Naomi Dalglish
Naomi Dalglish, along with her partner, Michael Hunt, operates a clay studio near Penland. Her sculptures were originally inspired by pre-colombian clay figures and ancient Japanese Haniwa sculptures. The small openings of the eyes or mouth in these hollow forms reveal a seemingly vast empty interior space. Many of her figures end up as musicians, but even if they are not singing or playing an instrument, they are radiating their quiet joy and wonder into the world. Many of these sculptures are coil-built, which involves slowly adding ropes of clay from the bottom of the form to the top. Others are carved from a solid piece of clay, and hollowed afterwards.
Naomi Dalglish at MudFire
Gallery group show House and Home, March 2012
Gallery group show Potters of the Roan, April 2009
Gallery group show Compositions, September 2008
Naomi Dalglish Artist Bio
Naomi began making pottery with her grandmother as a child. She studied clay at Earlham College with Mike Theideman, a former apprentice of Warren MacKenzie. She spent a semester in Mexico, where she studied with Mexican potters and discovered pre-colombian clay figures. In addition to making pottery, she began making sculptures inspired by pre-colombian and Japanese Haniwa figures.
After college, Naomi came to Penland to take a kiln building class and stayed in the area. She now makes sculptures and collaborates in making pottery with her husband Michael Hunt. They work together as full time potters, firing their kiln four times a year, and occasionally teaching workshops. Their pottery is named "Bandana Pottery" after the small community in which they live. They exhibit their work nationally.
Naomi Dalglish Artist Statement
My sculptures were originally inspired by pre-colombian clay figures and ancient Japanese Haniwa sculptures. The small openings of the eyes or mouth in these hollow forms reveal a seemingly vast empty interior space. Being a musician, this powerful energy seems to me to be musical in nature. Many of my figures therefore end up as musicians, but even if they are not singing or playing an instrument, they are radiating their quiet joy and wonder into the world. Many of these sculptures are coil-built, which involves slowly adding ropes of clay from the bottom of the form to the top. Others are carved from a solid piece of clay, and hollowed afterwards.
