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The Artists |
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| It is likely that the three artists featured here are among the first in the United States, if not the world, to incorporate cremains as an integral element in their work. We present them with pride and gratitude for collaborating with the principals of Phoenix Memorial Art in creating these distinctive examples. |
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Margaret Boozer
 Artist Statement: Clay is both material and content for my work. It retains its connection to earth and brings in association of fertility, stability, permanence and sense of place. I dig local clays, and my compositions are often a response to how I find clay in the environment, whether it's tool marks at a construction site or natural weathering of strata on a river bank.
 I prefer the term "cremains" to the misnomer "ashes". The cremains are much more substantial, more like dirt, clay and rock than they are like fly-away wood ash. I worked with the cremains much as I would the clay and other materials that I dig and work with in my ceramics studio.
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| About the Artist: Margaret Boozer lives and works in the Washington, DC metro area. She received a BFA in sculpture from Auburn University and an MFA in ceramics from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Her work is included in the collection of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Wilson Public Building Art collection and many private collections. She serves on the boards of the James Renwick Alliance and the Washington Sculptors Group, and on the Advisory board for Hillyer Art Space. Boozer taught for ten years at the Corcoran College of Art and Design before founding Red Dirt Studio in Mt. Rainier, where she directs ceramic and sculpture seminars in conjunction with creative explorations of her own. |
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| About the Artist: Scott Haines has been fascinated by pottery ever since his introduction to it in the eighth grade. In 1997, while finishing his degree in Fine Arts at Minot State University in North Dakota, he stumbled upon the property that would become Bridges Street Pottery. With the help of his father, Joe Haines, Scott remodeled an old church building in Morehead City, North Carolina, transforming it into a pottery studio and gallery, as well as a home for Scott. Scott has worked with stoneware, porcelain and raku. He teaches pottery at Carteret Community College and raku glaze workshops at his studio.
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Catherine White
 Artist Statement: Beginning in 1983, the directness and essence of naturally ash-glazed woodfired pottery inspired me to strip added decoration from my own glazed ware. Because cremains are such an emotional material I feel a great responsibility and respect as I work with each piece and allow its uique personality to emerge. When adding cremains to the clay body I am aware of the textural effects of the ashes on the clay as the piece forms. The firing process initiates a re-birth and reminds me that I can go beyond assertiveness and capture human vulnerability in clay.
About the Artist: Born in 1958, Catherine White grew up in New York City. She received her A.A. degree in 1977 from Simon's Rock College in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
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| Following the study of painting at the Leo Marchutz School of Painting and Drawing in Aix en Provence, France, she completed an M.F.A. in Ceramics at Antioch. She was an assistant professor for two years teaching ceramic wheel, handbuilding and drawing to M.F.A. and undergraduate students. She established her first pottery studio in 1984, then created a full-time studio in Warrenton, Virginia in 1989. Since then, she has recieved yearly commissions to make pottery for OMEN, a restaurant in Soho, New York City (affiliated with OMEN, Kyoto). She was Adjunct Professor of Ceramics from 1993-1995 at American University, Washington, D.C., and is currently Adjunct Faculty (Ceramics) at the Corcoran College of Art + Design, in Washington, DC.
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| After Boozer, Haines and White led the way by demonstrating that cremains can be appropriately integrated to become a part of the art, we introduced our concept to other widely recognized artists. The response was highly favorable. As a result, many of these artists have become affiliated with Phoenix Memorial Art to create everlasting one-of-a-kind memorials for our clients. They will be featured in future editions of this website. |
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| For more information, please Contact Us. |
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Artist Statement: I love pottery. Although I have worked over eighteen years in this medium, I feel that I have only scratched the surface of this art form. With a limitless combination of medium and techniques, pottery will always be a constant challenge. Although I didn't immediately pursue the path of an artist, I'd always wanted to be one. I feel that art, like life, is an endless adventure – an endless challenge. When Marjorie suggested that I add cremains to my art, I was touched by her reasons as as well as intrigued by the concept.