Davis, Sarah Chenoweth
Artist Statement
I dive into each fresh box of clay with the hope that the piece to come will speak to and enrich the daily life of its eventual owner. I began to pursue this calling in the eighth grade, and studied ceramics in Ohio and Georgia before establishing my first studio in Oregon in 2002.
I continue to experiment with a variety of construction and firing techniques, and my unique style combines my favorites. My newest body of work explores the wealth of creative possibilities in combining bottomless thrown pieces with slabs to create soft, intimate forms.
Some pieces are decorated with delicately carved free-hand brushwork, inspired by my background in biology and infused with energy and movement. Other pieces are given over to the unpredictable environment of wood- or soda-fired kilns. These atmospheric firings leave marks of flame, vapor and ash which chronicle a moment that will never be repeated.
My work has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, and I am active in Oregon’s ceramics education community. I have exhibited throughout the US and recently had my first international showing in Sapporo, Japan. Connect with “Sarah Chenoweth Pottery” on Facebook to hear more about my adventures with clay.
About Sarah Chenoweth Davis
I took my first ceramics class in the eighth grade. Although I had been the artsy type since I was very young, I also had a passion for wildlife conservation which led me to major in biology at the College of Wooster. I did take a minor in studio art, and two amazing instructors at Wooster helped awaken my passion for clay. After college I made a promise to myself that I would always have access to clay. I took classes and volunteered at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia where I met all types of potters. Very tentatively, I began to sell my work. I felt the potential of what I was doing, so I moved to Hood River, Oregon, where my parents helped me build my first studio.
In the quiet of the woods, I built coiled vessels at the kitchen counter, while the studio slowly came together. Soon I had a wheel and an electric kiln, but after working on my own for a while the solitude of my location began to set in. I sought out community. Eventually, this led me to the Mt. Hood Community College ceramics department, headed by Stephen Mickey.
Stephen became a great mentor, and I found the women of the studio particularly inspiring. Natalie Warrens, Claire Seastone and Brenda Scott in particular helped me to see how I could make pots my own way, pots that actually spoke for me. I also fell in love with wood-firing, a process which requires faith and intuition, and celebrates living in the moment. In 2008 I was honored to participate as an exhibiting artist and curatorial committee member in “Painting with Fire,” the Special Exhibit at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, which showcased some of the most talented wood-fire ceramists in the world.
In the mean time, I have evolved from student to tutor, and this fall I will take over as manager of the MHCC ceramics studio. I have been an active member in the Oregon Potters Association, and have served on the Executive Board for nearly three years. I am also currently a chair on the steering committee of the OPA Ceramic Showcase, the largest all-clay show in the nation. I’ve shown my work throughout the US and in Sapporo, Japan. My work can be seen in four galleries throughout Oregon, and I continue to develop my career in the form of exhibitions, workshops and other educational opportunities.
Artist Code: SCD
