My mixed-media sculpture installation entitled, "Thirty-One", focuses on personal history, growth, and change. Symbolic of wholeness and protection, my womb like clay vessels represent a part of me, a part of who I am and reference my past and present.

During my creative process, I roll out slabs of white clay, add sand for texture and continue to roll the slabs of clay. I quickly cut the slabs into abstract pieces and place them onto individually constructed armatures. These removable foundations, organic in form, support the pieces of clay. By embedding sand into the soft clay, I find myself reflecting back on valued childhood memories like playing in my sandbox and family trips to the beach.

As a teenager, I began to question my identity and had questions about my father, a person I hardly knew. This void in my life, led to feelings of hurt, anger and guilt. My feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability towards his absence are evident in my work. My vessels are unfired, therefore, fragile, representing my vulnerability towards my father.

By juxtaposing the tree roots with my vessels, I introduce an unexpected element. A root is the origin of a tree and acts as an anchor for support. The roots reference growth and feelings of being grounded. Since my tree roots are exposed, they visually represent my feelings of being uprooted.

As a married adult looking back on my past, I am understanding myself. I am able to let go of my past and accept change. My creative process is a healing and transforming experience. I am able to free myself from the need to control the clay. In the beginning, I felt the need to smooth out any imperfections of the clay. Now, I see the beauty in the character of the surface.

This body of work dramatically differs from my previous work in that the forms are non-functional; hand built vessels rather than, functional wheel thrown ceramic vessels. Both having interior space, the difference is my sculptural forms hold the unseen: my emotions and ideas.

In researching several contemporary artists, I am inspired by Clara "Kitty" Couch and Andy Goldsworthy. Kitty Couch's coil-built ceramic vessels also evolve from her past and are about healing the self. My work differs in that I introduce an unexpected element with my clay vessels. Andy Goldsworthy collaborates with nature to make his creations. He uses whatever he sees: a rock, a twig, a leaf, water, snow or ice. We both work with natural materials and ideas of change and impermanence. However, his work is site specific and my work is a gallery installation.

I create visual interest for the viewer through repetition and variety. In my installation, I use a monochromatic color scheme, which represents my healing process and evokes a quiet and calm feeling. I invite my audience to connect to their own life of times when they may have felt vulnerable, uprooted and questioned their own identity. I hope to engage the curiosity of my viewer and trust that they will see the beauty in what I perceive as beautiful.

Many thanks to: My husband, Ward, for his love, encouragement and keeping me motivated; Mom, for her love, emotional support and guidance through the years; Jane, my mentor and friend, for her help, knowledge and keeping me centered; Scott, for his advice and helpful critiques; Tate and Rick, for always checking on me and asking if there was anything I needed; Family and friends, for the love and always being there for me.