The Rugged Ones - the Magpie plates.
The Rugged Ones series began as a response to a question about life in contemporary Wyoming and women’s equality issues. They explore the story of women in Wyoming and their relationship to typical feminist ideals. Better Be Tough, Better Be Smart and Better Be Resourceful are decorated serving plates ornamented with altered edges, slip trailing, carving, direct painting and stains that reference the style of 18th and 19th century European tableware. A hand carved and painted illustration of a magpie is centrally located in each plate, and she is seen interacting with her surroundings. The juxtaposition of the familiarly 'fancy' serving dish with an image of a bird that's strikingly beautiful, yet ubiquitous, frequently overlooked and even treated with disdain might make a viewer pause to consider. Traditional gender roles that dovetail (or not) within a self-declared 'woke' but conservative agrarian society are concepts I've pondered in the creation of this series. These particular plates are a hefty, sturdy thickness, measure between 10” and 12” in diameter and are made from hand thrown stoneware. Lead free, food safe, microwave, dishwasher and oven friendly. Feet are sanded smooth and pierced to accommodate a wire for hanging, if desired, unless otherwise indicated.
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