Conversations with Clay, Water, and Family: My Michigan Reset
There’s something about going home that always grounds me. This summer I had the gift of spending time in Michigan, and it was exactly the reset I needed—equal parts creative, restorative, and full of family connection.
One of the highlights was spending time in the studio with Helen Hierta Ceramics. Working alongside my mom always reminds me that clay is about dialogue—listening, responding, and letting the material guide you as much as you guide it. Together we also carved out time to brainstorm new ways to raise awareness and support for the important work of HArC (Huron Artists Collaboration). This program is so close to my heart, and it was energizing to dream up possibilities while literally getting our hands dirty in the studio.
Another special moment was visiting Helen’s large-scale installation “Nature, Energy, & Reflection” at Dow Gardens. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we walked the gardens together, discovering her totemic sculptures in situ. Having helped install all 16 pieces last May (in the pouring rain, no less!), it was such a joy to experience them this time as a visitor—to feel the magic of the gardens, and to see how her work lives and breathes in that space. If you have the chance, the exhibition is up until April 2026, and it’s truly worth the trip!
Each morning we watched the sun rise over Lake Huron, the horizon stretching wide and full of possibility. Long walks along the beach became a meditation—the shoreline is never the same twice, always shifting and changing with the water and wind. Our stretch of beach is its own living ecosystem, and we are constantly inspired by what it reveals: birds and butterflies pausing to rest, small animals moving through their life cycles, evidence of growth, birth, and renewal.
The lake teaches us patience, wonder, and perspective. Standing at the edge, letting the horizon pull our minds outward, we are reminded that we are part of something much larger, yet also intimately connected to the rhythms of this place.
The trip wouldn’t have been complete without time in Ann Arbor with my brother. Beyond just catching up, I got to visit his business, The Brinery. If you’ve never tried their naturally fermented goods, you’re missing out—they’re as creative and alive as anything I make in clay. Spending time in his world always leaves me inspired by the different ways people nurture culture, whether in food or in art.
More than anything, this trip gave me permission to step away from my day-to-day design work and simply breathe. Family dinners, quiet mornings, long swims, clay under my fingernails—it was the kind of respite that fuels new ideas. I came home rested, recharged, and ready to dive back into both my design projects and ceramics practice with fresh energy.
Thanks for following along—I hope you enjoy these snapshots of what filled my heart in Michigan. If you’d like to see what’s coming up next (shows, exhibitions, and more), make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter.
