When I make pottery, I think about its archival quality and how it has been used historically. Pottery tells us about all the cultures from Ancient Greece to Ancient China: what people did, what and how people ate and drank, what life was like. I also think about the culture I grew up in and the lives that were taken away in my community. This medium lasts thousands of years and can keep someone’s story going.

Most important to me is family, community and connection. My currency is giving back to my people, the people who paved the way for me. I think back to what I saw as a child in the early 1990s, and make sure those legacies continue to exist. This is a pivotal component in my work.

It comes down to relatability for me. Telling of my struggles through my work can resonate for someone who is going through something similar. I believe what brings people together are human trials and tribulations, as well as beauty. The art I am most attracted to is things like Cy Twombly, Japanese tea houses at the museum, cloisters, Renaissance paintings. What I am attracted to is not necessarily similar to what I make! I can tell my story because it is mine.