Waves / Rays 36″x84″x6″ stoneware, glazed cone 6 oxidation. $3000
These 10 wall hanging wave /stingrays were created using a slab and slump method with a handmade plaster form. Each piece was individually altered so that each wave has its own unique shape. Individually, each wave is about 21 inches long, 8 inches tall, and 6 inches deep. Installed, this sculpture spans 7 feet wide. This installation was inspired by the ocean and the organic flowing shape of a stingray. I wanted the viewer to find their own connection within this piece so I kept the shape of the wave simple, some people see sand ripples, stingrays, or waves. These waves quietly imply the ripple effect of our actions. The subtle glaze effect fades as the waves drift off, giving us the feeling of a fleeting moment. My intentions are to emphasize our connection with a sense of community and make us aware of our actions threatening the health of our oceans and each other. Contact for pricing.
Guard 14x17x24ceramic. terracotta, glazed cone 04 oxidation. $2000
Hand-built using the coil and slab method then carved to reveal a hand-built wave nestled within. This large terra-cotta sculpture is a self portrait. Born and raised in a small town on the coast of New England, my surroundings inspire my work. My ancestors are from a small Azorean Island and they thrived by the grace of the ocean. This strong connection to the comfort and monumentality of the ocean is a prominent thread in my work. This figurative sculpture embodies my relationship to the ocean and how it has shaped my identity personally and maternally. Weathered and worn by the ebb and Flow of the ocean it remains loyal while guarding.
Shifting Tide 8x36x5ceramic. white earthenware, glazed, cone 05 oxidation. $700
These 3 hallow back wave tiles were hand-built with slab construction. Each tile progresses in wave size emphasizing our rising tides. Small barnacle like clustered structures are tucked into resting places along all three tiles giving the piece a sense of life and community.
Large Whale Bench. 6’x24″x3′ Terracotta glazed cone 04 oxidation. NFS
Segments 60x60x8 Stoneware cone 6 oxidation. NFS
These 19 interlocking wave tiles were constructed by hand-bulding each tile and covering them in small parts. Each tube is hand formed and each segment is created with a small handmade press mold. I worked in batches, keeping all parts wrapped and ready for assembling in large sections. This piece was intended for the wall with hanging mechanisms build in the backs of each piece. When completed I realized it also worked as a floor piece resembling a geological map. Its woven qualities also remind me of the connection I feel to my family, ancestors, and nature that appear to be intertwined together.
Growth, interlocking wall tiles. stoneware cone 6 oxidation. NFS
The base of these tiles were created using a handmade press mold and slab construction. As the tiles progress in sequence, hand formed tubes and buds were added creating an illusion of growth. The final row of tiles with the largest of growth interlock with one another creating a single unified row.
I was inspired by the way something can seemingly grow from virtually nothing. The way plants sprout and people flourish, and how together we can be stronger. We see this phenomenon in nature, ourselves and each other. Sprouting from the tiniest of seeds, large redwoods create communities where their shallow roots intertwine and fuse together giving themselves more strength and support. Coral and fish work harmoniously together through mutual dependancies and well as flowering plants and bees. These strong networks are vital to our existence in so many ways.
Barnacle 24x60x24 Terracotta cone 04 oxidation. NFS
This large terracotta barnacle sculpture was hand-build in 3 interlocking parts with hidden flanges. This hollow piece is illuminated from within. The organic form is tethered by a chain evidently anchoring my importance of home. My strong connection to a sense of home, family and the ocean is evident in this piece. The notion of home and its domestic qualities were captured in this piece with a hidden room inside one of the barnacles
I was inspired by the beauty of a barnacles home. Their shapes, colors, patterns, and organic feel of their incredible architecture although small in scale is inspiring. These tiny animals build their homes in clusters and it reminds me of my trips to the Azores growing up. Azorean’s build their row houses with terracotta covered roof tops and a strong communal feel, they nestled their homes on tiny islands in the middle of the sea much like barnacles cling to solid ground and thrive by the ocean.
Terracotta segments 6’x3’x24″ cone 04 oxidation NFS
Wall Hanging loops. 4’x4’x6″ stoneware cone 6 oxidation NFS
This sculpture is a little over 4 feet around and was hand-build with interlocking parts. I was inspired by a weaving project I did with my children a few years ago, a loom on a hoop that reminded me of the many generations of mothers in my family, all of which are in someway textile artisans. All of my children came into this world equipped with an abundance of gifted handmade blankets and clothing. knitted, crotched, and sewn. A tradition passed on for generations in my family. Each loop represents the idea of a new generation. Like the growth rings of a tree I wanted each loop to suggest time and expansion. The zipper loop represent a literal connection I feel to my family, ancestors, and nature that appear to be woven together. The outer loop implies the ocean with its waves that recede and give way to notches cut out in the loop before it. Within those cut out windows are small circular clusters that emphasize the ocean and a sense of community. They invite the viewer to look closer as they are only visible when viewed at a certain angle.