I am a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was educated as a biologist, am a published illustrator and writer, but I am an artist by design. I use form, imagery and allegory to conjure stories in unsuspecting minds, and of particularly interest to me are ancient myths that help us make sense (and nonsense) of the natural world and the human condition. Diverse mythic sources inform my functional ware, sculptures and tile work, as I scaffold my own stories through the clay in my hands. I study mythology, past and present, sacred and profane, because it illuminates our struggle to comprehend the incomprehensible. I look for gaps between personal as well as cultural realities and the shapes of the stories we tell ourselves to find a meaningful place in life. As a writer/illustrator, I rendered myths, legends and folk tales of fantastic proportion. Now clay offers me a third dimension in which to explore the archetypes and adventures that seem to have an emotional resonance with the human heart. You can see my work at dawnmalcolm.com or on my Instagram handle djmalcolmart.