Raku Vase by Dona McNeill

Locally-based, internationally collected ceramic artist Dona McNeill was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. Dona is an artist and advocate for the inclusion of all people of all abilities in the arts. Currently she shows her art at the Cary Gallery of Artists and local art events. She is a graduate of UNC Greensboro with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a Masters of Public Affairs. Since 1970 she has been exploring ideas through the arts in clay and other media. She continues to be fascinated by discoveries of pattern, color, light and playfulness in clay. Elemental transformations through fire into an object that can be held in your hand seems quite magical. She works with the ancient process of Raku firing and high-fire stoneware to produce table-top sculptures of Angels, Goddesses, Sun Gods and Wizards that she calls “Spirit Guides.” She also makes functional vessels for ceremonial and everyday use.