I have been working in clay for 30 years. 30 years, yikes! I have a BFA in ceramics from Massachusetts College of Art. I have been working at Mudflat Studios in Somerville, MA for 20 years as an administrative assistant, handbuilding teacher and a studio artist. Blah, blah, blah. More to the point is, I love clay! In my totally correct opinion ceramics is the best. It moves and breathes; it is tactile and fun.
I absolutely love teaching. Whether it's beginners or more advanced students, I find it challenging, fun and satisfying. It's a thrill when a student really gets excited about a technique or finds worth in their own work. I very much believe everyone has an artist in themselves somewhere. Does not matter the medium, it's about the pursuit of creativity; about finding and then following, oneself.
When I'm not at Mudflat, you can find me at home in my garden getting dirty. I love growing all kinds of plants, but I get the biggest kick out of growing vegetables. I am always in awe of how much food can come from one tiny seed. Digging, weeding, planting, harvesting, I get lost in it all.
Stuff not about clay…
I am the last of 6 kids, all boys, except for me. Having a lot of brothers definitely shaped who I am today not only as a person but also as an artist. I am used to a certain amount of chaos and a lot of noise! There is not a lot that will truly shock me, seeing as my brothers were always trying to get a rise out of me! They’re still doing it, now that I think about it...
I have been with my husband Jeff for, is it 33 or 34? Years… In any event, it's a long time! Jeff is a wonderful guy who shares my passion for gardening, canning the vegetables that we grow in our garden and our cats. We also love squirrels, despite the fact they dig things up, eat our veggies and can be a general nuisance. They run around, chase each other, and flip their lids! I love things that are ridiculous and make me laugh.
About My Work:
I am a handbuilder and I like to work with low fire terracotta. I work in terracotta because it is a beautiful and much maligned clay body! People like to dismiss terra cotta because it is low fire and considered a child's clay. When in fact its open, drier texture make it quite challenging. There is also a misconception that terra cotta is not food safe and cannot be put in the dishwasher. Not true!
I enjoy making functional pieces as well as more sculptural pieces. I love carving images of flora & fauna (hence the mention of squirrels) and/or geometric designs. Carving for me is very mesmerizing and I can do it for hours on end. I like to get lost in the process and lose track of time (like when I’m gardening!).
My favorite piece of equipment is the clay extruder, it's like a giant play-doh fun factory. It can make all kinds of tubes and fun shapes in various sizes, hollow or solid, but I use tubes the most. I make straight and bendy tubes that I then cut up, put them together, stand them up, lay them down, attach them, take them all apart again… the fun and possibilities are endless! They eventually grow up to become cacti planters, candle holders, vases or sculptures. The tubes remind me of the big colorful tinker toys we'd play with outside when I was a kid.
Recently, I've started to make more sculptural pieces that have no function other than to (hopefully!) delight the beholder. I make pinch forms that speak to flowers, seed heads, leaves and roots, then combine them with sharper edged geometrical extruded tubes.
I basically go where my brain takes me. I get an idea in my head and try to make it come to life. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. I try to enjoy the journey as much as I can and learn along the way. Exploration and education mixed with fun and play. And gratitude when something works and matches what's in my head.