Christina Belford - Potter

Meet the artists

"Click" on their artwork to see more of their work

Christina Belford - Potter - The first day in 1990 that I threw clay on a wheel was the beginning of a great adventure. It has led me to try to capture the amazing beauty of nature. I’m always eager to learn new techniques and whether throwing, hand-building or burnishing for a horsehair firing, the process enthralls me. “Inside this clay pot are canyons and pine mountains, and the Maker of canyons and pine mountains. All seven oceans are inside, and hundreds of millions of stars,” the poet Kabir wrote. That fills my heart with joy, my life with purpose.

Sara Westermark - Metalsmith - I am inspired by nature and enjoy creating organic and clean designs that combine color, texture and depth. In my work I primarily use sterling silver, copper, pearls, and gemstones. Primarily a self-taught metalsmith, my pieces are hammered, forged and formed with traditional metalsmithing techniques. I have always worked with my hands. It quiets my racing mind and helps me to connect with my inner self. When I work, I cannot concentrate on anything else but the task at hand--I am completely absorbed. Sometimes pieces come to me in my dreams--as if they have already been worked out for me.

Joan Fry - Fiber Artist - After exploring many art mediums, I found fabric collages were fun. It was a prefect fit, because I watched my mother sew for her four daughters, and I sewed for my children. The exactness of quilt making wasn’t for me, although the design elements and fabric intrigued me. I like the manipulative potential of fabric. Turning it into a textile image of the world around me is quite a challenge. I work without much in the way of preconceived ideas. I have a theme and let it go from there.

Linda Hartman - Mixed Media - Inspiration for my art is deep rooted and ongoing. It began as a small child taking nature walks with my gramma. I gleaned from her Cherokee Indian heritage the art of beholding the peaceful beauty and harmony in my surroundings. Now, as I gather materials to create a work of art, I re-experience subliminally grammas' teachings, appreciating those special moments when one stands back from the chaos of our mass media infused world. I am a visual storyteller, an interpreter, communicating with the viewer of my eclectic works of art a small anecdote unique to my life’s experiences. Enjoy.

Louise Giordano - Fiber Artist - Fiber is the fabric of life; knitting feeds and is the key to my soul! Through my fingers and fiber flows a vision to create functional, wearable fabric. The interplay of needles and fiber is therapeutic, tactile, and sensual. The process is all-absorbing; the results uniquely satisfying. For me, hand-knitting represents passionate flirtation and experimentation with traditional techniques, tools, and stitches with new and vintage materials to produce non-traditional work. Whether worn on the body or decorating a home, my pieces are an extension of my being, a source of creative expression for me, and a process that brings joy to the beholder.

Pam Greenough - Potter - My art is a reflection of my coastal roots of Wilmington. I am sixth generation Wilmingtonian who’s family were fishermen, teachers, trolley conductors and story telling musicians. I love creating a story on the clay whether it is with the glaze that I choose or how the clay is formed. My inspiration comes from nature and story telling by friends and family of their coastal roots. Tradition is very important to me in a time when our visual and literal art is become so homogenous that everything looks the same. I strive to make each piece unique, single and speak to the viewer. I hope all who pass this way in my art life can walk away with a small memory of our coastal home Wilmington.

Harry Hart - Woodworker - I have worked with wood since age 8. In those early years and throughout my life I have been self-taught. I have read and studied and learned as much as possible about wood and it's unique characteristics. My progression has not been linear, but determined by what I wanted to make. I have created furniture for my family, built my own homes and also built two boats. Now I enjoy custom woodworking - building benches, pedestals, furniture, or whatever intrigues me. The different types of wood and their uniqueness allow me to express myself.

Patricia Hart - Potter - I am perpetually challenged by the endless possibilities with clay. My sculptural hand-built pottery often reflects the purity of Asian influences and its portrayal of peacefulness. I am equally excited by throwing functional forms on the potter's wheel, finding the creations in clay to be infinite. For me, Art is freedom of thinking and of expression . Form and function are interchangeable. Pottery can be purely functional or just plain joy!

