ARTIST STATEMENT

"My goal is to establish a form and surface visual that expresses an edge of uncertainty and vulnerability with the power to initiate a dialogue with the story discovered within — a story that invites pause and ultimately engages our next move."

A swirling ripple on water's surface, the rhythmic pattern of ocean flora and their associated shadow and reflection, the shapes exposed on an eroding hillside, collectively inspire endless relationship intrigue, revealing an emotional story that challenges my creative expression and experimentation. I hand-build my sculptural forms to preserve this symbolic gesture of energy, coiling each stoneware, or earthenware form using found tools on the surface as I build, and wood paddles to engage with its inner resonance, allowing the clay to “speak” as the form evolves.

Each vessel is slow dried and may take weeks before it is ready for its first kiln fire. Once dried and bisque fired, clay slips, or pigmented underglazes are layered on the vessel's surface in preparation for hand etching techniques that will establish a visual that maps a spirited dance, further expressing the evolution of the story. Oxide stains, additional slips, ash, or glaze may be added and the work may be re-fired multiple times using low fire electric kilns, or wood fired atmospheric techniques before each work’s vision is complete.