On top of Chapman Ridge, just above the Old Sevier neighborhood, lives an artist and true craftsman. Barry’s commitment to craftsmanship is evident in every project he creates, both sculptural and structural. His passion for art and dedication to Knoxville’s vibrant creative community exist in a continuous, symbiotic relationship.
Barry’s craftsmanship as a woodworker is evident in his project at the Riggio-Lynch Chapel on the Alex Haley Farm for the Children’s Defense Fund. It is one of Barry’s favorite projects. It involved molding the wood planking to curve around the building frame. Barry’s throwing wheel is also a work of art. It’s a kick wheel handmade from the plans for Leach’s pottery wheel that Barry built himself. He enjoys creating unique solutions, often simplifying and adding beauty along the way.
Barry is thankful for the city’s affordability and the urban setting with easy access to green spaces. He often takes time to walk the urban wilderness or explore the waterfront park at Suttree Landing, or travels to the Smokies if he’s feeling adventurous.
He says the big problem with Knoxville is, “You can’t make a better living at the arts. There’s no value in the arts. I spent 20 years in construction, and now I want to sell my art. I’d like to do more teaching, but it would help to have a supportive art community — you can’t eat art. No one approaches me to buy my work. I’m not big on pushing it, but I have yet to find the people who do.”
Barry thinks Knoxville could make more efforts like the artist colony at the World’s Fair site — “an art district that died from lack of support. I’d love to see a community based in art with multiple studios where people gather and work together. It could work if people would show up and spend money,” Barry says.
Pottery is Barry’s muse. A good day is breakfast, coffee and then the studio with his dog, Darlin. “My studio is never done,” Barry says. He has two studios with a kiln shed out back. Barry’s time at the wheel offers solace. “Throwing on the wheel is one of the greatest pleasures of making pottery,” he says, “but it’s a lot more work than that — prepping clay, making glaze, selling the work. But the joy of throwing makes it all worth it.”
He loves the feel of the clay and aspires to emulate the work of Michael Simon of Athens, Georgia, using a vapor-fired, salt-fired process. Barry glazes his work green and then fires the pottery. “I only fire once,” he says. Barry’s drums are another focus for his pottery. “I started making doumbeks when I was in school in the ’80s. I got a C on them, and it made me mad. I’ve been making them ever since and taught myself to make the wooden ashikos.”
Printmaking is also a favorite for Barry. One of his first works was T-shirts for Ella Guru’s, made from the paintings by Denny Hatcher that once marked the bathrooms at the historic venue. Barry went on to describe the other prints he showed me, “My friend James Newby lived in a commune in Mexico and needed money. He got a job in a metal shop making belt buckles.” Barry transferred those engravings to silk screen for custom prints on T-shirts and other creations like his plaques.
Barry’s passion for history and art inspired the creation of his distinctive mushroom sculptures. The concept first emerged from a garden art project for a friend, featuring unique interpretations of pre-Columbian sculpture. “Not all of the decorations are faces, but they are always on the stem,” Barry explains. He has since expanded on the concept with custom chess sets, pairing handcrafted hardwood boards with individually designed pieces that make every set one of a kind.
His daughter, Hannah, is the light in his life. She offers inspiration and hope for the future. Her influence guides him and reminds him of what is important. Hannah is also an artist, and they feed on each other’s creativity. She demonstrated the silk screen process for me during my visit.
Barry is originally from Maryville. He attended Georgia Tech, where he participated in a work-study program. After two years, he soon discovered he was better at ultimate Frisbee. Having friends in Fort Sanders, he moved in with them and transferred to the University of Tennessee in 1988. He participated in the College Scholars program at UT with a concentration in ceramics, where he built a salt kiln and learned the salt-fire technique. He moved into his house on top of Chapman Ridge in 1999, a craftsman’s house with a pottery studio to spare.
Celebrating the beauty of the neighborhood and the enormous growth of the Old Sevier community, Barry’s next project is partnering with SoKno Sculpt, a project of the Old Sevier Community Group, to create an art walk inviting Knoxville to explore south of the Tennessee River. Knoxville sculptor Bill Cook Jr. is creating “Southern Beacon” for Barry’s front yard as a marker for the best view of downtown Knoxville. The unveiling of the sculpture will be on May 21 at Barry’s home on Elizabeth Avenue.
Barry’s website is stinkbugknox.com/ by phone at 865-809-0394 or email barrycrowder@bellsouth.net