Johnson City, TN ARTIST STATEMENTMy pots are curvilinear, soft, and voluminous. They have an expansive feeling that connotes growth, abundance, and generosity. I divide my pots symmetrically, using line as a means of projecting order onto my forms and highlighting their volume and curvature. This evokes the structured, recurring, and purposeful aspect of nature. I draw inspiration from the world around me and have a special affinity for things that grow. I do not seek to replicate natural forms. Rather, I look to the feeling and experience of growth, vitality, and beauty in hope that this visual language may enhance the sensual experience through use. I translate these qualities into something tangible, useful, and nourishing in the form of functional ceramics. The relationship between form and function, between nature and culture, and, ultimately, between our needs and the things we make to fulfill them are recurring themes that I explore in my work. It is my hope that my pots can find their home in the rituals and rhythms of daily life. I believe that in this capacity, as a thing that is a part of life, that something as mundane as a cup can fulfill our practical, aesthetic, and psychological needs. The objects I make connect with life, culture, and ritual through use. Certain forms, like the cup, have an inherent personal intimacy. They are contemplative, slow, meant not just to serve a purpose but to pull you into a moment. Covered Jars speak to preservation, separation, commemoration, even mourning. Other forms, such as a teapot, pitcher, or serving bowl become icons of community; speaking to ideas related to gathering, sharing, and generosity. These vessels speak to fundamental realities of what it is to be human.