Iris with the Piers Statue

Artist Statement

The most important part of my art is creating pieces that are physical representations of how I interpret many of the non-visual aspects of the world.  While many begin as forms inspired by attributes in nature such as the energy found in plants, people, and the physical earth, they are developed through the emotions, conflicts, and successes of both my intimate life and greater society.

I enjoy hand building because it allows me to travel in all three dimensions without restriction.  Sometimes in finishing a piece, I leave the final outcome to the whims of nature and embrace the unpredictable results of a wood or pit firing.  Alternately, I choose glazes that accentuate texture to highlight the specific patterns created by coiling and pinching, as I feel texture is integral to the expression of the piece.

Throughout the process I keep in mind that the final piece should have a vibrant life quality to reflect the motion and energy in our world.

About The Artist

Iris graduated from Earlham College in 2003, with a double major in Art (Ceramics) and French & Francophone Literature.  That same summer, she moved to Colorado, drawn to the Zen beauty and natural splendor of the mountains.  She currently lives in the small town of Alma, with her husband, Piers, and their Samoyed dog, Vladimir.