Artist Statement

The inherent usefulness of pottery has provided a vehicle for self-expression for twelve millennia. Following that precedent, the meaning of my work is its functionality. Clay is seductive; it can be molded into nearly any shape, adorned and embellished, metamorphosed into stone, and sealed with glass. Working with one of the oldest technologies known to humans excites me as a counterpoint to the abundance of new technologies on which we depend.

Aesthetically, I believe that contrast sparks interest. One aspect of an object often goes unnoticed without the juxtaposition of its opposite. By searching for elements that accentuate each other through resistance, I strive to construct a visual statement that attracts attention, and therefore use. To this end, I seek tension and balance by pitting loose vs. tight, curve vs. angle, warm vs. cool, shiny vs. matte, smooth vs. coarse, and historical vs. contemporary.

I work with earthenware clay that is formed on the wheel, with slabs, and/or coils. The surface of the pots is textured, brushed with terra sigillata, inlaid with ceramic patina, and glazed. The pots are fired to cone 04 with green electricity.