Artist Statement
For the last several years, my artistic output has been focused on both ceramics and fibers. I think of myself as more a maker and a colorist rather than a traditional artist. My focus tends to be color first, form later.
In all my works, I explore the shapes and textures of still-life subjects (such as fruit or botanicals) and modernize them by depicting it in a graphic, tactile way. I am inspired by the still-life work of pioneering painters like Chaim Soutine, but also the colors and shapes exhibited by classic ceramic production companies like Lu-Ray and Waechtersbach. I remain drawn to organic objects as a conduit through which I can explore humanity’s collective relationship to the living organisms we encounter every day.
One of the more significant points of my fiber work is the art of natural dyeing. This means harvesting plants and food scraps that produce pigment when broken down. Many plants and food materials that seem colorless at first glance can actually release evocative and surprising pigments when put into a concentrated bath of water. Natural dyes can create a variety of spectacular colors through fiber-based fabrics and yarns (cotton, wool, linen, silk) blending with a soymilk mordant (a bath which preps the fiber to mingle with the dye). This routine allows me to access new techniques for creating color within the textile medium.
As far as my work in ceramics, I am drawn toward creating mainly utilitarian pieces such as mugs, cups and vases. In our current era of automatization, people are taking an interest in handmade kitchenware and home décor. I choose to focus less on making my pieces perfect (as if a machine manufactured them), and instead reinterpreting traditional shapes. My goal is to bring whoever experiences my pieces closer to the actual process of creating the objects themselves. Hopefully, those who interact with what I create will then understand what is unique about each piece. Even something as seemingly insignificant as a thumbprint can bring a sense of lived-in tactility and personal connection to an otherwise everyday object.
The connective tissue between ceramics and fiber lies in the element of experimentation and discovery. Both mediums require a scientific mindset with a hypothesis, ex: “if I put this plant in water, I will get this color”, then testing the results. I find that the lack of immediate predictability in both practices excites me. Both mediums have forced me to be more patient with my work, restating the temptations of instant gratification. Hopefully my work inspires those who come into contact with it to remain curious about the plants, food, and organic life forms flourishing in our world.