Bryan Hannis has always been a handyman.
For decades the Valemount resident made his income through an array of odd jobs ranging from grocery store clerk to carpentry work along with the odd highway surveying gig.
However, at the age of 47, Hannis pushed all those tasks aside to pursue a career as a functional potter鈥攁 craft completely new to him at the time.
鈥淚 started quite late in life, but it鈥檚 a craft that has really enthused me,鈥� Hannis said. 鈥淚 just thought I would give it a try and from that first day I got really excited. It consumed me.鈥�
The first time the self-taught potter dove into this clay filled world was 25 years ago. Since then he has been working as a successful potter creating all sorts of teapots, bowls, plates and other pottery which he sells from his small store in Valemount.
Although he鈥檚 been consumed by the art for years, it was just recently that he decided to branch away from the shelves of his shop and started showing off his work at nearby venues. His latest exhibit will bring some of his collection to the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives. The work will be on display from May 5 to May 29.
While kitchen affairs aren鈥檛 uncommon among pottery exhibits, Hannis said his show will be different from what you鈥檇 expect from your stereotypical clay wielder.
After becoming comfortable with his craft, Hannis started experimenting with his creative side鈥� spending many hours turning normal teapots into lopsided creations with uneven edges accompanied by intricate swirling designs and vibrant colour schemes.
鈥淚 like making teapots because they are a challenge for any potter,鈥� Hannis said. 鈥淵ou have to make the body, the spout, the handle鈥攜ou have to make all that and make it fit together. It鈥檚 a multifaceted process.鈥�
To give his work a different edge, Hannis uses various firing techniques such as wood, gas and salt fires. Hannis also uses different types of glazes to bring out the natural colours of whatever clay he is using.
Earlier this year, one of Hannis鈥� out of the ordinary teapots won the second place prize at the International Texas Teapot Tournament, a competition that looks at handcrafted teapots from around the world. His winning pot now has a permanent spot with a traveling exhibit in Texas.
鈥淭hat was a huge accomplishment for me because I鈥檓 not world-renowned, and now my teapot is in with works by very well known potters,鈥� Hannis said.
The potter also just started to explore the realm outside of functional pottery by molding elongated masks. Each mask displays different facial features and expressions.
鈥淪ome of the masks are leaning toward the designs of the North West Coast Aboriginals,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 plan to make a lot more of these in the near future.鈥�
His upcoming show will feature about a dozen masks and a handful of teapots.
鈥淚t will mostly be things I鈥檝e made over the last year, but there will be some older stuff too,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is a really different show. It鈥檚 not just bowls and vases that you usually see.鈥�
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
