an ocean-inspired serving set

A wonderful commission for a couple whose wedding took place on the beach. The client and I talked about combining blue and white in an abstract wave pattern, and chose three different shells to apply to each piece. Each shell complements the shape of the piece it is applied to.

gleena at wellington garden centre in canada

Look for these gleena blooms at Wellington Garden Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Click here to visit Wellington's website. I love the name Wellington, it rolls off the tongue nicely.

the hungry ghost and four + twenty blackbirds

I met Andrea Gentl almost twenty years ago when I first arrived in NYC in the early nineties. Andrea's stunning photography drew me in with its haunting soulfulness. Over the years, I have been lucky to work with Andrea on a number of editorial stories as well as participate in the holiday craft sales she organized, first in her home, and then in a Manhattan photo studio.

Recently, I have been feasting on Andrea's blog, The Hungry Ghost, a delicious mix of photography and engaging, informative writing. The most recent entry about Four + Twenty Blackirds pie shop in Brooklyn inspired me. I've been dabbling in tart/pie making for the past year, and Andrea's write up on the unusual ingredients used by the two sisters who founded the shop, has excited me to bake more. I can't wait to try the butter and more butter crust. Click here for the recipe and more scrumptious photos.

Photography by Andrea Gentl

gleena at abc home

I have loved ABC Home since moving to NYC in the early 90’s. It is such a visual treat to walk into their Broadway store, the gorgeous objects from around the world an inspiration. Their windows are always whimsical, sculptural installations, stories of a secret magical world. I am a little overwhelmed to be a part of their collection, and honored.

In store photos are by Anthony Librizzi (thanks Tony!)

pink hum by jill vasileff

An installation by Jill Vasileff titled Pink Hum is deeply satisfying in its complex simplicity. Using tree branches found around her neighborhood and acrylic paint, Jill creates unique constellations one gets lost in. Each arrangement utilized the same amount of pieces, but just by placing them close together, or further apart, a completely different experience emerges. When packed together, the irregularly shaped pieces create a textural energetic canvas of intense color. When placed apart, the resulting sculpture is more meditative, the in-between spaces becoming just as important. From the side an unexpected three dimensionality is revealed.

Pink Hum is part of Jill’s She lives with peace that comes from the proper application of anesthesia series. View more of Jill’s work by clicking here.

theo and noelle

A set of wee teas for little Theo and little Noelle, inscribed with words provided by their aunt. So fun.

farm show part five: the world is too full to talk about...

Having English as my second language is an issue for me when it comes to communicating effectively. I have a hard time finding just the right words. This installation explores difficult vocabulary words, those I wish would roll off my tongue at just the right moments, words foreign to even some native English-speakers. All the letters of the alphabet are represented, with the word on the inside rim and the definitions on the side.

Available through farmprojectspace.com for the rest of the summer. Email or call the gallery for a price list and shipping info.

farm show part four: there is a field, i'll meet you there... when the soul lies down in that grass...

Available through farmprojectspace.com for the rest of the summer. Email or call the gallery for a price list and shipping info.

farm show part three: from rumi

Available through farmprojectspace.com for the rest of the summer. Email or call the gallery for a price list and shipping info.

farm show part two: advice to a young homemaker

Exanding on Gift to Young Homemaker shown in the previous post, this small installation contains Russian and English active verbs. The Russian advice book lies at the foot of the alcove.

All pieces are sold individually and are available through farmprojectspace.com for the rest of the summer. Email or call the gallery for a price list and shipping info.

farm show part one: gift to a young homemaker

My mom gave me a wonderful pre-Revolution Russian book, called Gift to a Young Homemaker. It is filled with everything from how to set a table, to what to do with a freshly-caught fish, to how to make your own beer. It is written in Old Russian, first published in 1861, but a lot of it is useful even in today’s modern world. The book was banned during Soviet Russia, due to it’s pre-Revolutionary content, though my family had a copy of it, as I am sure many other homemakers did (a quiet rebellion).

Keeping Gift in mind, I created a set table inspired by my Russian summers at our family’s dacha (a country house); now showing at farm. During Soviet times, a homemaker had to be inventive, growing and preserving food, as everyday necessities were hard to come by. With all the limitations, my grandmother still set a gorgeous table, using good china, outside.

I’m not a creative cook, like my grandmother and my mom, but I can make ceramics to serve the food. The pieces I create are not meant for a specific dish, they evoke the handmade, the outdoors, the specialness of friends and family getting together in a beautiful environment.

The table-setting at farm incorporates Russian recipes scanned from Gift, English words relating to the taste of food and the emotion/experience of a family gathering, plus family slides from my childhood. By merging my two cultures, I reach out to my Russian heritage, and introduce English speakers to a little-known historical moment. The exhibit also brings together my love of ceramics with my love of typography.

All pieces are sold individually and are available through farmprojectspace.com for the rest of the summer. Email or call the gallery for a price list and shipping info.

lisiy nos, 1970-1079

I have started archiving images from my family’s dacha, during the time that I was there in the 1970's. The photographs are taken mostly by my step grandfather, and some by my grandmother. They so completely capture the beauty of that time, that I felt like I had to share them, and started a posting them here. My ceramic work is also a record of those memories.

exhibit at farm in wellfleet, cape cod, massachusetts

My month of May is busy getting ready for this show, my very first solo exhibit. So exciting, and a little scary...

Click on the image for a larger view.