I am a full time potter living and making ceramics in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - the traditional lands of the Anishinabek Nation and the traditional territory of Fort William First Nation. I live in the city with my partner Bob, and work out of a small garage studio on my parent's property in the country north of town. 

We are surrounded by gorgeous nature and wilderness where I live, and my work is a celebration of the plants that grow here. I use living plants as the main decoration by rolling fresh leaves and flowers into wet clay slabs. It still amazes me how much detail the clay picks up, every leaf vein and tiny hair are preserved once the plant is peeled away! The clay pieces are then fired and glazed to cone 8 (1250 C) in an electric kiln. At this point I sometimes refer to them as 'fossils' - the memory of the plant is now preserved in stone.

Over years of working with plants in this way, I find myself using this leaf-printing technique to process feelings of panic and despair about the ongoing climate crisis. Perhaps by preserving plants in durable ceramics, people in the far future may find these pottery shards and learn about the plants that once grew here. 

After plants, the other focus of my work is functional design. I want the pots I create to be a joy to use in daily life, so I spend a lot of time on the design process testing for the most comfortable handle or best pouring spout. I believe that using handmade, thoughtfully designed pottery can add importance to our daily quiet rituals. 

Whether making a cup of tea, preparing food, or decorating our space, using handmade pottery connects us to eachother, and also connects us to our long human history of making and using pottery. I hope my work brings comfort, joy, and reverence of our natural environment. 

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