Photo by John Keith

When I am sitting at my wheel up to my elbows in clay, I am blissfully unaware of all the things that should make me worried or upset. When someone sips coffee from one of my mugs, or has their morning oatmeal from one of my bowls, it is my hope that I communicate to them the feelings of contentment and peace I felt when making the pot. I hope that my pots might enhance the daily rituals of preparing, sharing and eating food.

I finish my pots in my wood salt kiln because I love exploring the element of controlled chance. And I have always been intrigued with, and admired and respected the mystical surfaces of pots decorated by fire, ash and salt. I continue to be more and more excited about clay as I experience first hand the relationships not only between my spirit and the medium; but also between the surfaces of the pots and the intense and complex atmosphere of my kiln. My pottery reflects many influences from the seven year development of my career - particularly pots from Great Britain and Medieval Europe. It is important to me to carry on the tradition of creating functional pottery. I don’t want my pots displayed on a shelf. I want them pulled out of the cupboard every day for use in someone’s kitchen. I continue to work to develop the individual style that will establish my place amongst the potters past and present.

Experience
January 2001 to Present	Coles Pottery Boonsboro, Maryland Full-time Wood-fire Salt-glaze Potter: Moved to Washington County from Frederick County to establish my pottery. Restored stone cottage on property for studio and built single chamber catenary arch wood-fired kiln.
June 2000 to October 2000	Frederick Pottery School Frederick, Maryland Pottery Teacher
January 2000 to October 2000	van Gilder Pottery Gapland, Maryland Apprentice and Pottery Assistant to Bill van Gilder
Spring 2000	Monocacy Pottery Thurmont, Maryland Pottery Assistant to John Thies
June 1998 to January 2000	Hood College Ceramic Program Frederick, Maryland Director's Assistant
Education
2001	Hood College Frederick, Maryland Bachelor of Arts, with Studio Minor
1983 to 1986	Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia Studied Art Education and Painting and Printmaking
1983	Howard Community College Columbia, Maryland Associate Degree in Art
Publications, etc.
Winter 2007	Elegant Living Spinning Charm on A Potter's Wheel by David Thompson
Summer 2006	Saltglaze Ceramics 2006
June 2005	Clay Times Salt and Soda - A Contemporary Look by Joe Campbell
April 2005	Hagerstown Community College Ceramic Dept. Guest artist, gave lecture and slide presentation on wood firing and my pottery.
March 2005	Frederick Gazette Salt and Soda Combine to Make Memorable Exhibit by Mary Ellen Mitchell
February 2005	Frederick Magazine Following the Flow of Her Life by Jennifer Mellace
November 2004	Frederick Magazine Crafts in the Valley by Jennifer Mellace
October 2004	The Daily Herald Fired Up: The Re-Emergence of Wood Fired Kilns by Chris Copley