Joseph Heffernan

Artist Statement

I believe in high craft. I believe in simple, strong, stable forms with clean, true lines and ample room for surface decoration. I believe in using texture to create surface depth and tactile information. I believe uncomplicated lines possess the power to crystalize concepts and concisely communicate ideas. I believe in the persuasive power of color to set a mood or generate a vibe. I use clay- coiled, slabbed, or thrown, and glaze to achieve my goal of creating high quality functional ware with a message.

The context of my decoration centers on images of a surreal utopian fantasy where social and environmental changes have necessitated evolution through mutation, hybridization, or genetic modification. Plant, animal, insect, machine, microbe, or microchip morph or are engineered into sustainable entities connected systemically. Sometimes there may exist subtexts alluding to disarticulation, identity, and adaptation.