Migration

Xavier M.

Clay/ceramics

• Artist Statement

  "Migration" is a slab-built vase that I created in my first year of pottery. The vase represents the longest migration on planet earth that of the Arctic Tern, which migrates from the high Arctic to Antarctica, some traveling up to 50,000 miles in one year. “Migration” shows a cycle of life, one side showing the Arctic (specifically Iceland), and the other Antarctica. The neck represents the birth and youth of the birds, with nested eggs and young chicks.Along the sides are ocean waves, which represent the distance and journey between the two poles. I constructed the vase in a square and angular design, contrasting the natural and flowing design glazed onto the piece in a monochromatic blue glaze, made from cobalt. To me, “Migration” represents not only the journey of one specific bird, but the journey and sacrifices that so many people endure in our world.

• Creative Statement

  To me, creativity means taking the time to express myself in a world which doesn't always let me. I don't always feel comfortable with my peers, or in my high school, but being able to express myself creatively means expressing my true self.