Artist’s Statement

When making figurative work, the pieces always end up being a kind of self portrait, not in the literal sense, but they reflect my sensibilities. It used to bother me that this happened, but now I accept this reality and embrace it. I am the person that I know the best and I feel my life experiences are not so unique as they are universal.

When making my figurative sculpture, I like to use the traditional patterned ceramic transfers for three reasons.

• The first reason is because I’ve been making functional ceramics for forty years. So the ceramic transfers is a nod to the clay and the history of clay.

• Five years ago I discovered, using genetic testing, that my ancestry is 94 percent British Isles. ( I was hoping for something more exotic...) In the late 17th century, porcelain ware was introduced to Europe and “Porcelain Fever” ensued. There was no porcelain clay to be found, so they used white slip on their local clay and decorated on that white slip. And that is exactly what I do with my figurative pieces.

• The third reason I like to use the white slip and blue transfers is that my mom and my aunts, all southerners, valued their china and it was always used to mark holidays and any special occasion. My favorite Aunt, Jane Matthew Clarke, had, and used, a beautiful collection of blue and white china. ( I do realize that my second and third reason are closely related!)

When making functional work, I like to play. I throw and alter, make darts, turn the piece on its side or turn it upside down, and make hand built additions. Lately, I have been decorating. I think I’m trying to make pieces, while still being contemporary, that would have appealed to my southern mom and aunts.