Untitled Document

Congregation is an installation using my signature pieces of Towers, Bowls, Spheres and Cones made of smoke-fired ceramic.

The crater-like bowl represents a torn-edged fragment of the great dish of the universe. It is supported by a column, inspired by those around us in the Minster.

The cones represent members of a congregation with their differences, injuries and flaws. The stellar wires represent the human Spirit - the invisible force within us. The madonna blue character stands out as one who strives to be perfect. The others, of different hues, do the best they can with what they've been given and two have been visibly ravaged by war or accident. While, in contrast, the poor deformed, pock-marked character appears to have no spirit at all but is nonetheless a valid part of the congregation.

I use smoke to decorate my work because I am fascinated by invisible forces, especially the wind, which touches us but we cannot touch it. I enjoy the smoking process because the smoke enables me to see the patterns in the air of this mighty invisible force and it rewards my awe by leaving its imprint on my ceramics.