Hello! My name is Maria.
Based in Arrowsic, ME, I prioritize living a life revolving around passion. My artistic practices are constantly evolving and self taught. My ceramic sculpture is often inspired by the complexity of human emotions and the curiosities we encounter in daily life. I describe my artistic disciplines as a romance between Flora and Form. In the summer, I am consumed by my dedication to Fogwood Gardens, where my partner and I grow flowers for the community. I spend my days tending to the blooms, and the numerous possibilities of design. Many months can pass where I don’t even touch clay, but I find that the momentary pause often births new ideas and helps me evolve my concepts. In the rush of the summer, Flora can provide distraction, while Form allows me to parse through it all. Form is patient for my return, and Flora begs for a vessel. Both delicate in nature, flowers and ceramics encourage slowness and adapting to unpredictability.
Since I was a child, I have always enjoyed the feeling of clay. The way it absorbs my touch is meditative and deeply imaginative. Ideas often come to me when I least expect it, and whether or not I can bring them to life is the part of the process I enjoy the most. Although I have learned many methods for building with clay, I prefer the endless possibility of sculpture. Clay forces the perspective of slowing down, and the importance of taking small steps to reach stability. Form does not like to rush.
I create whatever I want, whether or not it has cohesion or continuity. It doesn’t bother me much if it sits on the shelf for one month, one year, or one decade. Ceramics is simply something I do for fun. When someone feels connected to a piece, they are displaying a fragment of my soul. The pulse of a moment I was able to steal away and sit with my thoughts. There will always be an echo of where it used to reside in my home, and my hope is that it calls to you every time you enter a room and takes you to a wild place, moment, or idea.
“It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.”
- The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
