My studio practice is influenced by the earth’s geological record - specifically, as a manifestation of its ability to remember, rewrite, and inevitably forget the history through which it was formed. I translate this concept into my work by using foraged clays, stones, fossils, and glacial debris as tools for re-framing the volcanic eruptions, ancient seas, and ice sheets that have shaped the landscapes around me.
Researching the diversity of Minnesota’s geological past has inspired a way of making that both embraces and challenges conventional ceramic traditions. In an effort to promote various materials along a spectrum of art forms, my work frequently shifts between vessel, sculpture, and two-dimensional formats. Each body of work conveys a unique dialect within the larger language of geological history. Collectively, I view each series as a specific resolution to the tension between artistic intent, ceramic tradition, and the intrinsic properties of natural materials.
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Although all materials are sustainably collected with the permission of land owners, I recognize that my practice takes place on territory stolen from Minnesota’s Indigenous peoples. I respectfully acknowledge the Dakota and Anishinaabe peoples as the rightful owners and original stewards of the land on which I work.
