The extraordinary colors of the southwest landscape appear on the surfaces of the smoke- fired pottery and sculpture created by Texas artist, Paulina van Bavel. The smooth, highly-polished vases make you want to stroke their surface and feel the sheen. Every vase is worthy of a special place in your home, a remembrance of sunsets, storms, and the desert landscape.

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The sculptures explore, on an abstract level, the relationship of the humanly made object with natural forms. I am pleased when simplified vessel shapes succeed in conjuring up multiple images of ancient cultural objects. They are personal "shrines," or placeholders of memories, experiences of encounters with nature and civilizations past.

Created on the potter's wheel, and carefully polished with many layers of terra sigilatta slip, each piece of Paulina's work is unique in design and coloration. Her sculptures are also carved or formed of clay slabs and polished. No glazes are used. All the designs appear during the firing process, a unique combination of ancient and modern techniques refined by the artist over thirty years of work.

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