Member Spotlight: Savannah Stallings
Welcome to our Member Spotlight series at Tao of Clay where each month, we celebrate the unique voices, creative journeys, and artistic styles that make up our community.
For founder Josh Herman, ceramics has long been more than a medium, it's a way to explore ideas, express ourselves, grow through making and connecting both through and connection. In this series, we introduce you to one member’s personal story, process, and inspirations so we can all learn from each other and deepen our understanding of not only our clay practice but to others at The Tao of Clay and beyond. Because when we share our craft, we build more than beautiful forms, we build community.
Member: Savannah Stallings
Profession: Conservation advocacy work for @sandiegobirdalliance
Years working with Clay: 4 Years
1. What got you into ceramics?
I’ve always been artistic, I got art sets for every holiday as a kid, was obsessed with oil pastel, drawing, and painting. I’ve dabbled in every type of medium, including clay as a child in North Carolina, playing on the property where I grew up. I got into ceramics at the end of college, I took a class at Mesa college and around the same time I joined a community studio in Ocean Beach. I was focusing on geology in undergrad, so learning about wild clay work from my friend Ari and working outside in nature post-grad just combined all these incredible passions and I found alignment and joy in it that I hadn’t found elsewhere.
2. What inspires you?
Nature, it raised me and it’s truly the foundation for everything that I am and create. Learning about indigenous ecological knowledge and practice guides a lot of my intentionality. Architecture and interior design that pushes the boundaries of living in nature, Japanese craft, the Mingei, Mary Oliver. My friends, who are incredible and creative and inspire me to make things they’ll love.
3. What do you like doing outside of the ceramic studio?
I do advocacy for a local nonprofit, which I love; so I spend a lot of time researching conservation projects and staying active in local politics. Birding and getting outside to explore, a bit of traveling. A lot of time with my friends, reading and live music, moving my body.
4. What is your favorite plant?
I’m a huge native plant person, so Cleveland Sage is one of my favorites. It’s gorgeous, has perfect purple flowers, but the fragrance is what gets me. It’s actually named after one of the founders of the Natural History museum here, and I love it so much it's tattooed up my neck.
Thank you for joining us this month as we explored Savannah's journey with clay, the roots of her inspiration, creative pursuits, and what fuels their passion both inside and outside the studio.
In learning from peers, we stretch our perceptions, expand our skills, and deepen our appreciation for the infinite ways clay can inspire us. Stay tuned for more stories, inspiration, and opportunities to meet the community that makes Tao of Clay so special.
To keep in touch with Savannah on instagram here or head to her site to shop her work and get to know her a little better
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