Narrative Ceramic Forms
In "Night's Retreat", part of my Narrative Ceramic Forms collection, the interactions of urban wildlife as they navigate the city in the quiet hours of dawn are captured. My work's spherical and elliptical shapes are intentional, offering viewers a window into a small, self-contained world. Each form describes a brief moment of human or animal activity. "Night's Retreat" portrays the delicate balance of life as it unfolds just before the city awakens. In my plates, the focus is primarily on human activity, but here, on the spherical curves of this form, the scene shifts to the creatures who claim the night as their own. This work seeks to evoke empathy and reflection, reminding us of the shared spaces between the human and natural worlds.
Narrative Ceramic Plates
I paint visual narratives on modified ceramic plates. By adding thin slabs of clay to the plate’s surfaces, I create shallow ragged layers and openings that contain my painted scenes. The scenes are contemporary stories, each one simultaneously familiar and mysterious. My aim is for viewers to recognize and relate to the situations or experiences of the figures portrayed. Through this recognition, I strive to deepen empathy by encouraging emotional puzzle-solving and an empathetic understanding of a hidden moment in the figures’ lives.
Title: Out in the Cold
Date: 2024
Dimension: 14.25"dia
Media: Wheel-thrown Ceramic, Glaze, Overglaze
Engaged Ceramic Forms
This collection, titled Engaged Forms, represents the transformation of the traditional ceramic plate into dynamic, expressive entities. Each piece begins as a simple dinner plate, but through a process of sculpting and shaping, it evolves into a form that transcends its original function. These forms suggest personality, interaction, and relationships, as if they have moved beyond their role as mere vessels for food to become the diners themselves, each with a unique character and an engaged presence.
In this collection, the plates are no longer passive objects on a table; they have come alive, interacting with one another in ways that suggest conversation, contemplation, and even a sense of community. These Engaged Forms invite the viewer to explore the boundaries between the utilitarian and the expressive, challenging our perceptions of the everyday object and celebrating the vitality found within the act of dining and social engagement.