My artwork is a form of nonverbal communication that aids me in opening up about my mental health struggles. For the majority of my life, I grappled with undiagnosed mental illnesses that I did not have the capacity to verbalize. Because of my struggle with verbal communication, I created work that manifests my thoughts and feelings into objects that other people can interpret. Furthermore, my pieces showcase the breadth of my skillset in ceramics. I value learning different methods to achieve making, thus some of my vessels are made using the kurinuki method, while others are wheel thrown.
I work in the ceramic medium specifically because of my goals to reintroduce art to my community. As a Black American, when I tell other people in my racial group about my work, I am often met with confusion or incredulity. Specifically, I hear, “how many Black people do you know doing that?”. Because I hear this phrase, my goal is to affect the ways in which people in my community view visual art. I know that there are Black people making pots and ceramic sculptures, but others don’t know this because they have an idea of what Black people are not able to do or achieve. Because I am also pursuing a degree in journalism, I aim to expand our community’s knowledge of Black people working in the arts through my current PSNTV segment and possibly through an online magazine. Really, the ceramic medium is perfect for this goal because it can act as a gateway for people to expose themselves to the visual arts. Clay is powerful because functional items can become a necessity in one’s life, yet clay can also be used for sculptural work. By making my items that are technically functional, yet still able to stand on their own, I am inviting more people to enter the conversation about art because the forms are recognizable and easily accessible. Finally, since I am also passionate about mental health awareness, allowing more Black Americans to feel like they belong in the visual art community will also aid in our wellbeing; having another form of creative self-expression will do wonders for a group that experiences tremendous pain.