Bensenville
Host: Carly Connelly and Levi Yastrow in the backyard of their home & studio
Carly Connelly is a nonbinary artist whose work is created in response to their profession as a floral designer, their curiosity surrounding death, and their interest in identity and gender. Their work is soda fired which relinquishes control to the atmosphere causing one of a kind surfaces and an earth toned color palette.
Levi Yastrow is a potter and teacher from the Chicago Suburbs. He makes functional soda and wood fired tableware inspired by his kinetic connection to clay and the world around him. Levi is a teaching artist at Lillstreet in Chicago and it the Art Studios Lab Technician at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Nishi’s style is based on the simplicity and functionality of Japanese pottery, using natural materials and colors typical in nature. He believes that pottery should not be the center of attention on the dinner table--it should be simple and attractive, while discreetly adding to the delicious appearance of the food. He strives to create pottery that resonates with me and brings out my inner peace.
Amber Frances is a non binary potter working and living in Chicago. They have been teaching and making ceramics all over the US from California and Arizona to North Carolina and Maine, and Chicago. They are curious about the world and all the things in it, and they use clay as a medium to make functional ware that reflects on the ordinary beauty of everyday objects.
Katie Susko’s pottery is reflection and expression of my love of “home”. Her designs are direct references of textile prints and patterns associated with domestic life. Wallpaper patterns, garment and furniture fabric patterns, and of course the garden are all sources of inspiration. Her pottery is both decorative and functional; this is the intent behind the forms I choose, the weight of the piece, the glaze, and the surface design.
Qi Zhang’s work bridges the digital and the handmade, blending functional and sculptural ceramics through slip casting techniques. He designs each form digitally, 3D print prototypes, and creates plaster molds to cast my pieces. His work draws inspiration from the structural beauty of architecture, the organic complexity of nature, and the dreamlike qualities of surrealism. Each piece is an exploration of form and feeling—intended to evoke both familiarity and otherworldliness.