Kris van Gendt creates as a way to open up, though she simultaneously hides within her work. Her handmade tiles form both shield and portal, where layers of glaze reflect her thoughts and emotions. Each piece is part of a diary in clay. Drawing from her own poetry she shapes symbols that help her reflect on life’s experiences. Her favorite being the star, representing interconnectedness, its points reaching out to unite everything around it. At times the works feature segments of her actual writing. She binds herself to the slow process of ceramics intentionally, which gives her space to both solidify and let go.