I made the pieces in this project right after moving to Baltimore, a change in scenery that affected my work as I sought to capture some elements of the industrial port city. I was particularly interested in the Domino Sugar factory, possibly because it survives along the waterfront, the last hold-out of Baltimore’s manufacturing era. One can sit on the pier in Fells Point and look across the harbor to see cranes unloading tons of sweet cargo off of giant tanker ships. The iconic sign, factory, and ships entered many of my sketches and later influenced forms and surfaces.
With Pedestal Vessels, I sought a sense of place, a way to ground the object in a setting. The pedestals form the site and create new ways to present traditional pieces like bowls and jars. Like a ship on the harbor, the pieces hover, half-submerged on the top plane of the pedestal. The finishes mimic the patinas, rust, grit, and industrial grunge of Baltimore.
Process:
I used a variety of building methods for this project, including wheel-throwing, slab building, drape molds, coil building, and even the basic pinch-pot method. Each piece has a unique design and site interpretation.