Artist Statement:

I have studied ceramics at the University of Colorado, Ohio State, Ohio University, and Youngstown State University. I cannot explain my attraction to and addiction to clay.

I have been fairly serious about clay for 25 years. I can't predict how long I will remain in it as it is demanding work---physically, time wise, creatively, etc.

I started out as a functional potter and still do some functional work. At this point, the majority of my work is non-functional. It is made from Raku clay and is enhanced with color under glazes, fired, and then fired again with a clear glaze. It is then "smoked" in a metal container riddled with air holes, with sawdust being the combustible material. Sometimes the clay piece is wrapped with vegetation and/or tinfoil.

So far all my pieces have been objects which I have sort of "had" to do--ideas from where I'm not always really aware----- somewhere in my background which consists of quantities of education, middle class upbringing, time spent in the out-of-d00rs, time spent with various ages and numbers of children, interest in beauty, interest in people, interest in education, interest in ideas, etc.

My Philosophy of art is still being formulated in my mind--- and  on-going process (hopefully).

Mainly I like to have the owner of the piece given pleasure every time he/she looks at/holds it ---a kind of warm, pleasurable uplifted feeling--- at peace with the nature of the world.

I also hope that the pleasure is both visual and tactile. And, as the medium is clay, I think I desire the owner/viewer to feel some sort of communion with the earth--- the more basic elements of life. I object to similes comparing clay to human lives as being "molded". I feel that humans grow on their own and are not totally shaped--- clay, I feel is totally shaped.

My final feeling about clay is something to do with permanence. Everyone questions life/death at some time in their life. I think I feel that something of me will live on for future archeologists---sometimes happily (when I'm proud of a piece) ---sometimes not.

This page was last updated 03/16/2007

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