Statement

Ceramics is Bonnie Kemske’s medium. As humans, we have a long history of engaging our sense of touch in ceramics. We are never far from ceramic objects within our lives. We touch them daily, even if it is only to clutch our coffee mugs as we sit at the computer or lean against the edge of the sink as we go through our morning rituals. In fact, ceramics is an almost universal medium. This gives us an innate and intimate sensitivity to fired clay. We understand it; there is a sense of the familiar when we handle ceramic objects. This familiar quality lends itself to developing the sense of comfort and quiet excitement that Bonnie seeks to elicit through her work.

Bonnie’s most recent ceramic works have been designed to allow our bodies to interact with them on several levels. Surface textures engage our abilities to distinguish surface quality. The weight of the work as it rests against the body stimulates a pleasurable sensation of pressure. The work is low-fired to facilitate the equalization of temperature between the toucher’s body and the ceramic pieces. As the body settles around the work in different positions, our sense of proprioception is engaged, that is, we sense our body in space and in relation to the objects around us. As the work moves across areas of bare skin the sense of a delicate touch, known as ‘the lover’s touch’, stimulates areas of the brain associated with pleasure and well-being. Handling and embracing the work evokes touch memories and subconscious associations. Finally, Bonnie believes that interaction with the work can generate a sense of self, a sense of wholeness in oneself, through a blurring of the subject and object. This leads the toucher to a self-reflective sensuality. The embrace is, above all, a centering action, one of comfort and security.