Ben Jensen

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

Title: Bottle

Year of Creation: 2012

Glaze: Yellow salt glaze and soda accumulation

Clay Body: Stoneware

Dimensions: Height 14 inches, Width 8 inches

Artist's Statement: Clay is a tactile material. It calls to be touched at every state, manipulated, moved, glazed, loaded, fired, cleaned, finished, packaged, used. During the forming process, I try to leave the marks of that object's making. Irregularities left by the hand: a dented rim, and off-round bowl, an imperfect line are the reminders of the work that the hand has done.

My work has undertones of my own daily life - objects that I touch and things that touch me. Forms and surfaces are motivated by the textures and forms of children's toys. Patterns drift in from memories of old family quilt blocks and worn fabric. The ebbs and flows of family life and daily play award me wonderfully rich source material. Whether a mug, a bowl, a sculpture, or something else I encourage the viewer to revisit and trace the "roadmap" that I leave for them.