Artists Statement
As earth's warming injects massive energy to the oceans, the atmosphere responds by spawning swirling hurricanes, cyclones, and tornadoes. My creative spin-casting process contains and channels these same centrifugal forces as I create beautiful, durable, expressive porcelain vessels. I often add mineral pigment to make visible these intense natural forces.
Bio: During my sophomore year at Princeton University, Toshiko Takaezu was appointed Artist in Residence. Toshiko was instrumental in transforming the concept of pottery from utilitarian objects to sculptural artistry. I helped her to set up her studio in the basement of one of the academic buildings and studied with her for three years at Princeton. I remained a friend and A collector of her work until her death in 2011. In 2015 I was selected to participate in the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. I was an Associate Artist at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia from 2007-2016. I also served on the Clay Studio Board of Trustees. In 2013 Carol Klein and I established our own ceramics studio.
My process is to carve a mold into a block of plaster that I have centered on my potters wheel. Once the plaster dries, I pour a small amount of liquid porcelain clay (slip) into the spinning mold, layering the clay and added mineral pigments to “spin-cast” the bowl. I then finish the surface first with industrial diamonds to the desired smoothness, followed by a thin layer of ceramic glaze to render the bowl food and dishwasher safe.
