Kate VandenBerg

When I was a child and my family would walk in our forested woods of Central Illinois, my mother would always encourage us to look for the faeries who surely made their homes under the Mayapples.  While my sister and I did not encounter any faeries, we did develop a deep appreciation for the magical small wonders of the Forest Floor. There are few ways I love more to spend my time than a silent, slow walk in the woods. With children of my own now, we walk as quietly as their excitement allows, pointing out the bright fungi that surprises us, taking notice of the cushioned, mossy paths and the lichen creeping along the bark of our favorite trees. 

When we walk slowly we see the magic that is alive beneath our feet. Fungi and lichen in all shades are working their superpowers to maintain the forest lifecycle.  Moss is the forest’s gentle protector, absorbing and slowly releasing moisture and nutrients while stabilizing the soil.  

Toggling between a delicious brown stoneware and silky porcelain, I pull from my experiences in the forest as my inspiration and guide.  All of my work is unglazed on the exterior to provide the most natural texture and visual imagery of the nature that inspires it. My work is vitrified to prevent leaks but it should be handled carefully with clean hands, which also serves as a reminder to handle our forests carefully.  I hope to honor the small wonders of the forest with my art. To pay tribute to the often overlooked marvels that keep our natural areas healthy for generations of children.

I hope you, too, take time to look for the faeries.