Covered jar c. 2001

Curator: Looking at Michael Simon's ceramic and mixed media "Covered Jar," created around 2001, what's your first impression? Editor: Well, it's immediately striking. Stark. The palette is very limited but powerful, with those inky black birds against the earthy, unglazed ceramic. The composition has a playful feel—like something between folk art and a dream. Curator: Absolutely. Simon often infuses his pieces with a sense of narrative, wouldn’t you say? There’s a story whispered here. Those stylized birds, so bold and dark, positioned around the form... What might they signify? Editor: Birds often represent freedom, messages, the soul's journey, or the space between worlds. Considering their close proximity and mirroring on the jar, they could be communicating—sharing secrets. And the bird on the lid almost acts as a guardian. There is a wonderful tension in the graphic quality versus the earthy handmade texture of the piece. Curator: I love how the simple elegance allows space for endless readings. What do you think it means to place these evocative images on a utilitarian form—a jar, something meant to hold and contain? Editor: I think it elevates the everyday. It transforms something ordinary into something precious, embedding myth and memory into the very vessels that hold our daily lives. Simon invites us to consider the unseen stories held within our objects. The contrast between the organic brushstrokes and the rigid square of the pot adds tension. Curator: A lovely idea. He seems to imbue a sense of life and connection to such a functional item. Makes you think differently about containers and what is precious, contained, perhaps what might fly away. Editor: Indeed. This "Covered Jar" feels like a reminder to seek the symbolic in the mundane and remember the enduring power of shared stories and ancient images, a call to value our objects beyond their practical use. Curator: Nicely put! It’s been a real pleasure unpacking the possible narratives held in this container, thank you.