Dawn Jarvela-Henthorn

Biography

Here I Sit

As a child growing up on Kodiak Island, Alaska, I explored tide pools, climbed trees, rolled around in foot-thick moss, snacked on salmon berries, rosehips, seaweeds, and limpets. All this left an indelible mark. I am bound to Alaska – the wildlife, the people, the land, and the sea.

I respect and admire the native art of soapstone carving and storytelling. Working from nature, I carve pieces in soapstone, using no power tools whatsoever.

My ceramic sculptures, primarily of women, reflect their traditions, experiences, feelings, and moods.

Years ago I began my creative life with a six-dollar sack of clay and fell in love with the earthiness of it all. Now I make handmade tiles in relief, and create, on commission, tile installations for kitchens, fireplaces, tables, etc. In the craftsman style my tiles are half an inch thick, stained with colored engobes, then high fired and treated with wax for a soft, aged look. Each installation is unique.

I’ve lived in Kingston sixteen years with one old dog and my husband, John, a retired pilot. My two grown children live in Seattle.

http://www.dawnjarvela.com