New Shapes For Chanukah

LORI SELENO

Special to The Jewish News

T

Chanukah
inspires artist
Tony Nelson
to create a
Star of David
tile.

ony Nelson displays Celtic
crosses, shamrocks and
the Star of David in his
Grosse Pointe Woods
home. Not only do his handcrafted
tiles adorn his home, but they are
available for purchase at local bou-
tiques.
At age 68 and with more than 30
years in the advertising business, he
is supposedly retired, but his new
hobby is gaining momentum. His
career began first as an art director
at some of metro
Detroit's advertising
agencies, and then
later as the owner of
Tony Nelson
Marketing and
igkeng00:00.,.
Concepts in Grosse
Pointe Woods. There
were also advertising
courses taught at the
Center for Creative
Studies in Detroit.
And as if all this
weren't enough, dur-
ing several of these
hectic years in the ad
business, Nelson was
proprietor of a couple
saloons in Detroit
that catered to the ad
crowd.
"When I retired, I
said 'Now what do I
do?' I love working
with my hands,"
Above: The Star of David is exclusive at Raphael's
explains Nelson with a
Magnificent Possessions in Berkley. His other designs are
sparkle in his eyes.
availabale at the Dancing Eye in Northville and Pewabic
Sporting white hair
Pottery in Detroit.
and a bushy beard,
Right: Tony Nelson sometimes works an 80-hour week in
this mild-mannered
his Grosse Pointe Woods studio.
gent continues to
weave the tale of his
12-week courses at Pewabic Pottery
latest adventure. As the story goes,
in
Detroit, Nelson had plenty for
he and his wife, Rosemary, put an
the
new addition. And plenty left
addition on the home they had just
over. "I loved making tiles so much,"
moved into. "I wanted some good-
says Nelson.
looking tiles. I couldn't find any, so I
What to do? It seems Nelson's
decided to make my own," says
experience
in marketing paid off. "I
Nelson.
woke
in
the
middle of the night and
After attending five consecutive

I said, 'shamrock tiles.' I'd never
seen carved shamrock tiles." Nelson
found a niche and thus began a ven-
ture into the commercial world of
tile making. Pewabic asked Nelson
to participate in their 1996 holiday
show where these Irish-inspired tiles
became the second best seller.

At another tile show, Nelson's
hand-crafted art was spotted by
Michael Snell and Michael Tonda of
Raphael's Magnificent Possessions in
Berkley, a store Snell describes as
"Part things for the home and part
gifts." Since October of '97,
Raphael's has been carrying Nelson's

12/44

1998

Detroit Jewish News

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