Dina is a studio potter in Salt Lake City, Utah who enjoys the richness of using hand made pieces in her every day life. Her personal desire for wares that are useful and unique inspired her to start making pottery for herself over 18 years ago and continues to direct her creative process today. Her love for travel and the outdoors also shows in her work as nature provides inspiration for organic shapes, texture and color. Forms take shape on a wheel or are hand built from slabs then finished in earth tone glazes. Dinaware is made from high fired stoneware clay and lead free glazes. It is dishwasher and microwave safe.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Born and raised in the Minnesota… I am the daughter of two creative parents that could build, create and grow anything. One of seven siblings, without the distraction of television, my creative interests took hold at a very young age. At age seven, I learned to use a sewing machine and started to make my own clothes. Soon after I branched out into hair design, practicing on my brothers and sisters and giving myself punk haircuts. As a teen I took an interest in black and white photography, jewelry making, drawing and watercolor.
In my first year of college, I was lucky to be introduced to wheel thrown pottery and think my time in the clay studio kept me sane through business school.
My move to Utah increased my interest in this primitive art form as I explored the southwest and spent time in the rugged landscape that surrounds us here. Life had a slower pace and my desire to keep it that way grew as I spent many days in an office overlooking the Wasatch mountain range. After several years of throwing pots in my basement and selling on the weekends, I left full time work in 2001 to commit myself to my dream.
Now I spend my days working with clay in my backyard studio surrounded by my pets, a large garden and visiting birds.
My husband Pete and I love to travel and spend time in the outdoors. Our exposure to different cultures and time spent skiing, hiking, surfing, fishing and even a simple run around our local park inspire much of the work I do. I am drawn to the natural colors and textures found in nature. I like to take natural forms such as leaves and fossils and incorporate them in to functional pieces and get away from everything being uniform and round.
My work is constantly evolving and taking on new shapes. I am proud to say that no two piece can ever be the same. I look at life and my work much like a river that is in constant motion – everchanging… It is different from one moment to the next but is full of life and breathtaking as long as it continues to flow.
I have been inspired by the works of many artisans and hope that your simple interaction with a piece of "dinaware" can do the same for you. ENJOY !
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