artist statement:
My ceramic sculptures reflect upon a variety of issues with a thoughtful, yet humorous and ironic tone. I am inspired by the potential of everyday common objects. I reproduce these objects primarily through slipcasting, and illustrate the surfaces with a variety of handpainted and screenprinted imagery. My narratives explore topics ranging from fairytales, urban mythologies, consumer culture, societal expectations, etiquette, and coming-of-age issues. Stylistically, much of my imagery is pulled from somewhat "dated" sources that I find represent an idealized time in society and advertising. Such gems include instructional guides, cookbooks, old advertisements, and old family photos. Beneath the shiny veneer of these relics hides a complex and sometimes contradicting truth of what things seem to appear as upon first glance.
So one may ask "Why clay? Why not just draw these images on paper, or on the actual objects?" One way of explaining my building aesthetic would be a form of trompe l’oeil with a twist. In using clay to transform my depicted common household/consumer items, I am again playing with the notion that things are not what they initially seem to be. Additionally, I care about the object being referenced and recognizable while maintaining my illustrative quality that is essential in completing the narrative.
Sometimes my inspirations are just pure whimsy, and I find nothing wrong with that. Rules are sometimes meant to be broken. How else are we supposed to learn?
artist bio:
I was born and grew up in Santa Barbara, California. I received my BA in Art Practice at the University of California at Berkeley and an MFA in Ceramics from California College of Arts and Crafts. In June 2007, I moved from my longtime home of Oakland, CA to begin a two year residency at The Clay Studio of Missoula, where I learned the art of riding a bike in the snow. I spent the 2009/10 academic year teaching at Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. Despite my love of a good burrito, I am currently back in Missoula working as an artist, an adjunct instructor at the University of Montana, and serve on the Clay Studio of Missoula's board of directors.
I have participated in summer artist residencies at the Archie Bray Foundation (MT) and Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts (ME). Additionally, I have been a guest artist and speaker at a number of art centers, colleges, and universities. My work has been shown in numerous exhibitions nationally.
full résumé:
