“Always be more curious than afraid . . .”
I consider myself a middle-aged clay enthusiast. We are all familiar with the idea of “the midlife crisis”—where we feel the need to go buy the shiny red corvette or find ourselves at the dermatologist getting botox injections. For me, the real crisis emerged from the question, “What are you going to do with your life?”. I found that, after choosing to stay home with my kids for the past 12 years, having the freedom and time to create and explore offered me an identity as more than just a mom. Over the past 6 years I have discovered within myself an artist with the potential to create a unique beauty to share with the world.
It has been what Brene Brown has termed the “Midlife unraveling” that has helped me discover my yearning to find my own authentic voice. Brown describes her own conversation with the universe in the following passage: “Midlife is when the universe gently places her hands upon your shoulders, pulls you close, and whispers in your ear: I’m not screwing around . . . Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead of you”. This idea of being shaken awake by the universe really resonates with me as I find myself in midlife, and it is what has landed me smack dab in the middle of the clay life.
I find joy through the act of creating. With each piece that I make, I consider the idea of making the world a bit smaller. I want the pots I make to become integral parts of our lives—offering moments of presence and connection—over a shared meal or a cup of tea. The objects we surround ourselves with should spark joy whether sitting on the shelf or in daily use. To this end, I utilize layers of pattern and color to create functional wares that I hope will become modern heirlooms. My inspirations range from vintage fabrics and mid-century modern patterns, to fashion and the natural world. Each pot starts as a flat slab of red stoneware clay that presents itself as a blank canvas for my designs. I approach the canvas with 3 considerations in mind. Pattern, texture, and color are used to create a visually interesting surface that is playful and invites you to touch.
I am self taught, yet owe a great debt to the many generous master potters who have shared their knowledge in videos and books. I found clay later in life, but it has changed me—made me more myself than before. Ceramics has shown me a way to engage more fully with the universe—and given me a way to form connections in a way that nothing else before has done. I continue to live my life inspired by a quote I once heard many years ago--It encourages us to “always be more curious than afraid”. (quote attributed to Ishi—aka “the last Indian”). This quote continues to motivate me to take risks, never stop learning, and to be open minded in all areas of my life.