Artist Statement 

 

The natural world has a big influence on my work, especially the ways in which we use nature to express ourselves. Plants have become a way to express love, condolences, and congratulations, to name a few. Plants have become a part of the family as presents or heirlooms, something that could be passed down from generation to generation. The natural world is more than just where we live or how we survive, it has become a part of our life in a more intimate way.

 

My work looks at the meanings of flowers and uses those to explore the idea of home and family. This project combines the two because of their relation to foundations. A foundation becomes a metaphor for a starting place. The home itself, the relationships, the experiences, everything that happened there is significant to who this person is. It is similar for plants, their roots are the foundation for all that they are or could be. 

 

The materials I use also have a connection to nature. Clay is a mix of finely-grained rocks and other organic matter. In this exhibition, each plant is tied to a specific trait which comes together to create the family. The serving dishes and pouring vessels are more universal, those plants represent something that is essential to my family as a whole. My work aims to make the viewer consider familia connections and our relationship to earth.