about

I have been involved with clay for over twenty years. My first introduction to clay was at The Arts Center in Carrboro, NC when I was in school for Library Science at UNC. I became enraptured with clay while taking classes at The Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago. For years going to HPAC was my sanity check from work and then from raising two fabulous young children.

I began to take workshops and special classes to increase my knowledge in a variety of areas of ceramics. Each class and group of participants expanded my interest and abilities. For a long time, I felt that to be a 'true' artist I needed to have a unique style or a unified approach to my work. Then came the pandemic and the many shifts in all aspects of all of our lives. We built an amazing ceramic studio in our backyard. When I got to work in my new space everything started to shift for me. A room of my own - it was what I needed (with heat, running water, and insulation!). In the spring of 2021, I retired from being a homeschooling parent and in the fall of 2021, I embraced the title of ceramic artist. The birth of an artist is not a solo process - many people helped, supported, encouraged, and pressured me. My husband is the most quietly supportive spouse one could imagine. To all of you, I am forever grateful.

When I am not in the studio I am usually busy with our dogs, and sometimes our cats and chickens. I am learning how to tend to our bees. I have decided to give up on gardening - the weeds are a force of nature in North Carolina and they have worn me down. Spinning fiber into yarn, cooking, organizing, assisting students with their college searches, and walking in the woods are other favorite pastimes. I have settled into middle age with an appreciation for contentment and simplicity.

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My education includes a BA in Religious Studies from Michigan State University, a MA in South Asian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MS in Library Science from the University of North Carolina. I previously worked at the University of Chicago, The Center for Research Libraries, and Urban Prairie Waldorf School in Chicago.

Artist's Statement:

Nourishment and process have both been important forces in my life. I took a deliberate path to stay at home with my children, to nourish them, and to make deep connections with our close environment. Nourishment has called me to learn how to make things with my own hands and to teach others how to use their capacities and capabilities. The process of learning and making is what brings purpose to my life and allows me to connect deeply with others.

I am intrigued and beguiled by what can be made with clay. What my hands can make - I can make beautiful utilitarian objects to sustain everyday life; I can grapple with big ideas through sculptural pieces. Through clay’s transformation from raw material to finished form there is a magical connection between the earth below our feet and the human hand. For me clay is a language, it is the elemental language, beyond words, deeply imbued with our shared history. Clay is connection and expression. It is a vital tool in my path to self-understanding and self-acceptance.

These days my approach to clay melds serendipity and foresight. I often find myself in my studio with a plan, an approach to a problem or question; I will choose the clay body, pick the surface treatment but still not know the exact object I am yearning to connect with. I get into a flow and intuition takes over - the conversation between myself and the clay begins. This way of working has taken years to develop - to have trust in myself, to commit to the process, and to believe in the clay.

Rebecca Moore