Emily Ross
Carleton College
Project
Earth to Kiln: Geology and Community in Global Ceramic Practices
Italy, Iceland, Ghana, China, Japan, Chile
As a geologist I’m drawn to the technical aspects of ceramics -- source materials, kiln temperatures, the minerals in a glaze. As an artist I’m drawn to the unquantifiable aspects of ceramics. The meditative act of centering clay. The communities that emerge from the shared labor of the studio. My Watson year visits traditional and modern examples of ceramic communities where geologic setting is intertwined with ceramic practice. In each of these places, the balance between science, art, and function have been refined for generations with remarkably diverse results.