Artist Statement
Reflections, in the year of covid-19, has brought my wife and me a longing for our family in Hawaii. Covid-19 disrupted our annual trip to the islands and the joy of swimming on the reefs with our “ohana.” The other night, while viewing a series of videos we had taken in and out of the ocean, a special memory was refreshed – that of a sea turtle persistently soliciting sea grass from us. Once more, I was struck by the conscience awareness of this turtle as it used gentle prodding to communicate its desire. Being a field biologist, this sequence resonated with my own sense of nature and brought me closer to our Hawaiian family. Amplified by my own isolation, I found expression in clay, where one is invited to enter another’s world.
About the Artist
Since retirement, I have returned to an undergraduate interest in ceramics. My exploration of pottery includes the connection between the artistry of clay with enhancement by various found items. Some of my pieces create a sense of whimsy by combining my ceramic esthetic with vintage salt shakers. Currently I am interested in the more profound association of animal graphics and figures anchored by the clay substrate. As in life, serendipity has a place, and joy is its companion in my work.