Tonya Johnson

Cooking and feeding people − lots of people − is an important part of my life. As a consequence, I find myself drawn to and desiring of large vessels for holding and serving food. Therefore, when creating my own ceramic pieces, I choose to create functional pottery. As an artist and a craftsperson in our modern world, I believe everyone´s life is made warmer and richer through the use of handmade things in his or her everyday life, especially now when machine manufactured is plentiful, serviceable, and inexpensive. We need that human connection between the maker and the user that can only be felt through the handling and use of fine, hand-crafted objects. As a potter my goal is to make utilitarian ware that is equally aesthetically pleasing and conveniently useful. As an artist my work reflects who I am and what is significant to me. Thus, my pots are large, full, sturdy, generous forms that capture and hold subtle, but intentional marks in the malleable clay. I finish my work by dipping in food-safe glazes that drape and enhance their strong, traditional forms before firing them in high-fired gas and electric kilns, creating a permanent, personal legacy in clay.