I want you to know but I don't want to tell you

Kayla Barta

Area: Ceramics

Thesis Statement

My current work demonstrates how art can be therapeutic and help process trauma. From the beginning of my experience here at Indiana University, I have used layers as a passage of time which is something that is continued in my thesis work. By pinching the clay and leaving each layer visible, I create paths that show the movement of the clay. My fingerprints are pressed into every inch of the pieces showing physical trauma that is repeatedly put in over time. Sometimes my marks are very subtle, while other times they are much deeper and made with more intentions. These sculptures are like husks of myself, that protected my thoughts from painful memories as well as providing a calming outlet through the process of making. During firing, some pieces may shift and create cracks or small openings. Instead of dreading them, I welcome them as they represent my shell slowly being worn away. Rolling out each coil, pressing the coils into each other, making the pieces move and writing my stories on the outside; the whole process has helped me slow down and understand my pain in a way I’ve never experienced.