Sculptural Vessel - Urban Decay is an homage to the form of an ancient Greek/Roman pot called a Dinos and Holmos. Typically the sculpture itself is two separate but integrated parts. The bottom piece is usually the stand upon which the top piece sits. This piece was originally meant for the vessel part of SV003, but I clearly misjudged the amount of clay that it would need to be a balanced form, this one being nearyly 50% too small. It is still a lovely vase form, and I chose to really experiment with the decoration which was great fun.
 
For modern use it may be food or beverage bearing (the glaze is food safe!) or serve as a lovely vase, but I also think it's a beautiful structure on its own.
 
I was initially inspired by a picture shared by potter Tom Turner on social media. As a person who studied history with a focus on the Attic and Classical eras, I've long been inspired by the forms from this period but this particular piece was a form I had not seen before.
 
This specific series, "Urban Decay" references another inspiration of mine, which is old homes in various states of care. This, too, references time and history, and the stories that people leave behind. I find a striking beauty in old buildings that have been abandoned, forgotten. Peeling paint and wallpaper, cracking plaster, all showing hints of the stories of the humans that were there, but Nature is slowly taking her space back.