Forster Art Complex Ross Gallery: May 6 - 10, 2024

titel on wall in sticker letters with statement

Artist Statement

     My show, "Post-Pandemic Pots" is about finding a social space where you belong. As we change and move through different periods in our lives, we may lose some meaningful connections along the way. Sometimes, if you grow comfortable in a social circle, these losses can make you forget how to start over and make new ones. This was my case in 2020 after the pandemic hit, and I had to start my first year in college knowing only one person. I had forgotten how to function without my usual friends and was not used to the loneliness that comes without having a trusted community. Since starting college in the pandemic four years ago, I have once again found my circle of people. However, I am about to enter another transition period after graduation. The thought of losing my support system again has me uneasy, and I have realized that many people my age feel the same way. I have reflected on how different I am compared to just four years ago and how different my friends are. We fail to recognize how much our communities and ourselves evolve over just a few years until we stop and think about it, but change is a constant, never-ending process. My ceramic show is a celebration of the new communities we find through change and the transitional periods of life.
     Since starting ceramic work three years ago, I have become fascinated with the transitional process clay goes through, from dull mud to a beautiful work of art. The process of making ceramics is often repetitive, monotonous, and even tedious at times. Clay goes through the stages of mud, trimming, greenware, bisqueware, and multiple firings or glazing to get to the final product, and it doesn't always go how I expect it to. Sometimes the clay will get too dry before I can trim it, or sometimes things will crack in the kiln. These scenarios lead me to start over and try again, even if I don't want to. However, when everything goes how I want it to, I am rewarded with a product that reflects the time and effort I put into it. The process of ceramics directly relates to how people may feel in their transitional stages of life. When we leave a trusted environment behind to start over somewhere new, it can feel tedious and discouraging. However, when we put in the effort to make the most of the situation and surround ourselves with those who support us, we are rewarded with a new, irreplaceable sense of community. I want my work to show my solidarity with the many people my age who have experienced change the way I have and give reassurance for the change that comes next.
     My inspiration for my work mainly comes from my first ceramic mentor, Barbara Campbell. I studied under her at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico for a month through a Janterm with Austin College in 2022, and all I did for that month was make pottery and go hiking in the mountains. The environment I was in gave me such peace of mind, and Barbara nurtured my curiosity for this new medium, giving me lots of creative freedom to experiment and practice. Pottery has become a therapeutic outlet for me since my time there, and I have continued to hone my skills by trying new techniques and being more intentional with my designs. I hope to inspire others to try ceramics and give themselves a good source for creativity.