Donn Zver Pottery is featured in the 2009 Rand McNally North American Road Atlas as part of a profile of Economuseum enterprises in Canada, marking the first time ever that an Ontario pottery studio and the growing Economuseum movement have been profiled in the Rand McNally Road Atlas.

Millions of copies of the Rand McNally North American Road Atlas are sold each year. The publication features road maps of each Canadian province and U.S. state, an overview of Mexico, and lists 25 Canadian festivals and the Canadian Economuseum movement.

"Donn Zver Pottery is extremely honoured to be profiled by the Rand McNally Road Atlas as part of the Economuseum movement in Canada," noted Zver. "To be thus recognized by Rand McNally is a great privilege for everyone at our studio and restaurant. "

Zver continued, "Economusums make an innovative and important contribution to the health and vitality of the cultural tourism sector. They are self-sustaining and self-financed through the sale of their products. Economuseums add tremendous value to the local economy and, importantly, keep alive the long cherished craft of the artisan."

Economuseums are small interpretive centers created to support self-sustaining traditional craft businesses. They showcase a craft or agri-foods business whose products are the result of an authentic technique and working skill.

Economuseums visibly show the artisans at the daily working of their craft by offering an area for interpretation and for public viewing of the artisans creating in their studios. To date, a network of over 40 economuseums exist in Quebec and the Maritimes. Although Economuseum is not a familiar term in Ontario and western Canada, similar enterprises exist across Canada.

Zver opened Café Troy 2006 and in 2007 Donn Zver Pottery held a 35-year anniversary retrospective at the Carnegie Gallery.

"And now in 2008, Donn Zver Pottery and Café Troy can be found in cars and trucks all across North America. It's been quite a ride," Zver noted.

Zver's work is found in the permanent collections of many museums and galleries, including the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, the Clay and Glass Museum in Waterloo, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. He was the first Canadian to have a retrospective at the prestigious Risk Press Gallery on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. He helped set up the ceramics program at Mohawk Collage, and built the gas fired kiln at the Dundas Valley School of Art. In addition, Zver has curated two major exhibitions at the Carnegie Gallery, From the Ground Up in 2002, and Zver: a thirty-five year retrospective in 2007, both of which set new attendance and sales records at the gallery.

Zver is a functional potter. His mugs, plates, stemware, vases, wine coolers, and casserole dishes are found in homes throughout North America, and are in daily use at his popular restaurant, Café Troy.

For further information, please call Donn Zver Pottery at 519-647-2117, or visit the website at www.donnzver.com.