Christina on 'Kaleidoscope'

Christina Watka takes us behind the scenes with the installation of Daydreaming in the Marsh, a special project for J.Crew, to introduce a new series of work, Kaleidoscope, featuring larger clay forms and washy glazes.

Often times, I don't have a title for a work or series until it is complete. This was certainly the case with the Kaleidoscope series. My understanding of my work has started to shift into the expression of a childlike wonder in the natural world.

Christina Watka

Kaleidoscopes always brought me joy as a child, and continue to do the same today for the same reasons they did when I was young: their organic nature, playfulness, expressive colors, overall wonder, detail, dimension, reaction to light, and simple discovery.

Christina Watka

The small cobalt stones scattered throughout the walls are, without a doubt, my favorite moments. They create drama without taking up much space. In fact, they weren't really a part of the original plan, but I brought a small box of them just in case they felt right. At the eleventh hour, when the work didn't feel complete just yet but I couldn't figure out why, I started layering the bright blue forms into the larger swaths of color and it instantly felt right.

Christina Watka

After creating the final palette, it became clear to me that I had chosen colors that referenced the new landscape outside of our new home in coastal Maine. The title of this piece, Daydreaming in the Marsh, references the time I spend enjoying the expansive marsh and bird refuge across the street from our house.

Christina Watka