Artist Statement

I am deeply drawn to ceramics’ unparalleled history as a material that is at once art and artifact. The idea of function and utility, which are generally associated with craft materials such as ceramics, is compelling. The power of the utilitarian object, combined with the potential for surface ornamentation, form alteration, and multiple firings, allows objects manifested in clay to carry numerous uses and connotations: time, containment, preservation, and commemoration.

Through the archetypal lens, I create objects that reference our shared and collective experiences, serving as a means for cross-cultural understanding. Craft objects have been pivotal in the proliferation of one’s unique culture, as well as the culture of the makers society, throughout human history. The waxing and waning of civilizations, past and present, can be found throughout all art/craft objects. 

My research sits at a crossroads with these observations and interests. I use a variety of clays, firing processes, and finishes to make work that deals with these complex issues. Compelled by the maker’s hand, I carefully and intentionally create each piece to document my own culture, while giving reverence to the lineage that this work sits within.