Wishing Well captures the essence of joy and dreams. In creating this piece, I aimed to awake the lost ability to dream that many adults experience. A slab construction, using several stoneware clays, this piece symbolizes a seed or womb; spilling out new life.
The exterior is textured and busy, representing the chaos of everyday human life, while the interior reveals a hidden treasure: A place where nothing is amiss.
I hope viewers will touch the piece and make a wish. My hope is that they reconnect with their inner child, and remember who they are and their true nature.
The wishing well is a slab construction with nerikomi-style inlays using 5 different types of stoneware on a base stoneware paste. The slabs are assembled, propped and protected for a very, very slow drying stage. At different drying stages, elements are built on and textures are added to the surfaces. The well was bisque fired at 1020º. The testing for the glaze on the interior was very meticulous so as to reproduce the desired warmth, wet, smooth and reactive finish, without losing the earthy sensation of the clay. The final firing was 1240ºC. The wishing wells take about 4 months each to make.