If you’ve spent some time on my social media or website, you’ve likely come across my logo and wondered what does a motorcycle have to do with pottery? A lot. The motorcycle represents my approach to life, but one that I had to slowly acquire as an adult.
I spent the first 6 years of my life living by the Baltic Sea in Northern Germany without taking a single dip. My parents could easily go for a swim and leave me playing by myself in the sand, knowing full well I would not dare to come within 5m of the ocean. This random fearful approach to life continued well into adulthood.
In my late teens and early twenties, I was moving countries every couple of years (New Zealand, China, USA, Scotland, Ireland). Constantly being in an unfamiliar environment without a support network (and a few times not speaking the language well) forced me to step out of my comfort zone and planted a desire to push boundaries more. So, when in 2017, I randomly decided to get a motorcycle license, it seemed like no big deal. An important detail is the word get, not learn. I was living in California at the time and you certainly did not need to know how to ride a motorcycle to get a license. All it took was a long weekend on a random parking lot in the Sunset district and I was deemed fit by the U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles to hit Route 66.
It wasn’t until late 2018 (now living in Brooklyn) that I bought my first Triumph (Street Twin) and learned how to ride a motorcycle on the quiet streets of Greenpoint. My Street Twin got destroyed in an accident not long after (I walked away without a scratch on my body!); I now ride a beautiful matt-black Triumph T100 Bonneville whenever New York weather allows. While I absolutely love my bike, I debate selling it at least once per month. It is stupid and reckless - I am close to shitting my pants every minute I ride on NYC highways. Yet, the wind in my face while riding is the definition of freedom. It is a constant reminder to keep pushing the boundaries and to get comfortable feeling uncomfortable. As the motorcycle has become a symbol to my approach in life, there was no better way to stamp my pottery work.
And on a simpler anecdote - it’s all about wheels. Bicycles, motorcycles, pottery wheel - I enjoy them all.
