Artist's Statement:

I began my ceramic studies in 1979 at A&M University in Huntsville Alabama. There, under the guidance of the head of the art department, Dr. Cliffton Pearson I developed my passion for clay.  I learned many different ceramic techniques, including handbuilding, coiling and of course wheelthrowing. 

 

After moving to Washington DC in 1996, I continued my education under the tutalage of Jill Hinkley, among others, and steadily developed my own style of pottery.  In 1999, I moved into my studio space at the Jackson Art School and began incorperating Gingko leaves into my work. The elegant, yet strong, Gingko trees around my studio have always fascinated me and their changing colors continue to inspired me.

Oddly enough, the potholed streets of DC have also inspired me and influenced my style. The interesting layering and cracking that occurs from errosion reminded me of how rough and imperfect our own lives can be and I wanted to incorperate that into my abstracted vessels. As I've further explored the textures and effects that the streetcracks create, I noticed how their abstract nature allowed people to see a variety of images. Some people see landscapes, while others see birds or footprints, it all depends on the viewer.

Johanna