Moni Blom

When I entered 6th grade, our family had just moved to Tripoli, Libya where my Dad was employed by Occidental Petroleum of Libya. It was in Libya, a small town called Garian, built from clay, that my fascination and love of clay began.  There, I watched a very thin shirtless potter "throw" a 5-foot-tall olive oil vessel and the power to drive the potter's wheel was generated by a donkey walking around in circles. I was hooked. 

When we moved back to Bakersfield, California, I studied wheel throwing with two well known ceramicists, Vic and Pat Bracke after school and that was the beginning of my formal clay study. I graduated from Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Mass.) with Studio Art and Education Bachelor degrees that lead to formative years of teaching ceramics and stone and wood carving at the Catalina Island School on Catalina Island, California. Post graduate ceramic classes including welding and bronze casting at San Diego State University launched me into the arena of being a full-time ceramic studio artist. 

Finding my footing in life gave way to doing a slew of other jobs while working in clay at night. Finally, I chose to do clay work on a full-time basis which I have been doing for over 35 years. I taught Intermediate and Advanced Clay Handbuilding classes at the San Diego Art Department on Ray Street for two years and at that same time I volunteered teaching clay to homeless kids ages 9-18 from the Monarch School at the Art Department. Currently I teach clay handbuilding workshops and demonstrations several times a year in San Diego. I show and sell my work at juried shows in California and Arizona. Galleries and museum stores are my other show and sell outlets.  

Typically, I create all my pieces from clay slabs and fire between cones from 03 to 08- so my work is considered to be low fired which explains all the very bright glazes. Adding glass, steel, and other non-clay objects adds clout to the work. The goal is to integrate   opposing elements to create fun seamless interesting work.  All my differing phases of work migrate from one focus to the next. So, from using the human figure to geometric forms, I seek to create movement and emotional connection with the viewer. The resulting contemporary sculptures are playful colorful and joyous. 

I continue to broaden my creative scope with ongoing educational and cultural events. I have been inspired by workshop insights from Tip Toland, Ken Kensuke, Adrian Arleo, Lana Wilson, teachings from the Idyllwild Arts Hot Clay stellar line up, Paul Soldner, Tashiko Takaezu and Eric Woods... these are my favorites!! 

Travelling inspires me because I witness the rich variety of art created throughout history...from different outlooks, aesthetics, and perspectives. Traveling affords me the luxury of having the time to think, muse, and wonder how to integrate my experience of living in this time with what has come before. I look to find that visual moment that excites and satisfies me completely. 

Life is always more fulfilling and delightful if I am enjoying creating with clay. And that is the goal. I am tremendously thankful for this.