Paula Shalan

Using local clay, no glaze, 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) 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. Through innovation and experimentation, I am able to take a random and primitive atmospheric pit firing and create work with a controlled contemporary aesthetic.