Tell us about yourself!

I’m a senior at Emory from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am studying business and health innovation and in my free time I make functional ceramic tableware.

 

How did you get into pottery? When did you first start?

I took my first pottery class at a Cincinnati studio when I was a second semester senior in high school. At the time, I was anxious about picking a college and figuring out what I wanted to do next in life, so pottery became a great stress reliever for me. I ended up going to the studio after school most days, and totally fell in love with the process of making ceramics. Initially, I wanted to make the cups and plates that I would use in my dorm, but I quickly realized it would take a lot more practice before I could make “regular sized” tableware (as a beginner I was only able to center little pieces of clay so I made a whole lot of coaster-sized plates, haha).

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How has COVID-19 affected your artistic process?

Before the pandemic, I worked out of Mudfire, a community studio in Atlanta. When Emory closed campus in March, I had to pack up my shelf at the studio and move home to the midwest, where I attempted to create a make-shift “studio” (sTuDiO) on my back porch. Later, I put together a more permanent space in the garage behind my grandmother's house. It was a weird transition from working in a community space with all of the tools and supplies I could have wanted (and more), to a quiet space by myself with comparatively rudimentary equipment. The shift forced me to go back to basics in some ways (I could only really make mugs and small bowls on my little pottery wheel set up) but this actually helped me hone my technique and make better, more consistent forms.

 

Where do you get your inspiration?

My grandmother’s house is full of really beautiful local pottery of all different styles. She has this section of her kitchen counter that is lined with handmade serving plates, and I remember when she put one of my plates next to her collection, I felt like I had made it to some kind of pottery hall of fame. In general, her pottery is more rustic in style than the kinds of things I had been making, and I’ve been inspired by the glazes, textures, and shapes of the various mugs, plates, and vases around her house. Most of all, I love how she has kept and continued to use many of these pieces for years and years. I like to think that the pottery that I am making now will continue to be loved for decades. This intention has made me place a greater focus on the durability of my pottery, which is honestly not a quality that I had prioritized before.

 

How do you stay involved in your art as a student at Emory?

Making time for my pottery practice has been harder some semesters than others, but in general, pottery is kind of like a meditation for me. Whenever I go too long without getting my hands dirty in the studio, I start to feel kind of bummed out and irritable. Making space for creativity in my life allows me to destress, maintain balance, and ultimately, I believe, has made me a better student and more lively person.

 

Tell us about your shop, Shared Table Pottery. How did you get started?

In my early days of making pottery (okay just 3 years ago), I realized I was making way more pottery than I could use myself, but most of it was pretty wonky. I really loved sending my pots to family and friends who would use them as salt dishes or little bowls for odds and ends. When I got a little better, I started Shared Table and implemented a “pay what you want” model, so I still gave away pots but welcomed people to support my artistic journey if they wanted to. Slowly, I started to sell at a market here and there, improved my technique, and eventually launched my website where I regularly sell my work. It has been really exciting to watch Shared Table grow and to see my pottery set the tables of friends and strangers alike.

 

Shared Table has a commendable mission. How do you use your art for activism?

The name Shared Table comes from a vision I’ve had for several years now. Before my freshman year of college I spent a summer as a nanny for my cousins in Australia. One night, I walked into a “pay-as-you-can” restaurant where the host sat me down at a seat right in the middle of a long, packed table of strangers. A book seller and a gardener who sat across the table struck up a friendly conversation with me, and I just found it comforting that I could be alone in a city of strangers but share a table and a good conversation with kind people. I went back to the restaurant another time and realized that the “pay-as-you-can” model employed by the restaurant allowed people from all walks of life, the rich and the poor, to eat healthy food together at the same table. I left feeling like that sort of coming together is just what the world needs. In a time where divisions and inequality breed social isolation and hatred, I think we need to share tables more. My vision for my pottery is to eventually set those shared tables with beautiful plates and bowls, but in the short term, I think it is important to use my platform, voice, and profits to stand against hatred and injustice. I do this by regularly donating portions of my profits to causes that promote social justice. I also like marking the bottoms of my mugs with uplifting words and illustrations.

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What message do you hope people will take away from your artwork?

On the bottom of the tableware that I’ve made this year, I have been carving the year “2020” because I hope that someday years from now, someone is washing a set of Shared Table bowls after sharing a meal with friends, sees “2020” on the bottom of the bowls, and feels gratitude for the ability to come together for a shared meal indoors, mask-less, with hugs and laughter, all things that at one time were not possible. More importantly, though, I hope that when the pandemic subsides and the election drama comes to a close, we as a society remember this year. I hope we remember the isolation, the natural disasters, the racial injustices and social unrest, and I hope that memory forces us to question the status quo and push for a more equitable, sustainable, and beautiful future for the next generation.