Reflection

I created the base teapot and teacup of this piece on the wheel. The snake was hand-sculpted and scored and slipped onto the stoneware clay. It was a long process to keep the consistency of the clay able to mold to one another. The metal represents the Four Lower Snake River dams that are chained to the river, thus making the river less wild. I then used matte glazes to add detail and emphasize the swirling blue snake that represents the Snake River in the United States' Pacific Northwest. By having a constant reminder of the impacts of the Four Lower Snake River dams, people can educate themselves and their friends and family. I was inspired by the current dissipation of salmon populations in my home state of Idaho. The salmon tail is disappearing into the teapot in the same way that salmon are disappering from the dammed rivers. No one wants a snake near their tea. I wanted to put two things together that do not fit. Snakes are commonly considered venomous, and water spurting out of a snake's mouth is a peculiar image to consider. As we continue to pollute our rivers and dam them, the waters are becoming consistently more toxic. I learned that nitrates that build up behind dams can cause humans to be inept at circulating oxygen, along with a myriad of other problems. These toxins are in our rivers, and they are spewing from the snake's mouth into our cup of tea. I want my viewers to consider this as they look at my work. The small teacup has a generic anadromous fish that is returning to its home river, which is apparent because of the hooked jaw and humpy back.