Description

In a world that feels so heavy at times, I need distraction. My overthinking mind spirals with anxiety and worry, robbing me of joy. Childhood memories remind me of the sense of comfort and belonging I felt back then. Sometimes I long to go back to when time stood still and life seemed simpler. When freedom was riding my bike with no supervision and exploring the woods alone behind our house was the biggest adventure my brother and I could fathom! Everything had the possibility of excitement or the doom of boredom, and nothing in between. Looking back, I realize what a huge part my grandparents played in my life. I have so many fond memories of them and their little personality quirks that didn’t seem significant until now, when they’re gone.

Mamaw Lucy was quirky, funny without meaning to be, and good for a laugh. She showed her love in simple ways like always making sure that everyone in the house had a mini flashlight before we went to bed, so we wouldn’t have to turn on the lights as we found our way to the bathroom at night. She was proud of her all year round “holiday” tree, thought pizza was only a snack, loved shoes & jewelry, and didn’t have a lick of sense when it came to home decor.

Papaw Humphreys was the quieter, more sensible one. He loved fishing in his bass boat, being a deacon at his church, making lists of literally everything, drinking his coffee boiling hot and playing pool. He was a little bit of a “pool shark” and there’s not a time I went over there when we didn’t play a couple of rounds in the basement. You could always count on him to be consistent. He always ended his prayer in the same way, everytime. I will never forget it…”Bless this food. Bless the hands that prepared it. Go with us, guide us, forgive us of our sins. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

Papaw Crabtree, was something else. A storyteller and jokester at his best, and an awnry curmudgeon at his worst. Whether he was sitting on the front porch laughing at his bird feeder that threw squirrels in the yard or threatening to cut off my ponytail with his pocket knife, there was never a dull moment with him. He loved gardening, tinkering in his shop, trucks, Nascar and the “banjer.” He was proud of his yard, but hated the magnolia, his “trouble tree.”

These memories bring back a sense of nostalgia and comfort. They are the souvenirs of my youth that I hold dear and hope to never forget. They have shaped who I am and who I am still striving to be. This collection of ceramic work is an ode to those memories. Mono-printing on clay is not a perfect process, but neither are my memories. They are full of cracks and have parts missing revealing the truth underneath. I hope the pieces in this collection bring you a bit of joy and laughter. Like Papaw Crabtree said after every prayer no matter the meal, ” Pass the

Biscuits!”