My most recent work as of 2023 has been a series of ceramic coiled lanterns.  These works are inspired by a recent visit to an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art entitled Hear Me Now The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina. 

The exhibit featured the largest collection of work by David Drake I have ever seen, most of the works I had only read about. Drake’s artistic production was legendary and historic in that he was a literate enslaved potter who produced massive vessels and on some, signed his name or wrote a short poem. I have been intrigued and beguiled by the history of this man and to have had the opportunity to see so many of his pieces at one time was powerful.  

I call the work lanterns because they represent the light within each person that guides us and keeps us going, that shows us our way in the dark. They have been fired in a traditional wood fire or Anagama Japanese style wood kiln.