10”x 21”x 14”
Stoneware Clay, Glaze, Driftwood, String
In Collaboration with Lonnie Parry, Fisheries Scientist, UW-Madison

Lonnie’s work is all about communicating with anglers—understanding what they hope for while fishing and helping to bridge their connection with the water. I imagine her role much like a teapot, with the anglers as mugs. A teapot holds warmth, potential, and something to share, but without a mug, it has nowhere to pour its gift. Likewise, a mug is designed to receive, enhancing the experience of the tea, yet it depends on the teapot to be filled. While each can stand alone, they truly flourish when brought together. The inconsistent nature of each of the mugs I think highlights the differences we all have, and while all anglers are connected by a common goal of fishing, they have each have slightly different preferences and methods for doing so. To create this piece, I threw and trimmed each piece on the pottery wheel, sculpted and added the fish and ceramic handles, and went in search for a suitable wooden handle. The pieces were then fired, glazed, and fired again.

I have been doing ceramics intermittently for the past 3 years. I frequently branch out and work with other mediums such as acrylic paint and charcoal. Ceramics is a stress outlet for me. I love being able to completely remove myself from the stress of the world and enter into a creative zone. I often don’t even know what my hands will create until it is already done. I let the clay direct my actions, pushing or pulling me to a final piece.