Artist Statement
We live in an era of global materialism, where environmental destruction is accepted as necessary for human development. Yet, as our cities grow, so does a cultural desire for escape to natural spaces, whether national parks or backyard gardens. As an artist, I respond by integrating animal figures with vessels, using clay as my medium to capture personal experiences with nature and bring them into the visual realm of domestic life. Many finished works such as my animal boxes and censers have a precious quality, meant to contain personal items, or enter a home’s altar space. Each animal form is specific to its vessel and often presented in a position of honor. The animal’s gestures impart agency and personal integrity, persuading an introspective response from the viewer. Through this introspection, I hope to encourage practice of a “child’s gaze” on our surroundings, where a sense of wonder can infuse the collective human consciousness.
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Biography
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Katherine's ceramic forms draw inspiration from growing up on an organic farm in rural SoutheasternVirginia where her keen observation of the natural world became intrinsic to her life as an artist. Katherine sculpts and carves animal figures with white stoneware and porcelain, then often incorporates them with wheel thrown vessels. She fires in electric and wood kilns, accentuating preciousness and detail with glazes and spontaneity of ash and flame. Her practice in ceramics began at age eleven and continued with a B.A degree from Guilford College where she studied under Charlie Tefft. During study abroad in Southwest China (2012), Katherine apprenticed with Tibetan Nixi Potter, Sun Nuo QiLing, which greatly influenced her current body of work. She has been an artist in residence at Starworks Clay studio (2016-17), Mars Hill University (2019), and a summer studio assistant with Bruce Dehnert at Peters Valley School of Craft (2018). Her work has been exhibited throughout the East Coast in juried gallery and fine art shows, including Baltimore Clayworks, Starworks Gallery, Peters Valley School of Craft, The Smithsonian Craft Show, and Morean Center for Clay. Katherine currently lives and works inVirginia at her studio on the family farm.