Tenuous Connections

2023, 3ft x 2ft 6in. x 2in. Soda-fired ceramic and cotton rope dyed with beans.

Tenuous Connections hangs on the wall like a crocheted blanket, broken into pieces and reconnected.  The interplay of fragile crochet and rigid ceramic, beckons viewers to contemplate the profound implications of the tenuous yet precious. It is an invitation to explore the fragile yet enduring threads that link us to one another and the strength of craft traditions. This piece was created by crocheting sections of ceramic coils together with rope. By adapting the fiber technique to ceramic hand-building, I was able to contrast the delicate ceramics with the strength of the crochet stitches.  The firing process solidified the fragile connected strings of clay and made the gesture of the fabric permanent.  The sections of ceramic were thoughtfully crocheted together to emphasize the gradation of texture and color achieved through the soda fire process. The crochet materials hold a connotation of comfort and strong connections which is juxtaposed by the fragility and stiffness of the ceramic sections which weigh down and strain the crochet stitches.

The second perspective of the piece shows the rich texture of the soda-fired ceramic pieces.  The sodium carbonate creates a gradient of glassy and oxidized surface which contributes to the movement and depth of the surface.  This detailed combination of ceramics and fiber was influenced by the ceramic tapestries of Casey Whittier and invites reflection on the precariousness yet necessity of connection.