarding pairing with the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, since the two stops cover two members of the same artistic family and make the story of the Ocean Springs art colony clearer. The family's wider work, from murals to block prints to pottery, shows how art became part of the town's identity and why so many galleries and studios cluster in the area today. Looking at the pottery after seeing the murals gives a feel for how forms and motifs move between media.

For families, it is a gentle, low-key stop with plenty of room to walk around, though children should be supervised around fragile items. For couples, it is a pleasant half-hour of browsing that often leads to a keepsake. Serious collectors will appreciate the range of price points and the chance to buy directly from the makers. First-time visitors who want a souvenir that is more meaningful than a T-shirt will find it a satisfying choice.

Build the visit into a loop around town. Start with breakfast in downtown Ocean Springs, visit the museum, stop at the pottery and finish with a walk along Front Beach or a drive to the Davis Bayou area. The pottery is a short drive from the center of town, and parking is easy on site. Because it is outdoors in part, weather and heat matter, so plan around summer afternoons.

Shearwater's designs often draw on Gulf Coast subjects: shorebirds, magnolias, shells and marsh grasses, rendered in warm earth tones and deep greens and blues. Pieces make sturdy and practical gifts, such as mugs, bowls and platters that will outlast many store-bought souvenirs. Ask about older or limited-edition lines, and about seconds if you are watching your budget. Even if you leave empty handed, the grounds and the working atmosphere make the stop worthwhile.