High Desert Cliffs cup 3
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It is my hope that bringing an artistic expression into functional pots can enrich people's lives in many crucial and helpful ways that will have a positive effect on society and the world.
As I worked to develop my pottery practice, I kept learning about Japanese traditional pottery. There is a depth and care not only for making pots but for using and appreciating them too. Moving to Japan has opened up new worlds and adventures in my learning that I didn’t even know existed before.
As I have studied Japanese pottery techniques and culture I have developed a connection with the early tea ceremony philosophies and the Momoyama Era aesthetics; the connection to nature and the quiet focused use of pots makes me feel supported and excited to make my art.
One of my main projects in Japan is to combine traditional Japanese pottery materials with the American style of Soda Firing. Soda Firing is a technique where you add soda ash solution to the hot kiln creating vapor that travels with the flames and paints the pots. It has similarities to the way a wood firing in a traditional Japanese kiln can paint the pots but with a unique look and feel. For me, mixing this western firing style and the ancient traditions of Japan creates a new energy and unique way of seeing both of the cultures and their traditions.