River is an emerging ceramic artist, currently practicing their craft in Adelaide.
River’s work incorporates intricate surface manipulations and detailed paintings. They use high quality clay to create functional pieces that express their originality and unique style. River employs their technical skills and decorative techniques through playful experimentation. Their pieces tell stories, and allude to experiences and scenarios; the creations are intuitive and based on memories and subconsciously stored impressions or knowledge, referencing imagery they are still in the process of extracting and analyzing.
Living with a “dynamic disability” can make everyday tasks difficult. Working in ceramics has provided River with a meaningful pathway to express their thought processes, their detail oriented way of noticing the world around them, and their imagination and approach to life.
Making ceramics has assumed a therapeutic approach that allows them to process a world that challenges them on many levels.
Through their ceramic work River engages with their environment, their community, and the person that will use the ceramic form they created. “When one struggles to communicate in ‘normal’ ways, a tangible piece of ceramic connects people in ways beyond words or pictures. People can come to a mutual understanding without language through the appreciation of the making and the use of an object.”
River’s mentors include Toni Strazdins (Urth Clay Studios) and Rolf Bartz (Adelaide ceramicist) who are ongoing teachers and guides. River does not have any formal art school training, as institutionalised learning is challenging due to their disabilities.
River is currently working from The Mill which allows them to immerse themselves in a thriving arts community that enlivens their creative process, provides momentum and supports their sense of belonging.
