This past weekend my wife and I visited our son at University of Hartford. It was our first official "parents' weekend" with our young freshman. One of the activities on campus was a small craft fair, where I discovered the work of Connecticut clay artist Chris London. (Click for web site.) Her collection of tiny skull masks yanked my attention from its diffuse, wandering-about state to a blue fabric covered table, adorned with a stamped swirl motif.

There were more, with several styles and many sizes.

What quickly came to mind, for a point of reference, was Tim Burton's 1993 A Nightmare Before Christmas. But that's all; just a reference! Chris London's creations are chock full of so much nuanced character. Their impish experessions feel like the tip of an iceberg, as if they have so much more to tell us if we'll only take them home and listen. (In a 2008 Hartford Magazine interview, Ms. London said "You know immediately when a piece is done... it starts talking to you.")

This one was practically singing, so it came home with me together with the very first image, above.

I thank my wife Jennifer for insisting that I top off our purchase and also get the larger mask I was audibly ogling. It features a repeating, cropped-spiral texture, wide-set eyes on it's own mask (mask on a mask), subtle bulges for nose and mouth areas, and a slightly rough finish overall. It's about 10 inches tall and ready to hang.

Remember folks, clay artists aren't just potters...

www.clondonclay.com