Golden Koi
Ceramic
Jessica Mudd
"Koi can grow to a large size and live a long life, they have become a symbol of good luck and health in many cultures.
I was inspired by my childhood and the memories of growing up surrounded by nature at my parents house. There was several acres of land to explore, but my favorite places were around the beautiful Japanese inspired gardens and ponds that my parents built."
Ceramic Work
Ceramic
Jessica Mudd
"During the spring my sister and I would try to catch the baby ducks or the little frogs living on the edges of the ponds. Sometimes, I would wade into the pond, trying to get a closer look at the creatures that lived in there. I would usually end up getting my boots stuck in the mud and need to be rescued."
Ceramic Work
Ceramic
Jessica Mudd
"The gardens always gave me a sense of calm and allowed me to escape the stress of school and life. When I am in those natural places, my imagination and creativity flow strongly. I want to express some of those same feelings through my sculptures.
Goldfish and Koi have been seen as important symbols for many cultures. They were first bred in China and have since spread all over the world. They often represent luck, abundance and living in a state of fearlessness."
Ceramic Work
Ceramic
Matt Scroggins
"Over the past several years, I’ve learned the importance of looking inward, finding and identifying implicit biases, and doing the work to become a better person. My goal is to always let the past inform my decisions and how I live my life without defining it. These pieces represent that emotional work of self reflection and change."
Ceramic Work
Ceramic
Matt Scroggins
"One of the ways I represent this personal evolution is through the juxtaposition of old and new techniques. The surface application of Raku firing that was used is a modern western style that has been informed by the ancient Japanese technique while incorporating new tools and materials to create something unique and beautiful. The knot tying technique of shibari is also a modern take on an ancient Japanese military bondage practice. My goal in mixing these two techniques is to highlight the thread of beauty that is woven throughout the process of choosing vulnerability in order to move from pain and suffering to joy and healing."
Ceramic Work
Ceramic
Matt Scroggins
"My hope is that as you view my work you will reflect on your past, present and future experiences and allow yourself to be open to positive change."