About
My journey in ceramics began during my freshman year of college at Umass Dartmouth in 2019-20. I became involved when I took an intro wheel throwing class with Jim Lawton before his retirement. This led to me spending the remainder of my college career developing my own body of work and my message with it. The overarching goal of my work is to give everyone a unique, one of a kind piece that operates as both a functional work of art and a textured piece for those who have a need for the sensory aspects of the piece. The focus of my work is to have a constant state of experimentation, texture, and functionality, with the work being accessible to everyone.
Artist Statement
I find that sensory experiences help to bridge our world together. I create work with a sense of offering, with a belief that empathy is attached to acts of service; these values become integral parts of utilitarian work. I’m a functional potter who makes vessels to promote joy, both for myself and others. My objects are meant to exist in a democratic social culture, meaning that the work is for a large population of people who are meant to use the work socially, functionally, and empathetically. The work is designed in a way that utilizes sgraffito and carvings. Sgraffito, a form of scratching through the surface to reveal a varied color, creates a shallow design on the face of the work. Carving and sgraffito are used to make complex, maze-like patterns, and texturally saturated surfaces. The designs are one of a kind, never repeated. They are based on designs from pen and paper sketches, and none of the designs are ever planned out before creation; they are created in the moment and are completely free handed. My intention with this strong tactile component is a surface that offers an invigorating or soothing physical experience to the user, particularly people with sensory issues or learning disabilities. One goal of the work is to create a sense of joy and wonder without having it belong to only a singular group; this allows the work to be open and available to all.
