Testament totems emerge out of the artist’s inquiries into thought and consciousness. Etching those energies onto the surface of clay creates a similarity to ancient tablets, texts of information for others to discover. The artist incorporates letters, carvings, designs patterned by the ashes and temperatures of atmospheric kiln firings. Wood flames or soda firing, nuances of glaze colors or stains, all work with the grog and minerals in the varying clay bodies to produce results reminiscent of bark, sunrise, old buildings, pebbles, the many memories of life.

Seen amidst natural landscapes, Testament sculptures allude to exchanges of information. The components visibly stack together like the seasons of our lives, offering meditations on the crossroads before us.

Testament v.5 components were handmade and hand carved from porcelain and stoneware clay bodies, fired in the fall 2023 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Anagama kiln, and assembled on an 8’ welded pole and base.

This totem resides in a private art collection.