My Secret Life of ... series

In this series, I employ the form of a hand built ceramic tree trunk to explore the tension between life’s opposing elements, such as birth, rebirth and decay. The outer skin of each log is rugged, solid and masculine. The bark enfolds on an inner, imagined space that reveals a more delicate, feminine core. This core discloses embellishments such as embedded text, fused glass and  decorative decals.  This juxtaposition of contradictory ideas and surfaces forms the cornerstone of my work.

Some of the works are built for the raku post firing reduction; others are built for electric kiln and delicate china decal firings. When creating for raku, I  often use two different clay bodies on each piece  to create  a  fantastic structural  reaction to this extremely rapid firing  I never know exactly how each piece will react to 40 minute of gas firing at 1800 degrees and then quickly pulling the red hot pieces out of the kiln, and placing them in a metal bin with combustibles to continue the post fire reduction process for the surface detail and the many craggy splits, crevices and carbon infusion on the clay.