49 Cups: Utility in Ceramics
49 Cups: Utility in Ceramics
Pocket Gallery Newark NJ, 2021
Show Statement
My exposure to the material of clay, as an artistic expression, traces back to early childhood. Growing up across the street from a ceramic artist, I spent many an afternoon witnessing smoke and fire billowing out of her kiln in the driveway. Securing an apprenticeship with a local potter at the end of high school, I began my journey as an artist and maker. Today, my practice involves a diverse set of approaches, such as digital fabrication, foundry, video, photography, and street art. While my work has grown over the years, I always return to the foundation of ceramics, grounding myself in the humble experience of function and clay.
I believe ceramics to be a cultural medium, its inherent relationship to civilization, and everyday life date back thousands of years. Making, using, and thinking about utilitarian vessels connect us to a continuum of human experience. It is here, in the quotidian, that I find inspiration for this body of work. This work is subtle and sophisticated at the same time. The qualities of raw, unglazed-fired ceramics produce a unique matt surface that plays well with the smooth glassy glazes. I am captivated by how a celadon glaze can be so deep yet so transparent and how a splash of bold red can change the mood of an object.
Held for the longest in one’s hand, the most intimate ceramic vessel for me is a cup. The temperature of the liquid and affectionate connection to the mouth make this particular utensil so very special. These ceramic vessels are a celebration of touch, a quiet sensuous pleasure surrounding each caress. Speaking to both the individual object and the plurality of multiples, the work is more significant than merely one mug yet can never be divorced from it.
In the cup we trust, in the cup we learn, in the cup we trace our ancestors, in the cup, we find harmony and balance.