I have recently returned to working with clay after a very long absence. One of my most profound experiences was discovering that after all my years of experimenting with other media, I have still been learning about clay. To discover that I have been intuitively adding to that particular vat of knowledge has been a personal revelation. I have learned more with my eyes and my hands from creating two-dimensional work than I could ever have hoped for.

I have always loved fiber. The first "art" class I ever took was an independent study in weaving. It was the first and last for many years. When I returned to academic art, it was to study clay. My training has essentially been in that one media - my one weaving class notwithstanding.

As a curator, I deal with many different artists who are in many different places with their art. One of the most challenging situations that I deal with is artists who have technically mastered their medium but have lost or hopelessly obfuscated the essence of their work. Personally discovering what I knew about  the creative process - that it is all a river and that all seeing/experiencing/doing flows into that river - has also helped me grow as an observer and facilitator for other artists.

To any of us (myself included) who have looked at another media - even a fine craft media - and not realized the complexities involved, I challenge you to try something different. Throw down that which is most comfortable, pick up that which is least comfortable. The possibilities for artistic growth are unlimited.

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