With southern roots and a global vision, Carren Clarke uses clay to celebrate culture and create community. By incorporating history and symbols from a myriad of cultures in Africa and the Diaspora, Carren puts a contemporary twist on the oldest

craft in the world. Her faces, bodies, and vessels transcend form, texture, and emotion to take people on the journey of awakening, overcoming, and self-love. These stories are unearthed through the soil that is soft, yet strong, pliable, but also resilient. Carren uses her culinary skills along with her functional pottery to connect her ceramic enthusiasts with one another around a communal meal. These gatherings not only foster community but also allow individuals not yet able to invest in fine art an opportunity to enjoy a handcrafted mug or bowl that tells a story on a smaller scale. While she loves creating a body of work using the four elements—earth, water, air, and fire, Carren stretches her creativity to new levels by incorporating other mediums, such as batiking cloth, woodworking, and metal. When asked why she is so passionate about playing in the dirt, Carren with joy said, “When people do archaeological digs, clay is the first thing they find. It tells so many stories of so many nations. When I’m no longer here, [my work] will still remain because it’s already gone through a fire. These pieces will still be able to tell stories. It’s an amazing journey.”