The Member's Gallery
Bonnie Duncan
Artist-In-Residence

Artist Statement

I am interested in the idea of functional art, and how this artwork is integrated into routines and rituals of daily life.  I make pottery that can be used; gathered around as a family’s source of nourishment.  I appreciate utility for utility’s sake, and am intrigued by the notion of artwork interacting with its viewers as a mug might every morning when it provides the necessary coffee to the user.

I am interested in the links we have to our past, and the ways in which we connect ourselves with them.  A search for a connection to the past is a theme in my artwork. Through my work, I explore ways in which my southern-rooted traditions have been passed down through generations of women in my family. Cooking and quilt making are two sources of inspiration for me that I learned from my mother and grandmother. This southern tradition of gathering around the kitchen or a quilting bee to socialize is almost gone for today’s women.

 My utilitarian pottery has been influenced by memories of learning to bake in my grandmother’s kitchen and the importance she placed on care and preparation of meals. Memories of learning to bake a pound cake in her South Georgia kitchen inspired me to make pieces that could be used through the years and that could be passed down through a family. Although functional ware, my pieces also serve as artwork, so I spend time thinking about the form of the piece and how it will relate to the viewer, the user of the work.

My exploration of quilt designs and utilitarian object has also stemmed from a traditional pastime of quilt making.  A quilt’s dual purpose of warmth and decoration is an idea of interest to me. The inspiration of my tile work comes from quilt patterns, both old and new. I appreciate the process of adapting a pattern made for material, to a clay medium. This adaptation requires some flexibility and thought into the steps necessary to finish the project. This link to my roots allows me to reflect on the roles of women throughout generations of my family as the provider of meals and comfort.