Today is bursting with beauty, prepare yourselves…. for Kalika!
In her own words:
I am a potter working in Nelson BC. All the pots are made from red cone 6 stoneware, decorated with slips and glaze. I use a variety of forming methods-wheel throwing, hand building and press moulding.
Biography
Living in numerous towns and cities across Canada while growing up placed an emphasis on the importance of familiar domestic objects. The ability of domestic ware to be an integral and intimate part of daily life continues to have a strong influence on my studio practice. After an introduction to ceramics at a communal clay studio in Edmonton, Alberta I completed a diploma in Art, Craft and Design majoring in ceramics at Kootenay School of the Arts. I continued my education at Alberta College of Art and Design where I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction. After completing a 10 month residency at Red Star Studios in Kansas City, Missouri, I have set up a studio in Nelson, B.C.’s historical brewery building making pots that celebrate our daily rituals of eating and drinking.
Statement
Handmade pottery celebrates the simple activities of daily life. The forms are known and familiar, they are reinventions of objects that have been made to serve basic human necessities for thousands of years.
The objects I make prepare, serve and celebrate food. They call attention to the importance of the food and rink that nourishes us. Unlike handmade objects, the majority of objects we interact with are disposable, replaceable and do not allow the development of intimate, meaningful interactions. Objects have the potential to contain history and provide a sense of comfort-familiarity through repeated use. Hand making each object, with attention to details in a an industrialized society is a social and political action valuing intimacy and sustainability.
I leave marks of making visible with a desire to engage with the uncertainties, sensuality and intimacies of being human. Obvious attachments, drips from slip and glaze application, these idiosyncrasies can be perceived as imperfections but I consider them the remnants of spontaneity. Intentional variation makes each piece unique, every piece is related but different.
Working with clay is inherently physical. Through all its processes-making, firing and finally using-our sensual, physical existence cannot be denied. To nourish our bodies, senses and minds is to acknowledge our humanness. Our need for sustanence and care is a common experience which can bridge the distance between individuals providing a space for compassion and understanding. We can all relate to the hunger, thirst and the desire for intimacy. Pottery acts as a reminder of our basic needs, revealing our vulnerability.
I just did a run this past season in terra cotta and these pieces here look great. Love the contrast in the glazing. I fired to cone 1 and found similar results in clay body color and glazes. Keep up the good work, the mugs and the steel bucket are rather beautiful.
I love the shape of the first basket and your use of colors
Beautiful work- great statement! Totally resonates!
The simplicity of the decoration contrasted with unglazed ares of Terra Cotta creates pieces of quiet strength
These are gorgeous… I'm loving what artists are doing with earthenware lately…
yeah… TC is cost effective
This work is so fun – I also love the contrast of glazed/unglazed surfaces. Lovely!