In the Fall of 2012, I was part of the last residency group accepted for winter residencies in “The Barn”. The structure in which we worked was open and made of wood. Occupied by so many spiders that I couldn’t think about it because otherwise I’d flee. Reeder Fahnestock and his dog Sancho led the group, sharing with us the history of the space and the plans for the future. They showed us the red clay and lands surrounding us that would have such an influence on the pieces made during the few weeks we were there.

The ruby red clays we found natural to the Watershed Ground instantly led to explorations in terra sigillata as a finish. I created over three dozen pieces that were made from the local clays. The unglazed pieces turned a sherbet orange, leading to refining layers of sifted earth to paint upon the surfaces of burnished works. We came across beeswax from a local producer during a farmer’s market, and a block assisted in finishing pieces. Of the ground and setting I found vast inspirations, responding to the waves of the coast and scenery.