My work focuses on the forms of action and reaction that occur in natural environments, and I see my work as a visual investigation of these natural forces. A sense of simultaneous deconstruction and construction—such as what occurs when a mountain slowly weathers or the way that water erodes a stream bed—informs the process of my ceramic vessels.
Given the primary influence of nature, I see my pieces as metaphoric landscapes. I created these clay pieces by exploiting the responsiveness of the clay. I pushed, pulled, and tore the clay in an attempt to create a physical dialogue between myself and the material.
samantha l. stumpf ceramics 