Dan Quatro

My work is inspired by functional potters from North Carolina to Minnesota who's roots are in deeply imbedded in Mingue. I am certainly not the first to be inspired by Mingue or these potters, but have been influenced by them nonetheless.

I want my pots to be approachable and useful. I am transfixed by the interplay of form and surface. I find the interaction of the clay and slips fired in a high fire soda atmosphere to be exhilarating.

Some potters are concerned that their pots be used only for the potter's intended use. For me how my pots are used is of little consequence. 

My work with a pot is done when someone is inspired enough by the piece to invest in it and make it part of their daily ethos. If they want to put flowers in a pitcher I've made I celebrate that choice! The creative work that I put into the pot ends where the new owner begins with it. How lovely is it that these two creative worlds collide to bring joy and beauty into the world.

I came to ceramics later in life, beginning classes over a decade ago and have no formal training in art. I took classes for years at Flower City Arts Center eventually teaching wheel to intermediate potters.

In 2024 I had the privilege of being a resident artist at The School of American Crafts at RIT in Rochester NY.  

I have shown my pots in several juried shows in upstate New York and have pots available in local galleries and in the Finger Lakes.