Janis Wilson Hughes - The Artist
Janis Hughes

Artist's Statement

Janis Wilson Hughes

I am facinated by the evolution of maleable, wet clay to rock hard pottery. I savor my ability to transform muddy earth into stoneware pots that are capable of enduring for thousands of years and timelessly telling the story of their maker. I love the feel, look, and even the smell of clay which reminds me of the smell of the Earth right after a rainfall. In my finished pieces I strive to maintain a connection to the natural origin of the clay. I hope that they help keep their users in touch with the fundamental foces of life while helping to complete everyday tasks.

   
The Mark

Signature Mark

On my finished wares, the mark is sometimes carved, sometimes stamped as shown here.

On the simplest level, this mark is a combination of my initials J & H. On a deeper level, my mark intertwines my initials with my zodiac sign of Pisces. The ancient Greek origins of my mark refer to the currents of my personality and soul which each have very different and sometimes conflicting elements that together make me who I am. Sometimes the creative tensions are evident in my work while at other times they are balanced smoothly. This is also a reference to the duality of my day job as a scientist and my creative alter ego as a potter.

   

Background

Janis began working with clay after becoming a Chemical Engineer, although she was interested in pottery long before that. Christy Carmichael, a friend from work, urged her to sign up for a class after a long conversation about their dissatisfaction with their jobs and their dreams of having more fulfilling lives. Janis began her studies under Rick McKinney at Fired Earth Pottery in Appleton, Wisconsin that winter. Her focus was on hand building and slab work using stoneware clay fired to cone 10 in reduction. While studying at Fired Earth, Janis began to take direction from Reid Schoonover of Working Man Studio. Reid provided much encouragement and inspiration that fueled Janis's love of pottery. When Janis moved to the Atlanta area in 2004, part of her criteria for choosing a home was finding one with the right kind of space in which to build her own studio. After the move, she and her husband undertook the labor of love of building the Evolution Stoneware Pottery studio. Janis has continued her studies in Georgia working with Stewart McDonough and Jillian Higgley at Abernathy Art Center and A.J. Argentina at Clay West. Her recent focus has been on wheel throwing; however, her love of handbuilding endures.

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