Artist Statement
I believe that the meaning of function in relation to handmade pottery goes well beyond mere utilitarianism. As a ceramicist I put time and care into making these functional everyday objects with the hopes that the future users will somehow connect with them beyond their simple functional purposes. In my own functional pieces, I intend for them to gently invite use, but when I step away from making predominantly functional works, I focus primarily on making ornamental ceramic pieces. My pieces are ornament objects intended to visually engage the viewer. I wish to make the ornamentation the main feature and through the process make it beautiful, intricate, contemporary, and long lasting. I have a deep-seated appreciation of intricacy and detail, along with softness and repetitiveness throughout my work with clay, glaze and porcelain. I want to create Art that is intentionally, intricately, and beautifully prepared for the viewer’s experience. In my ceramic cake decorating work, which is as a sort of graceful and refined three-dimensional drawing, the material carries meaning, and through the intentional use of porcelain, I intend to elevate the value of the ornamentation that is typically consumed by transforming it into something treasured.