I grew up in small town in central Maine. I have
always been fascinated with art but it was not until I
went to college that I found clay. As a sophomore at
Alfred University, never having taken any ceramics
classes, I sat in on a visiting artist lecture and
demonstration given by Ellen Shankin. She amazed
me in her graceful assembling of different composite
parts. As if without effort she cut, darted, attached,
turned and pulled until, like magic, the pots final
form appeared. Her words describing her lifestyle
as a potter along with the magic of creation before
my eyes amazed and seduced me. It was then I
became kidnapped by clay. I bought my first wheel
that winter.
Although my work changes over time, I have always
been driven to create functional pots. I was
attracted to atmospheric firing immediately and fired
mostly with wood during my time at Alfred. I love the
destructive nature of he kilns and the element of
surprise and wonder that accompanies them.
I have been living and working in Vermont since
2000. I came to participate in a one year artist in
residence program and found Vermont suits me and
I have stayed. I love many things about life here
and have met many people who inspire and intrigue
me. Many of them are not artists. I worked on a
dairy farm for several years and have befriended
many people who share a common thread of life. At
work with ones hands pursuing traditions long
exhausted and almost lost.
always been fascinated with art but it was not until I
went to college that I found clay. As a sophomore at
Alfred University, never having taken any ceramics
classes, I sat in on a visiting artist lecture and
demonstration given by Ellen Shankin. She amazed
me in her graceful assembling of different composite
parts. As if without effort she cut, darted, attached,
turned and pulled until, like magic, the pots final
form appeared. Her words describing her lifestyle
as a potter along with the magic of creation before
my eyes amazed and seduced me. It was then I
became kidnapped by clay. I bought my first wheel
that winter.
Although my work changes over time, I have always
been driven to create functional pots. I was
attracted to atmospheric firing immediately and fired
mostly with wood during my time at Alfred. I love the
destructive nature of he kilns and the element of
surprise and wonder that accompanies them.
I have been living and working in Vermont since
2000. I came to participate in a one year artist in
residence program and found Vermont suits me and
I have stayed. I love many things about life here
and have met many people who inspire and intrigue
me. Many of them are not artists. I worked on a
dairy farm for several years and have befriended
many people who share a common thread of life. At
work with ones hands pursuing traditions long
exhausted and almost lost.
