Justin Lambert

I've spent the majority of my life in and around water enjoying the natural wonder of our world, swimming, surfing, fishing, boating, snorkeling, rafting, star gazing, hiking, etc. These activities provide a certain feeling that subconsciously has influenced my work. I do not try to recreate work directly representing these influences, yet the feeling is prevalent in my work. Slip lines represent swell lines, curvaceous forms feel similar to coves and points, loading strategies remind me of looking through my telescope, and surface effects resembling earth and water in various stages of tranquility and turmoil.

Some of my fondest memories growing up are of friends and family gathering around a meal. Both my mother and grandmother had beautiful "china cabinets" filled with fine porcelain pottery only used for special occasions. I recall the sound of dishes rattling when myself, siblings, or friends would accidentally "bump" the cabinets while playing. A moment of stillness followed as I listened to make sure nothing had broken. I use functional pottery as a means to encourage these important moments to occur, taking the "preciousness" of porcelain from the occasional to everyday. My clay bodies start with porcelain, and I then blend in various other clays to help encourage the color and ash glaze achieved through the wood firing process.