We were lucky to catch up with Maria White recently and have shared our conversation below.
Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I knew when I was a child that I wanted to be an artist and an entrepreneur. I always felt comfortable being in charge of my own work and have a life long passion for making and designing. My father was in advertising and had his own business in Las Vegas. My mother designed custom wedding gowns and costumes for entertainers. They both painted. I saw a lot of creativity in different forms growing up bid did not know that this path would lead to my making ceramics and films. I am the eldest of four (all girls) so have been in charge from a young age as well. Having that many siblings helps on to advocate for themselves, cooperate, compromise and have grace. All skills that are essential when I collaborate on projects with other artists and entrepreneurs as an adult. The first time I “knew” was when I was watching my mother work on her mannequin and from nothing, a creation was born. I would sit in her little studio and draw for hours and I knew then that I wanted my own business making things. In college I had the “knowing” moment that it was clay that would become one of the vehicles for my creative expression when I was trying my darnedest to learn to throw properly and once I finally “got it” I would stay in the studio until the sun came up. Time evaporated. I knew i had to try and find a way to make a living working with clay. I knew it would’t be easy but I was hooked.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Short Bio: Maria White is a Mexican American studio potter and independent filmmaker. White was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and also raised in Summerville, South Carolina. White first learned to make pottery while earning her degree in Art from Winthrop University. She continued to focus on ceramics with scholarship and studio assistant opportunities at Penland School of Craft and Haystack Mountain School of Craft, then went on to apprentice with sculptor and inventor, Michael Sherrill. White began her professional ceramics career in Los Angeles where she spent over a decade creating ceramics for celebrated chefs, interior designers and the sets of major motion pictures and television series. Her ceramics have earned the Award of Excellence from the American Craft Council and her pieces have been published and collected internationally. Outside of her ceramic work, White’s independent films have won awards from top international film festivals and she often collaborates with her husband, Matthew Mebane. While living in California, she co-founded the Los Angeles Womens Film Collective to help empower women working across all filmmaking disciplines. White is a survivor of postpartum anxiety and depression and is an advocate for maternal mental health. White founded Mugs for Moms, a non-profit organization that strives to bring artists, healers and advocates together to help raise awareness about perinatal mental health and offers resources and support for moms and their families. White is the mother of two and lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her family.
I got into making pots from falling in love with clay at an early age. I started off creating sculpture but once I became more skilled as a potter, I knew I wanted to merge form with function. I often make works that both sculptural and utilitarian with a very minimal and understated quality. The products I make are table top vessels, dinnerware, lighting and pieces that work well as groupings. What sets me apart from others is that I work in porcelain and explore the translucent, fragile quality of the material while embracing the strength of it as well. My work is technically challenging to make but is simple and minimal. The problems I solve for my clients is to create specific works for specific spaces / projects. For example I created the center pieces for JAR in Los Angeles and they have been on their tables providing ambient lighting for their guests for over a decade. I’ve also created set pieces for films and television series and decorative work for homes when I make pieces for interior designers. I am most proud of my line of Luminaries. They are multifunctional and I’ve been making them for many years. I’m honored to be asked to make them time and time again as wedding gifts or holiday gifts. It’s important to me to make useful objects. I am also proud of the films I’ve worked on both narrative and documentary as well as the nonprofit organization I founded, Mugs for Moms which helps to raise awareness for maternal mental health. I am most proud of my family and my two children. They are the lights of my life and have taught me so much about who I want to be as an artist and inspire me daily to be a better person in the world.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Yes, I lost my mother when I was twelve years old. This was tragic of course and a loss I will forever feel and be aware of. However, I’ve come to realize that experiencing a traumatic loss at such a young age made me resilient and incredibly aware of the fragility and preciousness of the life we have. It’s helped me to take more risks, push myself and even if I fail, know that it’s worth trying because regret is way more terrifying than failing. I also am a survivor of postpartum depression and anxiety. The experience of overcoming mental illness and accepting help to get well and stay well has also made me more resilient and in turn, try and help others who might be suffering.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Yes. Presently, my mission is to work in the art and mental health worlds to find common ground and collaborate to make positive change in our community. This drives me more than anything with my work these days. As artists we have the power to create a more compassionate, excepting and healthy communities when we work together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mariawhite.com also www.mugsformoms.org
- Instagram: @mariawhitestudio
- Facebook: Maria White Ceramics
Image Credits
I have the rights to these images.