Artist Statement

My work is an exploration of fragility and strength. As someone with chronic illness, a diagnosis brought a sense that my body was damaged or fragile. But a body that is properly supported is strong. 

Though ceramics can be a fragile material, my work is influenced by materials that when structured in a specific manner, provide strength, such as yarn in a weaving or metal beams in a truss bridge. This can be seen in the delicate, yet strong woven pieces that I create by rolling coils of clay and weaving them in time-tested patterns proven to provide support.

I mix white clay with mason stains to create many shades of colorful clay. This colored clay becomes the accent in my pieces; a colored coil base to a wheel-thrown mug, a woven top to a flower vase, or a truss structure that supports a suspended cup form. The work is often finished in a glossy or matte clear glaze and fired to cone six in an electric kiln.

My pieces are intended for everyday use, but it is important to me that they reach outside the boundaries established by today's culture of mass production. Using a handmade piece of pottery on a daily basis allows for a more personal and unique experience that is a result of skill and craftsmanship, which tends to be absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing. It creates a personal connection between the artist and the user.