Ode to Appalachia

Ode to Appalachia is a project I was involved in through my art honors seminar in 2022. It was a student-led dining experience created in partnership with The Beacon Butcher Bar. The project aimed to celebrate Appalachia and the Watauga community through a shared meal using tableware made by students in the class.

Made in collaboration with Caitlin Cook.

Bread Platter with Ramekins represents a course that was meant to be shared and experienced together. Inspired by the theme of connection, we referenced how the water of Appalachia’s lakes, rivers, and streams connect the landscape.

Each platter was press-molded into a plaster mold, with tops of the forms individually molded to create a dynamic surface. The ramekins were made using a slip casting process. All ramekins were cast, and hand finished. Both pieces were fired twice in a ceramic kiln, with glaze and slip used to create the surfaces.