private and public collections across the country and around the world.
Dylan graduated from IU in 2017 and took a short-term ceramics residency in Bonaparte, Iowa, with artist Lee Burningham.
“ While I was there, I threw pots right next to the Des Moines River,” Dylan said.
The following year, he accepted a residency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He earned studio time by working in the gallery and teaching classes.
“ The experience gave me a better sense of how to live as an artist,” Dylan said.“ And it gave me time to make
photo by Paige Langenderfer functional work. It was more about developing my skills”
While in Iowa, Dylan met and learned from numerous fellow artists. Clary Illian, who was once an apprentice at the Bernard Leach Pottery in England, left the biggest mark on Dylan.
“ She was very practical,” Dylan said.“ She told me something that really stuck with me. She said she never wanted to make anything that the average person couldn’ t afford. A lot of artists want to make these huge pieces that sell for tons of money, but I like that she focused on functional pottery.”
Dylan moved back to Brown County in 2019 and began laying the groundwork for a career in ceramics. When IU tore down a studio that housed the ceramics kiln, Dylan was able to get some of the bricks. He used those bricks to build his own kiln at his studio in Brown County.
He currently works full time as a groundskeeper and works his pottery wheel in his free time.
“ It is definitely not easy to make money and make art,” Dylan said.“ There’ s a lot of time management involved, especially with clay. If I want to get pieces done, I have to get up early and stay up late.”
Dylan plans to attend graduate school in the future to challenge himself in different aspects of ceramics. He said he feels lucky to have grown up in a community that supports art, but feels that art needs to be promoted more in schools.
“ There needs to be a bigger emphasis on how important the arts are, especially with young people,” he said.“ It is important to support young artists in Brown County so that we can carry on the legacy.”
Dylan’ s work is currently on display and available for purchase at the Hoosier Artist Gallery in Nashville on South Jefferson Street, next to Fallen Leaf Books. His work can also be viewed by visiting his Instagram account <@ artandpottery _ by _ quack >. •
Jan./ Feb. 2021 • Our Brown County 23