Joel Brown “My ceramic pieces reflect crazy quilts, traditional Japanese wood firing, and my architectural background.  After years of building design and construction, I’m drawn to the immediacy of work in clay. 
Viewers see fantastic buildings in my pieces, and I enjoy their reactions. Just as a quilt starts with a simple rectangle, my pieces start with equally simple forms.  On a quilt, fabric swatches produce a complex texture, often embellished with embroidery. The surface cuts on my pieces embellish the basic shapes. The gouges also catch the flame and ash from wood firings.  The kilns are full partners in my work, changing the colors, adding the final layer of decoration.”