WASHINGTON — The Arkansas Arts Council is happy to announce James “Kimbo” Dryden because the 2022 Arkansas Residing Treasure for his work and dedication to the craft of pottery.
“Kimbo Dryden is a compelling addition to our Residing Treasure program,” stated Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Division of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “His lifelong ardour, dedication and mastery of pottery has not solely added to his household’s heritage, however to the heritage of Arkansas.”
The Arkansas Residing Treasure program yearly acknowledges an Arkansas inventive who excels within the creation of a standard craft or people artwork and who preserves and advances their craft by group outreach and instructing others.
“It’s essential to have a good time the cultural significance of the humanities in Arkansas,” stated Jimmy Bryant, director of Arkansas Heritage. “The Arkansas Residing Treasure program is a wonderful approach to honor those that have devoted their careers to sharing their creativity and inventive expertise.”
Dryden was chosen by an impartial panel of judges. He shall be honored at a ceremony Friday, Might 20.
“Kimbo Dryden is really a one in all a sort. His ability, creativity and fervour may be seen in every bit of pottery he throws. It’s an honor and a privilege for the Arts Council to current this award to him,” stated Patrick Ralston, director of the Arkansas Arts Council.
Dryden laughed when requested the way it felt to be the subsequent Arkansas Residing Treasure.
“About time,” he stated. “I’m only a potter. It’s an honor, you already know? Like I stated, it’s about time.”
The respect and legacy additionally belong to Dryden’s father. “Ought to’ve been my dad,” Dryden stated. “With out him, I might be digging ditches.”
Dryden grew up within the pottery enterprise. His father, AJ “Jimmy” Dryden, began Dryden Pottery in Ellsworth, Kansas, in 1946. His pottery operation moved to it’s present location in Sizzling Springs in 1956.
Dryden was put to work by his father as early as 10 years outdated. He first began his coaching utilizing a kick wheel. In 1970, Dryden studied his craft at Huge Creek Pottery College in Davenport, California. He then rejoined his father on the manufacturing unit creating mugs, vases, plates and extra.
Since shifting the Dryden pottery enterprise to Arkansas, their course of makes use of Arkansas novaculite in each the clay of his items in addition to the glazes, that are distinctive to his pottery.
Dryden has been open to guests, speaking to them about his work and giving free, stay pottery demonstrations. He has helped aspiring potters succeed of their crafts with steerage and instruction free of charge.
Though Dryden retired in 2013, his son Zack has taken up the mantle of Dryden Pottery, persevering with the generational creativity of his father’s and grandfather’s enterprise.
His son Zack Dryden stated, “I really like my dad. He’s a great man; he’s all the time been kind-hearted to me and my brothers. Him, together with my grandfather, actually pushed us, inspired us to be within the enterprise and make it a household affair.”
Dryden’s conventional course of consists of distinctive, in-house, formulated clays, glazes and methods that end in a recognizable look and elegance. Dryden stated anybody can pick a “Dryden,” which is why the household’s slogan is “A Melody in Glaze.” Zack Dryden stated, “You possibly can just about have a look at our pottery and from the traits you may simply inform by it should you’re accustomed to it, you may inform it’s Dryden.”
“Issues progress, issues modified. Individuals are sick of brown stoneware. It’s all the identical coloration. Uninteresting, brown,” stated Kimbo Dryden. Zack Dryden stated, “Lately folks need one thing that’s distinctive.”
Kimbo Dryden stated, “Yeah, one in all a sort, distinctive items you may’t discover wherever else, that’s us.”
In regards to the Arkansas Arts Council
The Arkansas Arts Council, an company of Arkansas Heritage, advances the humanities in Arkansas by offering companies and supporting arts endeavors that encourage and help literary, performing and visible artists in attaining requirements {of professional} excellence. As well as, the Arkansas Arts Council supplies technical and monetary help to Arkansas arts organizations and different suppliers of cultural and academic applications.
Arkansas Heritage
Arkansas Heritage was created in 1975. There are eight businesses with distinctive heritage focuses beneath the umbrella of this division: Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, the Delta Cultural Heart in Helena, the Previous State Home Museum, the Arkansas Pure Heritage Fee, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Heart, the Historic Arkansas Museum and the Arkansas State Archives. Arkansas Heritage is a division of the Arkansas Division of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Jimmy Bryant serves as director of the division whereas Stacy Hurst is the secretary of the Division of Arkansas Parks, Heritage and Tourism.