Julia Galloway . Artist Statement

catalog artist statement   resume biography

09-008-03

Pottery weaves into our daily lives through use and decorates our living spaces with character and elegance. Cups are especially intimate objects, we kiss them everyday. On these cups there are drawings of all the birds of North America. In a great salute to fantasy and Magical Realism, I can’t help but wonder: if I drink from this cup, could I sing like this bird?

When I hear a bird song, especially out of context; in an urban setting or late at night, I freeze. I stop. Just for a moment, and I listen. The first time I drank from a hand made cup, I had the same reaction, I stopped, became still, just touched, looked, and drank. I hope the sound element of these cups gives the user a moment of pause. A moment to be present, in some way, to sing like a bird.

I am profoundly interested in the watercolor paintings by John James Audubon. Late in his life, Audubon realized that he was not going to live long enough to paint all of the birds of North America, so he began to draw with both hands. I relate to his passion for making and am touched by the detailed simplicity of his work.

I am insistent about making things with my hands. My love for domestic objects and an instinctual drive to create things have proven to be tremendous dance partners for creating pottery.