Environmental ethics

The Vessel: The Connection o f Pottery and Earth Consciousness, addresses the
topic of Earth Consciousness through an exploration of the crafting and use of clay
vessels among three indigenous cultures, from parts of the Southwest United States, and
those from parts of India and Africa. Earth Consciousness is the awareness that the Earth
is a conscious living being and that one is connected to the Earth through every cycle of
one’s life. Myths of creation describing the existence of clay and pottery before the
origin of human beings are present in these cultures, some of who also believe that they
were created out of clay. Thereby, their connection to the Earth, strengthened by this
belief, is deep and it is exhibited through the use of clay vessels in ritual ceremonies and
daily activities. The potters in these cultures express their realization of clay as a gift of
the Earth, whom they conceptualize as Mother Earth, in the ceremonies they perform
prior to collecting clay, crafting the vessels, and firing them. Among contemporary ceramists, one also finds works meant to remind the viewers of their physical, spiritual,
and political connection to the Earth. In my dissertation, I explore the works of four such
ceramists, Sadashi Inuzuka, Gabrielle Koch, Joseph Lonewolf, and Denise Romecki. I
also discussed the philosophy behind my own artwork, which I have created as part of
requirement for graduation and exhibited at the university galleries.
This dissertation clarifies my concepts of Earth Consciousness bringing attention
to the urgent need for individual action in the form of personal behavioral change and
worldview towards the Earth and other living beings. My ideas are derived from various
sources including indigenous spirituality, Hinduism, and Buddhism. My hope is that the
words of this dissertation and the ceramic work I am presenting will stir in the reader and
the viewer a desire to strengthen their relationship to the Earth. It is my belief that
individual action can be a powerful tool in countering further destruction of the planet.

This thesis explores W.P. Kinsella's emphasis on love for land, family, and baseball in discussing relationships between characters in his short story "Shoeless Joe Jackson Comes to Iowa". Chapter I introduces the characters, their role in establishing this as a tale of conservation through agrarianism, and how Kinsella's choice to write a positive story creates unique potential for healing. Chapter II establishes similarities between the father's war experiences and Jackson's exile from baseball, underscoring its mythic importance. Chapter III examines the relationship between the protagonist and his wife, and how their relationship symbolically fosters love for nature through farming, and can be used to reconcile modern agrarianism with ecocriticism. Chapter IV discusses how connection with the earth brings healing. The final chapter underscores the worthiness of this work to be a cherished part of the American literary canon.

The intention of this exhibition is to educate the viewer about the hidden impacts that result from simple choices of consumption. This is a critique of the materials economy and the responsibilities of the designers, consumers and industries that contributed to its success. The critique is expressed through four dominant and unsustainable consumer products: water bottles, plastic shopping bags, cigarette filters and farm chemicals, as each has its own specific story of consumption. The form is derived from manufacturing history, statistical data, and profiles of consumer behaviors. Graphic design is utilized in both formal and non-formal methods with the goal of communicating specific messages to the viewer as they progress through the exhibition space.