DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Growing up in Madison, WI I first began to experiment with clay at the age of seventeen. Previous to the first ceramics class, I was surrounded by art collected and created from my parents and four siblings. In high school I primarily worked in the glass and metal arts until taking beginner ceramics junior year. Although this was not the first interaction with clay, it was the first time an appreciation for the material started to grow.


            Continuing art throughout my academics, I constantly tried to gain experiences. Freshman year, at Guilford College, I created functional work and learned the beginning mechanics and chemistry of firing atmospheric kilns. Learning from my professor Charlie Tefft, and the more experienced students and the larger community, I began to increase my understanding. Coming from a large family, community and communication are two vital ideals in my life. This community, passion, and endless knowledge brought the decision to declare as a ceramics major. As I continued my studies, I found this community emphasis was established throughout the college.


            Along with ceramics, I have a true passion for the sciences. In my opinion, the two are a strong duo. Both areas represent experimentation, creation, community, problem solving and exploring mistakes. After a biology class at Guilford and experiencing the community principles in the science department, I declared as a double major in Ceramics and Biology by the end of my freshman year.


            Over the past three years I took many classes in a variety of different fields. From the liberal art education, I was able to experience many different departments which lead to the expression of different inspirations in my art. Within the art classes, my current endeavor is a Senior Art Thesis. In the first semester of my ceramics focused Senior Thesis at Guilford College, I began to experiment with creating pots decorated with cellular patterns. For example, I made a series of sinks whose decoration was based on the bacteria commonly found in sinks such as E. coli and Staph. This quirky art is how I would describe my style. Along with the quirks, I make pots based on people around me. Generally, ideas are based on gifts, which can bring happiness and excitement to people. Recently I have begun to channel this passion of giving into creating a body of work based on the idea of bringing beauty and happiness into the world.


            For SPINE: the Guilford College 2013 Art Senior Thesis Exhibition this coming May, I am working on creating a series, City for Elisabeth, of giant Teapots. After making the large sinks I wanted to challenge scale. In the summer of 2012 I was fortunate to learn how to throw large pots. The series, City for Elisabeth, is based on the idea that suffering is part of the human condition, but from suffering lasting beauty can form. I hope to create odd giants with strong personalities that express joy. This upcoming event will be the end of my art college career but definitely not the end of my explorations within the arts and ceramic community.



 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.