Barry has been making pottery for over 40 years having started as an studio assistant in the late 70s at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. His work is in many collections throughout the US including Agnes Scott College and the permanent collection of the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC. In addition to pottery, Barry has a Ph.D. in Physics from Emory University and taught at Clark Atlanta University in the Department of Physics for ten years. He then worked at the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention for 24 years working as a computer scientist. Now retired and working as a full time potter, Barry has relocated to Marshall, NC.
Artist Statement
In my work, I aspire to span the divide between art pottery and functionality. I hand build flower vases, bowls and cups, though I do occasionally return to my throwing roots. Around five years ago I moved my studio from Atlanta, GA to rural Western North Carolina, and now I find my work more and more influenced by my surroundings. My current work has taken a decidedly “back to nature” turn since moving here. The surfaces, though simpler now than in the past, remain a patchwork of lines and patterns superimposed on more organic forms. The torn edges and silhouettes of the newest forms seem to emanate from the rugged landscape we now live in, and my color palette has now taken on the grays, blues and greens of distant mountain vistas. The work continues to evolve organically from living in this magical area. My pieces are characterized as mid-range stoneware, fired to cone 5 and slowly cooled to enhance the glaze surfaces. However, I am now beginning to experiment with wood firing using native NC clays. Designs are layers of slips and underglazes applied by brush, bottle or ceramic pencil.
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