The Taphonomic Hearth Stones series explores the study of taphonomy and its relationship with humans, fire, and soil. Taphonomy investigates how organic remains transition from the biosphere to the lithosphere through burial, decomposition, and mineralization into fossils or other stable biomaterials. This slow process, often unnoticed, serves as a metaphor for how our personal narratives transform from our psyche to the truths we embody. By delving into this concept, we become more mindful of the formation of fossils and stable biomaterials that shape our perception of self. As a ceramic artist I am fascinated by the process of malleable clay becoming a solid object and how this parallels with repeated narratives shaping our emotional landscapes.

Ritual vessels reminiscent of primitive domestic items, such as vases and pitchers, symbolize the tradition of sharing stories around a campfire signifying not only physical sustenance, but also the intangible and immaterial connections that sustain our relationship with life.

Taphonomic Hearth Stones encourages viewers to contemplate the beauty of pliable memories and the role of shared narratives in shaping our perception. The exhibition invites us to consider how the fossils and stable biomaterials of our own psyche exist as evidence of our past and remind us of the subtle forces that shape us over time.

- Photography: Reticence Design