Summer Reflections and Fall Openings

It’s been a full, satisfying summer in Milwaukee — a season of routine, and a steady flow of clay and outdoor events. Galerie Bibliothèque has been open one to two weekends a month, and by appointment, welcoming new and returning visitors who have followed the evolution of my work as it unfolds month by month. Each opening has its own quiet energy, shaped by whatever’s just come out of the kiln — new textures, color experiments, and the occasional piece that demands its own attention.

Lately, I’ve been exploring deep, moody palettes — iron stains that shift in the light, and surfaces that feel aged, weathered, and a little murky. There’s something grounding about these darker tones as the days get shorter, and they’ve set the tone for my Tarot Tumblers, now returning in black porcelain and milky white glaze just in time for the spooky season.

In between firing cycles, I’ve been drawing inspiration from my travels back to Mexico, studying the forms and spirit of historic work and contemporary Mexican artists and ceramicists. Their work — both humble and bold — continues to influence how I think about surface, ritual, and the balance between tradition and reinvention.

As we move toward the holidays, I’m preparing for the time when small wares fly off the shelves, while the large vessels stay rooted in the gallery — inviting you to imagine them in new spaces. These sculptural pieces have become a central part of my practice, meant less for function and more for contemplation.

Join me, along with Jamie Lee Ohland, on Saturday, November 1, from 6–10pm at Galerie Bibliothèque for an evening that brings it all together — the summer’s dark experiments, the Tarot Tumblers, the travel stories, and a first look at the winter work beginning to take shape. The studio will be lit, the shelves full, and the season shifting — the perfect time to reconnect and see what’s new.

We’ll have spooky cocktails served in special Tarot Tumblers, plenty of snacky things, and we’ll be preparing the gallery for Día de los Muertos, as we build an ofrenda to honor our beloveds — surrounded by flickering candles, offerings, and the pieces that emerged from the summer’s quieter hours.