exhibited at secret flowers “hard on the outside, soft on the inside” ’hard on the outside, soft on the inside’ is an exploration of the coalescence of the two opposing forces in every woman’s existence. one being the naturally occurring softness, nurturing, and internal sensitivity. the other being the necessary hardness, the ‘tough skin’ created by environment and existing in the fibers of their being. the two in tandem not able to exist without the other, creating the perfect symbiotic relationship to endure the brutality of childbirth, motherhood, and survival. parallels are drawn between the softness of skin, fabric, ribbon, and other textiles, and the hardness of their fabrication in ceramic and plaster. deceptively soft, just like a woman.

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a piece made ten years ago. porcelain and kiln brick. this was part of an exploration and development of a porcelain recipe still near and dear to me. this piece was fired in a gas kiln and the porcelain was moved by the shape of the flame then fused to the kiln brick. allowing the clay to bond with the fire and create a completely collaborative shape, the give and pull of fire and earth, meant this shape was a result of that process and interaction.

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porcelain fused to kiln brick

2014