Bryan Quincannon

Ceramic Artist

Born: May 23, 1977

Resident of New Jersey

MFA University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

BFA Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL

Artist Statement

Once I discovered the potter’s wheel, I was immediately enamored with the spin of the clay. Determined to figure it out, hundreds of pounds of clay quickly became tons of pounds of clay that passed between my fingers. From day one, I knew I wanted to some how capture the motion of each piece; twisting and collapsing became my means. Controlling the collapse is something I have always strived for, but have come to realize that the momentary loss of control is my true aim. At the moment of collapse, a total blend or flow must occur between my hands and the nearly liquid clay. If I attempt to manipulate the collapse too much, I will lose the piece completely. I am always creating new techniques to achieve new goals, working on scales from miniature to monumental and translating my techniques to every size in between.

My current body of work is a series of teapots that are time-inspired, consisting of clock parts. Each piece stands individual, representing its own moment in time. They incorporate my fluid thrown forms with rigid wheel thrown gears, clock hands, watch stops and watch loops. This series consists of twelve different teapots that are inspired moments from reflections in time. For many, I created bases with cups that hang from watch loops. Some bases allow for tip pouring, some of cups have sippy straw handles, some have moving clay gears and one teapot is lidless which fills through an open cylinder in the bottom, requiring no cork, but will contain water and is fully functional. The pieces look as though they are still moving, almost like an amusement park ride. The surfaces of the entire series are done in cone 10 reduction glazes. My intention was to use glazes that were time sensitive and would react naturally to the fire. For example, I used a carbon trap Shino, a glaze that is very time sensitive, on “Tilt and Pour Time Walker.” If close attention to time is not paid with this glaze, it comes out looking like marshmallow fluff instead of its lustrous oranges and blacks. The pieces are thought out and executed purposefully in all respects.

My “TIME PIECES” really don’t directly look like clocks, and they’re not intended to. It is truly the details that are the firmest reflections of time. Ones life is like a time clock, punching in at birth and punching out at the pearly gates. This series is meant to be playful and humorous, which represent the time I appreciate most, both in an out of the studio. They are about having the time to create and appreciating it to its fullest. It seems with each new teapot in the series, more time is required and more details evolve. My latest teapot will whistle when it pours. Well, where there are whistles there must be bells!