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           Why Bells?           

Throughout history, bells have marked beginnings + endings, times of war + peace, and for me they have become symbols of people lost + periods of self-discovery.

Bells are certainly objects of great importance to the ritual life of humankind, and a glimpse into their history can illuminate our understanding of the tangible and intangible aspects of ancient cultures. They represent mindfulness of self and soul + the ringing of a bell can clear the mind and signal the time for tranquil thought and contemplation; a concept especially important in the age of social media and the 24-hour news cycle.


The bells I make range in size from 12"- 26". Each bell is a "functional sculpture" with a clear-ringing and unique tone. Design experiments are done to determine the ideal shape, size, and firing temperature needed for pleasing acoustics. Their surface treatments reference quarry walls, baked earth, marble sculpture, and the weathered + worn patina that time imparts on objects. 

Charred-wood (Shou Sugi Ban) torii gate scaffolds, table display stands and striker mallets are made so the bells can be suspended and rung in the home or garden.

smoke-fired
smoke-fired
smoke-fired
cityscape series | xxl
cityscape series | xxl
cityscape group
cityscape detail
cityscape
cityscape
cityscape detail
silverpoint series
silverpoint series
silverpoint series
silverpoint series
Graffiti Series_Baked Clay Studio
Graffiti Series_Petke_Ceramics_Baked Clay Studio_03.jpg
Graffiti Series_Petke_Ceramics_Baked Clay Studio_06
Graffiti Series_Petke_Ceramics_Baked Clay Studio_07
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