I’m a cook and a potter from Berkeley, CA.
In 2016 I was working as a line cook in a high-end restaurant and found myself obsessing over the pottery we used. I enrolled in a class at the local community studio, and fell in love with making pots.
Between 2017-2019 I lived in Asheville, North Carolina and the world of clay really opened up for me during that time. I spent 4 months at the Penland School of Craft in their work-study program and absorbed as much as I could from the incredible craft community in that area.
I’ve lived in Washington state, Western North Carolina, and the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts, but Northern California continues to be my center of gravity.
I recently finished a 2-year stint as an Artist-In-Residence at the Mendocino Arts Center, and am in the process of starting a business that brings together my passion for cooking and making pottery.
Recent Work Experience
2020-2021: Artist in Residence, Mendocino Arts Center, Mendocino CA
2020: Gallery Assistant, TRAX Gallery, Berkeley CA
2020: Studio Assistant to Jenny Mendes, Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC
2019: Production Potter, MMclay, San Francisco, CA
2019 (Summer): Studio Assistant for Micah Thanhauser of Merry Farm Pottery, West Tisbury, MA
Gratitude!
I’m consistently blown away by the generosity of the craft community. A special shout-out to the following people for sharing their time, space and knowledge with me:
Sandy Simon and Bob Brady of TRAX Gallery in Berkeley, CA
MaryMar Keenan of MMclay
Micah Thanhauser of Merry Farm Pottery
Jenny Mendes, Sunshine Cobb, Tom Jaszczak and Maggie Jaszczak (My teachers at Penland School of Craft)
A thought on clay, food & utility:
Making pots and cooking are activities that fill many different roles: of necessity and creativity, utility and extravagance, nourishment and indulgence. Both imply a desire to share with others and to live in community, and this has proven to be a sustainable source of motivation for me. My studio practice is the focus of my work-life, food remains the through line.
Pots are meant to be used just as food is meant to be eaten.