Since beginning work in ceramic sculpture, a broad theme has been central to my work: the relationship between the physical cycles of the natural world and past and present culture. The clay forms are hand-built. Some are counter -balanced and reveal internal tensions and energy. Others communicate harmony and balance. These forms mirror the birth and transformations that are inherent in the process of becoming; either in the search for self-identity or in the organic nature of our relationships with others. The clay surface marks and glaze colors are intended to integrate the form and are added throughout my entire process, correlating to dynamics that unfold through time. The final kiln firing further transforms the clay and freezes an epiphany informed by observations and ideas about who we are as individuals and how we define ourselves within nature, community, and culture. Throughout the entire ceramic process, I honor the integrity and natural properties of clay: it’s plasticity, texture, and strength.

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