Mariko Brown Harkin currently resides in central Illinois. She lives with her husband, daughter and two dogs. Mariko maintains an active home studio practice and shows regionally, nationally and online.

Artist Statement:

The objects I create are made to honor domesticity, the tradition of craft, and the utilitarian vessel. I consider the home a sacred place where I feel safe, relaxed, and at peace with the world around me. A home and the objects that reside in it are signifiers of what we find beautiful in the world around us. This consideration of beauty varies, as beauty and attraction are subjective. I am interested in how the objects we live and interact with daily act as statements of what one considers attractive or valuable. Additionally, I am interested in how domestic objects can act as metaphor for specific ideas and emotions some may experience when it comes to conforming to a certain standard of beauty society has created. These objects represent what I find beautiful, even though these representations of beauty may not be the same for everyone.
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       I am fascinated with the vessel for the utilitarian function it can offer. For me, the vessel is a familiar entry point for the work to be viewed and interacted with. Vessels as objects are familiar in that we encounter a variety of vessel-like forms in our daily lives. The vessel can do more than contain goods. It can contain space and our thoughts, ideas, and emotions. This sense of familiarity is an important component for my work, as it engages the viewer and encourages them to interact with the work. Vessels move us to question ourselves in the same way we may question ideas pertaining to beauty, craft, and ornamentation.

       In today’s fast-paced, technology-saturated world, many people do not take the time to appreciate that which sustains us. Handmade pots force us to slow down and contemplate things at a different pace   Utilitarian objects excite me because they offer the specific purpose of use, allowing one to engage with an object on a physical and intimate level. Pottery is fascinating not only for its utilitarian function, but also for the long history that connects us through the need to create objects that feed and nourish us as a society. I find the fact that people are willing to embrace the handmade in a time of instant gratification to be a positive indication of what is valued in society today. Whether a maker or buyer, there is a conscious choice to acknowledge the beauty and the uniqueness of the handmade pot. By engaging in this process, we acknowledge that this approach to making is still valid and important today.