I am a ceramic artist working with high-fire stoneware clay and glazes. I sculpt three-dimensional forms that are hand built using the wafer pinch method. My pieces are coarse and unrefined in texture, although refined in form. I am very attracted to the earthiness of high-fired stoneware clay and strive to finish my pieces in a manner that preserves the natural texture of the clay. I often use oxides, stains, thinly applied glaze or no surface embellishment at all, in order to preserve the clay’s natural appearance. 

I call this series “Spontaneous Generation” because of the spontaneity inherent in the construction process.  My wafers are roughly shaped and coarsely applied. The crudeness of my pieces is enhanced by the application of uneven layers and sporadic holes between wafers. I start at the bottom of my sculptures and build upward by pinching the wafers together one at a time. The process is like slowly building a wall brick by brick, but unlike brick building, nothing dictates where the next wafer must be placed. I rarely use tools or the traditional joining technique of slipping and scoring.

In this series, I have sought aesthetic balance through the juxtaposition of refined traditional forms with a highly textured uneven surface. I continue to explore a wide range of forms from ancient Greek amphora to figurative representations. As in my “reconstruction” series, none of my pieces are functional despite the resemblance of some to utilitarian forms. Consequently, this series continues to explore the craft versus art issues touched on by my “reconstruction” series.