Do You Recall?

My work typically revolves around the preservation of artifacts and time, or the act of cherishing memories. Making this piece felt more poignant. I tried to recreate something but immediately found that my mind hadn’t locked down all the details. I had to keep asking my brother what he remembered and scoured the internet for pictures of what I was recalling, with no success. However, I don’t know if that was because there were no pictures to find or if it was because what we were remembering was not true.

This piece embodies that uncertainty for me. I have always hated the feeling of forgetting and letting go of things. I am scared to grow up and risk forgetting everything that came before. I want to hold onto the sound of a multitude of Lego Duplos hitting the carpeted floors of my grandparents’ living room as we tried to occupy ourselves on a rainy day. However, I can’t remember it forever. It moves further from my mind’s reach with every passing day. I’ve started to ask more questions that I don’t have answers for. I know that as another season of life comes to an end, I will one day be grasping for the memories of today that will feel like they were a lifetime ago. Memories fade, seasons end... and sometimes, we aren’t even aware that it’s happening.

Low-fire clay (2023)

9“ x 9” x 18”