Stormie Parker

As a teenager wandering through a craft fair I came upon a potter demonstrating on a wheel, immediately I was lured in, captivated by the artist’s mastery of the clay. Fascinated with how quickly a lump of clay became a vessel, I thought, “This is Magic!” Thus began my relationship with clay, and after twenty-five years it still feels like magic every time I open a kiln or take a piece of liquid hot raku from the fire . The transformation that takes place during the firing never ceases to amaze me. After studying at Northern Arizona University I moved to Germany for several years. While there I was greatly influenced by the traditional culture and the practicality with which they viewed pottery as tableware. For many years I strictly made functional ware with my eye cast toward its utilitarian aspects. Upon returning to America I built a raku kiln and have since been engaged in sculptural and art pieces. I depict wild life and nature, integrating texture, and surface embellishment, and rely on the fire to create a unique finish. It is important to me that my art is an integral part of people’s lives, whether it is sipping from a coffee cup or the spectacular glint from a raku vase capturing ones eye, enticing you to regard it yet again.