I think of my art as a reflection of something that wishes to emerge. With stoneware clay as my primary medium, images often have dreamlike qualities or elements of landscape.

The earthiness of many of the images is a result of childhood summers spent on beach shores, laden with clay, water skiing on the adjoining lake and following the muse. Seeing and feeling the clay in this idyllic environment during youth has emerged into lifelong impressions and a visceral connection to the earth. 

This piece of personal history is probably part of my initial attraction to printing with clay. Along with this strong appeal, there is a gravitational pull to the print’s potential of revealing previous layers of clay, as I often cut into deeper layers of the clay matrix before printing. In revealing this history, there is a potential for metaphor, in the sense of revealing what’s below the surface of my own nature. When the prints are created, the subconscious is activated as I wait, listen and act on prompts that are not easy to name, but are alive and present. I commit to trusting the invisible cues and “listen” with all my senses, for that which wishes to come forth.  

In a life and culture where so much is scheduled and predetermined, the making of art becomes sacred and soulful, revealing deeper aspects of myself. Sharing this with others completes the journey- in this great mystery of life.

Pam Stefl Toki