There is a cyclical rhythm deeply rooted in the process of working with clay: Build, Dry, Bisque, Glaze, Fire, Begin again. Each cycle produces themes which link what came before to what will follow. These themes emerge by what engages me. This includes “Trompe l’oeil”. I enjoy the whim of looking the viewer by making clay look like something else: rusty iron, buried coral, excavated relics. I’m also fascinated by the language of symbols which encompasses hieroglyphics, ancient alphabets, and equations. I derive tremendous satisfaction of working with clay. It directly connects to my innate captivation with transforming malleable earth into durable objects. Thus, my artistic journey is a spiritual one, linking not only my themes to one another, but the archaic past to the present. Award: National Juried Show at Marblehead Art Association 2021-1st prize In his work Peeling, Andy Matlow evokes the ancient sensibilities of the ceramic arts with technical aplomb and a modern aesthetic. His beauty of form, skilled handling of the material, and arresting treatment of the vessel’s surface all demonstrate a deep understanding of clay and its significance to human cultures. It was an honor to select the work as the 3-D winner of Variations. -Beth McLaughlin Chief Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Fuller Craft Museum, Brocton, MA