Samantha Henneke

Seagrove, North Carolina, USA

Title: Sapphire Vase

Year of Creation: 2011

Glaze: Flowing crystalline matte molybdenum glazes

Clay Body: Porcelain

Dimensions: Height 18 inches, Width 4.5 inches

Artist's Statement: The tall slender vase that I present for the 2012 Vasefinder Internationals has soft elegant curves. This form reminds me of a wasp's waist, or an Art Deco style drawing of women dressed in fancy clothes. The verticality of this vase is advantageous for the iridescent and fluid molybdenum glazes that are applied. These crystalline glazes have plenty of room to show off their active changing qualities as they flow down this statuesque vessel. I like throwing porcelain because of its white smooth texture, and it has a brilliant color response when glazes are applied to its surface. I enjoy decorating the surface of the pottery I make, and I will often design clay forms for particular glazing techniques.

I work and maintain a full-time studio pottery with my husband Bruce Gholson in Seagrove, North Carolina. We live in a pottery community full of history and activity. There are approximately 70 pottery studios open to the public on a daily basis. We named our studio, Bulldog Pottery, after our two lovely American Staffordshire Bulldogs, Moka and Babu. Presently, we have mighty Maxwell, an English Staffordshire Bull Terrier who loves his red ball and any chance to play. I love my life and enjoy the challenge of making a living as a studio potter.