Art

Jul 24, 2023

Photos provided by Brian Gabbard

By Kyle Kirves

There is an old story, often retold, of a wise master speaking to a student about a favorite tea cup. "I tell myself today that at some point the cup will break," the master explains, "It allows me to enjoy the cup here and now."

Brian Gabbard, ceramicist and artist, may have had this idea in mind when he defined his brand and named his home studio Shards of Clay. Regardless, a similar mindset seems to inform his approach to his art, work, and life.

“It may seem odd to name it after this notion of broken ceramic pieces. To me, the name Shards of Clay speaks to this idea that we are all broken in some ways. And that,” Gabbard says, paraphrasing a quote attributed to many artists, “is how the light shines through.”

Gabbard, whose day job happens to be as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at one of Colorado’s largest employers, Ball Corporation, suggests that he considers himself an artist first and an executive second. “The word vocation comes from the word vox, or voice. I identify with that because I really believe in bringing your whole self, your voice, to everything you do,” he says. The mindset seems to be part of the whole in a complimentary, yin-yang way.

Starting from humble beginnings (like most who have dabbled in clay), Gabbard practiced, persisted, and refined until he could look at completed work with satisfaction. “Eight years ago, I went on a date night to the ceramics studio at the Arvada Center and it hooked me that night. Though to call what I made even an ashtray would be a stretch,” he admits. Gabbard continued working at the Center for a few years before fully embracing the idea of a home studio with three wheels, a slab roller, and a garage dedicated as a kiln space.

Now, Gabbard spends upwards of 20 hours a week in studio, putting the time in to get the work started, prepped for firing and glazing, and final preparation throughout the week. It is a passion project that Gabbard finds a therapeutic retreat and creative outlet.

These days, the work is much more refined – and visible. Gabbard’s pieces have found a home with several everyday customers and likewise at a few local restaurants – including Fruition and Mercantile in Denver. Perhaps most telling is his donation of full sets of dinnerware to support local charities and worthy causes (A Precious Child and the Denver Christian School), something Gabbard looks to continue into the future.

“It all really starts with food,” Gabbard says when asked about his favorite inspirations. “I have been an avid cooker my whole life. I really want to marry my love of food with my love of art. In fact, one of my dreams is to actually get my culinary degree one day and start a catering company, maybe after retirement from corporate life.”

That isn’t Gabbard’s only plan after Ball. Looking to the future, he sees his post-professional career as one more fully dedicated to the arts. The way he describes it, one can easily picture the parcel of land where he eventually hopes to host events, art classes, food and wine tastings, and more. “Something large format, with a barn in a central space and surrounded by homes. I want it to be a fully realized place where people can come to explore various artistic mediums – metal, glass, painting, sculpture. Performance. All of it, really.”

Gabbard’s intent is to create a place where everyone – professional artists, yes, but also the artist within us all – can cultivate the creative side of their persona. He also believes that accessing that aspect in our day jobs (as he himself has). “Professionally, we sometimes over-index on skills that we can build later. Not everything has to tie directly to a job or vocation. Living life artistically is vitally important. Everyone is an artist when they observe something beautiful and use that to create something beautiful. Accessing that aspect of our personalities can have a profound impact in our professional lives.”

The cup may already be broken according to the master. But artists like Gabbard will tell you that may not have been the point – that the creative intent that culminates in the finished product is the real purpose, even when it is reduced to shards of clay.

Brian Gabbard is the Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Head of Global Shared Services at Ball Corporation. A lifelong artist, Gabbard has created works in illustration, ceramics, music and more and currently showcases his finished work through shardsofclay.com. Find him professionally on LinkedIn @briangabbard and avocationally @shardsofclaystudio.

Writer Kyle Kirves drinks beer, plays guitar, runs trails, and manages projects – all with varying degrees of success. While not a craftsman himself, he is quite content writing about the Colorado artisans who create such wonderful things and memorable experiences.