Abstract

From the microscopic world to the visible, nature's beautiful patterns are everywhere, and our inherent fascination and exaltation of these patterns can teach us to value our environment. Living in the 21st Century, we are increasingly disconnected from the natural world, with fewer opportunities to experience the myriad of patterns in nature directly. As a result, we fail to develop an understanding of and appreciation for the complexity and inherent worth of the world around us. This body of work seeks to challenge perceptual habits and preconceptions, inviting viewers to interact with intricate patterns found in the environment and become enamored with the unique interlocking patterns of living creatures. Nature is strong, yet fragile, and ceramics is a medium that mirrors this duality. Each intricate ceramic sculpture is handbuilt using highly decorative techniques and inspired by the micro-patterns found in natural structures, from botanicals to oceanic creatures. Small clay elements are used to create the sculptures’ forms, and delicate pieces are repetitively and painstakingly assembled to remind viewers that even large structures, like coral reefs, are made of many smaller components. By bringing beauty into people's lives, art that focuses on the environment can create emotive experiences within the viewer that scientific data often cannot; and by depicting beauty in the environment through ceramics sculptures, the viewer is inspired to look more deeply at the dimensional world around them. In being awed by the delicate beauty of the natural world, one can begin to feel empowered to care for it.

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