Uncharted

About Uncharted

Exquisite in form and detail, Heather Allen Hietala’s series of hand-built clay vessels symbolize life’s journey. This beautiful piece features a larger vessel; its bold form reminiscent of ancient boats in an earthy palette, a smaller vessel sits inside; the interior floor lined with turquoise and ocean blue glass from recycled wine and liquor bottles. For the artist, the glass is used to reflect light and symbolizes ‘the soul’. Handwritten inscriptions on the vessel reveal Hietala’s stream of consciousness thoughts. Ie. ‘All we can do is follow the light…soul searching….why must we search?” This series was created as an homage to Hietala’s parents.

“As a kid I used to help my father sail by plotting our course on charts. But I recognize that life is unpredictable…it can’t be mapped. The inscriptions on my work offer advice for wherever you’re going but the journey itself still can’t be predicted.”

She studied painting and sculpture at the University of New Hampshire and textiles at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Hietala furthered her studies at Penland School of Crafts, Haystack, and Arrowmont in the US. Her work has been shown in Canada, the US, France and Singapore, and is held in collections worldwide. She has also taught and lectured in the US, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Nepal.