Untitled 

Curator: Let's take a moment to examine this "Untitled" earthenware piece, likely crafted for decorative purposes. The artist, Christian Royal, clearly has an affinity for natural motifs, judging by the leaf patterns encircling the platter's rim. Editor: My initial impression is pure serenity. The muted tones and the simple, repeating leaf pattern give it a meditative, almost zen-like quality. I could see this gracing a Thanksgiving table. Curator: Indeed, the materiality of earthenware brings a certain earthiness and connection to tradition. The means of production also become central to how we understand the value placed on these 'decorative elements'. Editor: You're right; you can practically feel the potter's hands shaping it. There’s something incredibly intimate about functional art, isn’t there? Like you're sharing a meal not just with people but with the creative process itself. Does the leaf design strike you as especially artful or mass produced? Curator: Mass production techniques for ceramics have been around for centuries, but with the variation in shading, my instinct tells me this design could easily have involved screen printing or stamping. Notice that the choice of repeating leaves also moves towards accessibility in manufacturing, unlike individual handmade applications. Editor: Interesting point about reproducibility. Yet, I find that there's also something quite comforting about the repetitive pattern, which actually does seem almost like it imitates how leaves are, after all, themselves repeated patterns, natural fractal geometry. Makes one wonder, did Royal start out looking at individual leaves only to move to appreciate the way they organize in nature? Curator: These leaf patterns on earthenware become decorative objects, raising the question, what distinguishes 'craft' from 'art' besides intent and reception? Is it labor alone? That really makes you consider what elevates an object to something worth considering aesthetically. Editor: I like that so much; I suppose I always resist such lines myself. Looking at this, I imagine warm colors from fall food sitting inside the ring of the brown autumn leaves. Even a mass-produced aesthetic touches someone deeply when used for things we do everyday! Curator: Exactly! In its final function of serving and being passed along, that’s where the social dimensions come in. So next time you grab for that patterned platter, maybe think about the process that brought that object to the table, too. Editor: Yes! Because behind any well-made or even simply heartfelt gift there’s this entire material journey and thought process which should have the honor of gratitude!