Paula Shalan

Through innovation and experimentation, I take a random and primitive atmospheric pit firing, and create work with a controlled contemporary aesthetic. Using local clay and recycled materials for fuel, I try to respect the earth's limited resources. The direct hand- to- clay method of pinch, coil and slab construction (no wheel and no glaze) begs attention to a nuanced touch. I want to honor this material and our earth by distilling my naturalist's observations into formalized elements expressed through the vessel and sculptural forms. My ceramic art is an antidote to our hectic technological lives: I hope to bring calm, beauty and a bit of joy.