My Bells series is a fine example of how something can linger in the subconscious, quietly percolating, until a trigger - like seeing a particular object - inspires the hands to create it from clay. At first, it feels like a surprise, but upon reflection, it makes perfect sense. Like many of my other forms, bells have volume and sensual curves, an endless variety of them. On top of that, bells carry a deep history and significant spiritual importance in both Western and Eastern cultures. While I’m drawing inspiration from the functional object, my forms are closed, and there is no sound component. Still, I hope the viewers make that connection. As an homage to a bell’s long history, I want my pieces to have the patina of time. To achieve this, I’ve been experimenting with a variety of finishes, including sumi ink and mica, pit firing, Shino glaze, and botanical printing.
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