Kenneth D. Westfall

Harrisville, West Virginia, USA

Title: Square Temoku Vase

Year of Creation: 2013

Glaze: Temoku

Clay Body: White stoneware

Dimensions: Height 8 inches, Width 3.5 inches

Artist's Statement: Pottery is born through the touch of human hands. To understand pottery, one must experience its feel. It must be held and explored by the hands of the beholder. The motions of the potter's hands must be re-lived. In no other way can one obtain so much information about a potter's work and emotions.

I feel clay is still one of the most basic and common bonds of the human experience. We relate to our past, our present and to our future through vessels. We are tied to the very essence of our earth through this simple, yet marvelously versatile material. Living in a rural state such as is West Virginia, this bond is invaluable. It inspires, frustrates, and satisfies the soul.