Senior Project:
Relative Cycles
Throughout my development as a potter and during the ceramic making process I often find myself reflecting on the relationship cycles that created me. As a product of strong communities I feel called to clay and the kinships cultivated by this material. From canoe camps in the Boundary Waters to Lutheran retreat center, Holden Village, the supportive relationships formed from these places have been instrumental in my upbringing. As I reflect on my process it is clear that family was and still is my original community. From my earliest memories of both sides of my family, a family gathering has included the entire process of catching, filleting, and then cooking a variety of fish. The meal was a time to gather together and share plates of the day’s catch. The process of clay, like the process of preparing fish, captivated me. Every aspect of making; from mixing the clay, wedging, throwing on a wheel, trimming, carving, glazing, and firing reminds me of the love of family. These 22 plates represent my years on earth and the fish are a symbol of my family relationships.
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