Artist Statement

My fascination with the art of other cultures and ancient civilizations began as a child when my grandmother took a photograph in Egypt that was a published in National Geographic. The pages of that magazine introduced me to a big world that I still enjoy exploring though travel and making art. My work is often inspired by traditional crafts and folk art found while traveling in foreign lands. These discoveries inform my ceramic vessels, wall pieces and abstract figures. 

I find patterns everywhere, particularly in textiles, traditional costumes and architectural details.  I translate these patterns into textures; carving and impressing my interpretation of these designs into moist clay. This process allows me to explore cultural motifs that are both unique and universal, to become more familiar with our world, and to honor the vast variety of human artistic expression. 

My ceramics practice has evolved over four decades and has included exploration of a wide range of fabrication and firing techniques. For many years I have favored hand-building with slabs and coils which enable me to create expressive surfaces and distinctive forms. A recent series using these techniques was inspired by Cycladic tomb figures but with an international twist. My figurative forms are simplified and stylized like their ancient counterparts, but they are wrapped with slabs that reference the traditional dress of places I have visited. Rather than specific facial features, their faces are spirals which gives them a universal look.   These spirals symbolize balanced growth and transformation.

I sometimes incorporate fused or cast glass with my ceramic pieces. The glaze that is often applied to the surface of clay is actually a thin layer of glass. I explore the symbiotic relationship between clay and glass by firing these two materials separately and then combining them. This juxtaposition of shiny transparent glass with matte opaque clay creates a compelling contrast.

I greatly appreciate that ceramics connects me to the past, the present, and the future through the long continuum of ceramic tradition. When I visit museums and view the long and varied history of ceramics, I am proud to be part of this global heritage. Each time I incorporate imagery into my work that has been inspired by what I have seen, my art becomes a reflection of my experience.