Sacred Confluence: Ceramics of Ritual

As one’s sense of vocation could be religion, mine is creating meaningful ceramic vessels. Merging the activities of artists and researchers, I studied the 17th-century Jesuit priest Martin Del Rio’s Investigations into Magic to articulate the message shared through my ceramic series. Returning themes such as Catholicism, Magic, Gothic European Cathedrals, and Good vs. Evil heavily inspired my work. The sacred act of communion in close relation to the conspiracy of magic and witchcraft is a challenging notion. Through my work, I combine the communion vessels with 17th-century Gothic architecture, commenting on the confluence of Catholicism and witchcraft: Good vs. Evil.   

The main structure, a teapot, or in the act of communion, a Flagon, is a tribute to 17th-century European culture and the importance of cathedrals in catholic religion: a sacred place of worship and a symbol of paradise. The repetition of three, through the chalices and teacups, suggests a catholic practice, the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Finally, the large, lidded chalice, a Ciborium, serves as a host box in practice. Glazed in a deep blue in correlation to traditional catholic depictions of Mary with ornamental details, suggests the depth of conflict and its history.   

The translation of Disquisitions Magicae, Investigations Into Magic states, "Indeed the Catholic demonologists were also ware that the very ceremonies and sacrements of the church needed defending as they could be, and were, seen as having strong links with magic" (P.G Maxwell-Stuart, Series Editors Forward vii).