Karen A. Smith - Fiber Artist- Hand-woven & Handspun textiles Humans have been creating textiles since before recorded time. As a hand weaver and hand spinner, I feel connected to the ongoing chain of human existence through this medium. In addition to having a life-long fascination with the making of fabric, I am also a researcher and student of the history of textile and clothing production. As a tangible expression of culture, the preservation of historic methods of textile production serves as a living legacy of our heritage and teaches people about the cultures that we live in.

Mary Holden-Hall - Potter - My medium is clay, all clay. I've been a potter since the 60's. I am self-taught and have developed my work over a period of 40 years. As my life has transitioned so has my pottery. My aim is to produce the feeling of tranquility and balance both in my life and in my work. My work is a reflection of how I live my life.

Pat Holleman - Potter - I have always been enamored by seeing pottery thrown on the wheel. My fascination with the "magic" of taking a ball of clay and creating something both functional and beautiful is the reason most of my work is thrown on the wheel. I love the idea of creating forms that can be used as palettes for the interaction of glaze upon glaze. My love of nature and my admiration for the work of the Japanese Masters and has inspirited me and has influenced the direction of my work. I love to make pots!!

Don Johns - Potter - The inspiration for my ideas comes from nature and its creator. In my work, I strive for honesty in the use of material. That is, I do not try to force the material beyond its potential or make it do something for which it was not intended. I consider myself a potter and not a sculptor. Therefore, the majority of my pieces will serve a utilitarian purpose as well as a decorative one.

Carol Langer - Fiber Artist - My interest in sewing began at about the age of 7 when my parents gifted me with a miniature pink sewing machine. It sits on the shelf of my studio as a reminder of the beginning of creating. I have dabbled in many mediums such as knitting, crochet, needlework, macramé and quilting but have always returned to sewing. There is something about the colors and textures in fabric that draw me in and inspire me. Creating handbags specifically seemed a great way to "carry" the fabric around. I hope you enjoy carrying it around with you too.

Iris Simmons - Fiber Artist - My quilting journey started about 6 years ago. I've always had a passion for fabric. I love the different textures of woven materials. I enjoy incorporating all kinds of materials in my works, not just fabric. I have been most influenced by modern/abstract art and free-form design. I try to design pieces that have a strong visual impact. Most of my works reflect bold use of color and "unusual materials."

Debbie Williams - Potter - I live my life trying to follow the Serenity Prayer. I strive for serenity to accept the fact that so many people I care about, work with, and love struggle with Autism. I have the courage to try new things, grow, and stretch my skills as a potter. I have the wisdom to know that my work in clay is a necessary part of my life that keeps me balanced and centered.

Melanie Walter - Basket Weaver - As a child I loved using anything around me I could find to make "something from nothing." Creative expression is my passion, and throughout my life, I have always learned new skills that would help me in the practice of combining color, texture and pattern to create something unique, interesting and attractive. In the early 1990's, I became fascinated with the construction of pine needle baskets and discovered the endless potential in the use of natural materials to create items of function and beauty. My hope is to continue to learn new things from this world around me and find new ways to incorporate them into my art.

Sybil West - Potter - Clay enlivens my life. It is demanding, challenging, consuming and rewarding, all at the same time. Part of the wonder of hand made items is that they are rarely perfect, but the love for the work is found in the product. The Japanese say that there is perfection in imperfection, and that is what separates manufactured goods from those that are hand made. Every pot is a "practice pot" because every pot builds upon its predecessor. And every pot holds the potters love for the work-truly from my hands to your heart.

	Edward Jacobsen - Wood Turner - There are so many different features in wood, it could be the variances in grain, the discovery of quirky characteristics, the explosions of color, the smooth touch and feel of the wood or, as yet undiscovered surprises waiting to be presented. Most of all, the genuine warmth of a polished piece of turned artwork gives me the greatest satisfaction and pushes me to do one just a bit beyond the last one.

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