Olen Bryant

Olen affected me in profound ways, his intelligence so enlightened, his manner reserved, his questions always filled with insight and challenging. His conversations always of wit and humor.
A friend stated that " there are people in our lives that make up the foundation of our strength and with its loss your world is shaken." Olen has been a large part of who I am as a sculptor/ potter.
My condolences to the family and I hope you will gain strength knowing that he was loved by...

olen will be missed..He was a great friend to my family..see you on the other side ...my condolences to the family.
Willie Anderson Jr and family

As a pre-teen girl in rural Leeville, Tennessee, my cousin opened my eyes to a completely different world. He would tease, asking questions such as "Did you paint all those butterflies on your shirt?" I would sometimes watch him work in the small studio behind his parent's home and a few times he would give me a small rock and help me make my own sculpture. Over the years we would occasionally cross paths at an art event or concert and I was always happy to introduce him to my friends as...

I will think about Olen every time I enjoy the ten or so pieces of his art that grace my home. One of these was given to me one night when Olen and Tom came to dinner. Still trying to figure out that enigmatic face. Like the Mona Lisa, is it a smile or not?