Shawnee Hills Pottery Trail

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Clay is play; it always has been.  After receiving my MFA in Ceramic and Glass from Cal State University at Fullerton in 1988, I left Southern California and moved to Southern Illinois for the great summer weather.  (I was misinformed.) 

I do enjoy the balance of hot molten glass and cool wet clay.  With my clay sculptures I spontaneously react to what the clay is doing.  Cutting, punching, adding bits that fall off and sticking pieces of broken pottery back into my wet clay.  I was told it wouldn’t work; you can’t join finished fired clay into wet forms.  Well I did, and it does; it gives a fresh life to an old piece.    

I bring my glass skills into my clay making.  With glass you have to make split second decisions in making a successful piece.  I treat my clay sculptures the same way, as an adventure in time.  Too fast, too slow, the piece doesn’t flow.  At least with clay I can cover it with plastic and walk away.