Finding Wings Ceramic Art
Swan sculptures carved with the stories of domestic violence survivors.
Look closely at the surface of the Finding Wings sculptures and you will see that the texture is words. I carve the stories of domestic violence survivors into the clay, and each sculpture carries one survivor’s story.
Each piece begins with a one-on-one session where I lead a survivor through a creative process while they share their experience. I transcribe what they share and select excerpts to carve into the feathers.
Most art about domestic violence centers darkness and pain. I want to tell the other side, which is the strength and resilience it takes to recognize abuse, break free, and begin again.
How each piece is made
Each sculpture begins as a slabs of clay formed into cylinders. I cut pieces away to bend it into a rough shape, then work it with my hands, ribs, and paddles, pushing out from the inside to build volume and smoothing the surface as I go. The head and neck start as a pinch pot, shaped and refined separately.
A finished sculpture stands roughly two feet tall and has 50-75 feathers. The feathers are cut and shaped and carved with excerpts from a survivor’s story before firing. Each one is attached one at a time with epoxy, beginning at the tail and working toward the head.
The epoxy takes time to set before I can add the next feather. The process teaches me patience, much like the healing journey itself, which asks us to slow down and take it step by step.
Rebirth: Art by Survivors of Domestic Violence
I founded and curate Rebirth: Art by Survivors of Domestic Violence so that survivor artists like me would have a place to show our work. Rebirth brings together survivor artists from across the country. The next Rebirth opens in summer 2027 at Good Art Company in Greenville, South Carolina.
Previous Rebirth Exhibitions
Radiant Community Arts, Eugene, OR, 2025
Welborn Gallery, Yadkinville, NC, 2025
Awards & Exhibitions
First Place, 3D — Muse: A Carolina Juried Art Competition, 2025
Artist of the Month — TheArtList.com, 2025
First Place, People’s Choice — Yadkin Arts Council Juried Exhibition, 2024
Honorable Mention — Animal, Tervarna International Juried Art Competition, 2024
ArtFields, Lake City, SC
Domestic Violence: Resilience through Art, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
Shine On, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Black Mountain, NC
Muse: A Carolina Juried Art Competition, Greenville, SC
Annual Juried Exhibition, Spartanburg Artist Collective, Spartanburg, SC
Finding Wings, New Zone Gallery, Eugene, OR
Wings, Haywood County Arts Council Gallery, Waynesville, NC
Annual Juried Exhibition, Spartanburg Artist Collective, Spartanburg, SC
Yadkin Arts Council Juried Competition, Welborn Gallery, Yadkinville, NC
Finding Wings Pottery
Inspired by the sculptures and made with the same carved surfaces, these are vessels for sacred moments.
Ten percent of all ceramics proceeds goes to Helpmate, which provides shelter and crisis support for survivors of domestic violence in western North Carolina.
Meet me in Person
Come see me at these upcoming events!
Experience the art up close and discover which piece is calling to you.
Mountaintop Arts and Crafts
August 29-30th
Highlands, NC
https://www.highlandschamber.org/mountaintop-arts-craft-show/
Hendersonville Art on Main
September 26-27th 10am-5pm
Hendersonville, NC
https://www.acofhc.org/art-on-main-2026.html
St James Court Art Show
October 2-4th 10am-6pm
Louisville, Kentucky
https://www.stjamescourtartshow.com
Tennessee Craft
October 9th-11th
Nashville, TN
https://tennesseecraft.org/fairs/
Kentuck Festival of the Arts
October 17-18th
Tuscaloosa, AL
https://www.kentuck.org/the-festival