Artist Statement

I interpreted the passing of time in a couple different ways. While making Moonrise, I thought of the movement of the earth changing our view of the sky each day. I build my work using coils, pinching techniques, and minimal tools. I enjoy using my hands for as much of my process as possible. This commitment to simplicity helps me capture some of the natural effects of my building methods. Clay easily captures our interactions with it, preserving our finger prints as evidence of our impact on it.

Artist Bio

Maria Spiess is currently a ceramic arts instructor, working throughout Westchester, NY and its surrounding areas. She has completed residencies at Clay Art Center (Port Chester, NY), Lux Center for the Arts (Lincoln, NE), Woodstock Byrdcliffe Arts Colony (Woodstock, NY), Taos Clay Studio (Taos, NM), Golden Bridge Pottery (Pondicherry, India), and Chautauqua Institution (Chautauqua, NY). Maria grew up in Bowling Green, Ohio, where she also began her pursuit of ceramic arts studies at BGSU.