Artist Statement
My pots have fulfilled their purpose in life when they are completed by use. I find that many of my favorite memories center around a dining experience. It is soothing to know that in this increasingly frenetic world, we can still create environments that speak of community, generosity, and sensory comfort. In the cadence of conversation, the sharing of food and the visual feast of the table, I find a nourishment far beyond simply eating. Along with the attendant flowers and wine, the dishes create a mood for the evening as they present to you their contents. I hope that they remind the user of the quiet pleasures of life and create a feeling of serenity in a home.
My pots tend to be reminiscent of eggs and river stones. I enjoy the cleanliness of line common to these objects, the presence of their mass, and the feel of the full curve in my hands. As I throw, I think about the skin of the pot, trying to make it a smooth clean canvas in anticipation of the firing. I am highly enamored with the wood firing process in which I strategically arrange the unglazed pots in the kiln and allow the flame to decorate them. The range of color and design left by the flame is remarkable: delicate like speckles on a bird’s egg to dramatic orange-striped iridescence!
Careen Stoll
blog: http://treadlhead.blogspot.com
email: careenstollceramics@gmail.com
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