About Pandora
In Greek Mythology — Pandora — was created by the gods as “the all-gifted one” and was formed out of clay. The current Pandora has pursued her passion for creating art, with clay. How appropriate.
For over 30 years, she was a graphic designer and photographer. She has received national and international awards for her design work, and her photographs have appeared on the covers and interiors of national and regional magazines and newspapers.
This modern day Pandora studied design at California State University, San Jose and holds a Fine Arts Degree (Ceramic Sculpture) from the University of Nevada. She studied with Mike McCollum, an eminent clay artist who apprenticed with Peter Voulkos.
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
With her educational background and three decades of design work, she resumed working in clay in 2005, studying with Bob Nichols, one of the best known clay artists on California’s central coast. Each summer she takes speciality classes at the Metchosin International Summer School for the Arts, in Victoria, British Columbia.
Pandora’s contemporary ceramics encompass both art and function. Her work is best described as robust, one-of-kind functional (mostly) art. Her large, elaborate platters are perfect as an objet d’art and to use as a showpiece while serving a meal. Her work has appeared in shows in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, and is currently in three San Luis Obispo County galleries. She is an annual participant in the “Open Studio Tour.”
“Creativity is that marvelous capacity to grasp mutually distinct realities and draw a spark from their juxtaposition.”
Her sense of curiosity, love of travel and sailing have taken her to many foreign places where people live their art, and live simply. She seeks out clay artists in other countries and loves learning their approach to form and surface design. The real trick of travel is not to just see new worlds, but to see your own with new eyes when you return. Following her other passion of sailing, she has sailed over 40,000 offshore miles and holds a US Coast Guard Captain’s license.
Pandora lives in Cuesta-By-The-Sea, Los Osos, California, with her landscape architect husband, Gary — and a yellow lab named Keesha.
Member:
San Luis Obispo Art Museum, Artist member; Arts Obispo, Artist member; Morro Bay Art Association; Potters Council; International Ceramic Artists Network (ICAN); Los Osos Chamber of Commerce; San Luis Obispo County Park Commission; Celebrate Los Osos, President; Visit Los Osos – Baywood, a county Business Improvement District; Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County; Carrizo Plain Conservancy; Morro Bay Yacht Club; US Sailing; and US Coast Guard Foundation.
