Brian Corry is a big fan of George Ohr’s work. “He is another famous potter and a wonderful character to know. He made all these faces that made people laugh, which was interesting, because there was certainly nothing to laugh about in the 19th century,” Corry said laughing.

History influences Brian Corry’s creations known as ring jugs or Switzel jugs. They were popular in the late 1800s when workers would put their drinks in a nearby stream to stay cold. Corry loves combining history with clay art. In addition to the ring jugs and face jugs, Corry makes functional pottery like coffee mugs, plates, and bowls. The way Corry fires his pots leads to a long life for the art pieces. “It’s strong and it’s durable. I tell people that this could potentially last a thousand years. How cool is that? My handprint on a piece of pottery that could outlive me and still be enjoyed. I think that’s very powerful,” Corry said.

“I actually refer to myself as a clay artist because I like the diversity clay brings. I find myself making a lot of mugs, cups, bowls, and plates. Then I start to make more sculptural and historical work,” Corry said. Corry loves clay art so much he gave up a lucrative career with a large company to do his art. He has no regrets. Seeing his work at shows and in people’s homes beings him a great deal of satisfaction. “I worked as a graphic artist for a number of years and had a cubicle and worked for some pretty large corporations. Then, I took a ceramics class and fell in love with clay. I love the feel and the way you can just manipulate the material,” Corry said.