Portfolio

   I am a ceramic artist who makes pitchers big enough to fill many cups and crocks that can hold a whole season of produce. I do this because if I have the audacity to dream of a society I would be proud of, it would include pouring into each other's vessels through acts like harvesting food, fighting for each other’s rights, and celebrating life together. It also includes holding space for grief, turmoil, play, and joy along the way.

 

   I am drawn to large vessels because they show strength and encourage communing with others. I see community as a verb. A verb that takes practice, patience, and persistence, just like wheel throwing. Both of these things take decades to master but the people who put in that work will see how fulfilling it is.

 

   I use a dark clay body because I am drawn to the intensity of the color. This  richness adds to the presence of a piece. I also use a technique called sgraffito where a layer of color is applied before a design is carved into it, exposing the clay again. This creates a contrasting and eye catching surface design. I often leave most of the surface unglazed. By leaving a piece rough and raw, it reminds the viewer of the origins of the clay and the efforts involved in creating what they see before them. For me, this represents the vulnerability of the statement each piece makes.

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   For my functional pottery, my approach is slightly different. I come into this process with the idea of play. I create pieces that inject whimsey and levity into everyday rituals like drinking coffee. Each piece is funky and different, if only slightly, so that someone can identify with it when they see it.