Finding Home in Craft

EM'S STORY

As a child of immigrants and a first-generation American, I grew up in a liminal space between cultures attuning to the subtle nuances that shape identity while examining my own. Feeling like I didn’t fit in a specific category instilled a sense of curiosity and a desire to understand the world and its many stories.

This curiosity grew into an appreciation for the richness of different cultures around me. I draw inspiration from their traditions and craftsmanship with a commitment to honor and respect their origins. My work aims to acknowledge and celebrate these stories.

Through art and craft, I’ve found a way to connect to others and to myself. Working with clay offers me a sense of home, a grounding presence that anchors me in my body and the moment. It’s through this tactile dialogue with the material that I’ve discovered healing, community, and a feeling of belonging. The intention of my practice is sharing this connection through every piece I create.

Making a Chawan using Akahada-yaki in Nara, Japan with Masashi Oshio-sensei. October 2024

Our group’s pieces in the traditional wood firing of the Tsoontajal collective in Chiapas, Mexico. February 2024

The Terra Ancestral group with Lopez family of the Tsoontajal Collective in Chiapas, Mexico. February 2024

Sketches from a workshop in Ohara, Kyoto, October 2024

At the core of both my design and craft practices are three ideas of flexible importance

Form

Influences of elements such as contour, color, space, texture, and light.

Feeling

The emotion and nuance behind any kind of sensory experience

Function

How to comfortably fit into the natural rhythm and pace of daily life