Artist Statement
The creative decisions I make in the studio primarily drive my desire to capture striking silhouettes, strong negative spaces, and distinct profiles that encompass architecture. Symbolic details used in the creation of religious and royal architecture influence my wheel-thrown and assembled ceramic vessels. Windows that emanate light and buttresses that symbolize support and strength are assimilated into my work. Specific forms of inspiration are Baroque and Romanesque cathedrals, palaces, and other architectural references of the Czech Republic and Islamic mosques, that are topped with domes, spires and finials that pierce the sky and reach heavenward.
Luxury or ceremonial wares, that were used in a palace to celebrate a momentous occasion or in a place of worship to enhance the sacredness of a ceremony, also influence my work. Such examples include scalloped rims and the elaborate joinery of necks, spouts, and handles of metalwork and pottery crafted during the Persian and Ottoman Empires. Rather than the specifics of rituals or ceremonies that these objects were used for, I am intrigued with the sense of importance and sacredness that my pouring, drinking, and lidded vessels convey.
The metalsmithing technique of inlaying metals, such as silver and gold into brass, is reminiscent of the silver and gold crystals that emerge through the glazed surfaces of my gas reduction-fired vessels as they cool in the kiln. Glaze applied to these ceramic forms soften their details and silhouettes. Precious metal lusters are applied to spout tips and finials to communicate the same degree of beauty and luxury as the referenced historical objects and emphasize the most important aspects of the work. The metallic patina, produced by the application of high-iron slips on my reduction cooled wood-fired vessels, accentuate repeating horizontal bands that frame window stamps and other impressed adornment.
Ultimately, the ascendant gesture of my work is meant to elevate. It symbolizes strength in purpose and the potential for transcendence toward something higher and greater.
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