Pottery

At the Blue Dome Gallery in the heart of Bear Mountain Lodge, we invite you to immerse yourself in the world of pottery and the remarkable artists who craft it. Each visit offers a fresh opportunity to explore our latest exhibitions, featuring stunning pieces that each tell a unique story. Whether you're a local or just passing through Silver City, come celebrate creativity with us and discover the vibrant art scene that truly enhances your stay at Bear Mountain Lodge!

Decorative ceramic plate with floral and abstract patterns in red, white, and black.
Ceramic jar with lid, pale green with maroon floral pattern.
Ceramic plate with a central grayscale image of people playing hopscotch, encircled by a dark leaf pattern.
Round ceramic plate with reddish-brown, white, and gray abstract pattern.

Learn About the Artist Behind the Art

Jessica Wilson

Human beings are composed of many layers created by life experiences. Our “human layers” can be likened to the layers of surface built up on the walls in an old home. Some layers covered and hidden, some revealed through wear, age, and time. I strive to show these “human layers” through my glazing palette. The use of heavy, cracking slip conveying a guarded layer covering an area that was once beautiful or adorned. The two contrasting elements juxtaposed allow the viewer to question whether the piece is being covered or revealed; if layers are being accumulated or shed. 


In 2014, I began creating the Layers series, a project born from the profound loss of my sister, Denise, who died unexpectedly at the age of 38. Her death shattered me in a way that was unimaginable. I could understand the death of a grandparent, as I had experienced that loss before. While it was painful, I could accept it as part of life. But Denise’s death—someone so young, so full of life, so eager to live—was beyond my comprehension. I couldn’t make sense of it. I couldn’t accept it.


I naively believed that death was something that happened only to the elderly, that it was something that happened to other people, never to someone I loved, never to someone as young as me. Her passing left me a hollow shell of who I once was. I became disconnected from everything and everyone around me. I couldn’t find joy in anything, and over time, I withdrew further and further into myself.


Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years—and still, I remained stuck in that place of anger and disconnection. It felt as though with each passing year, I accumulated another layer of grief, further separating me from those around me. I was angry—angry that she was taken from me, angry that others didn’t have to endure this pain, angry at those who still had their siblings.


These layers I built up around myself were protective, a way to shield my heart from the overwhelming sorrow. They kept me from truly connecting with others, but they also kept me from fully experiencing life. Everything I saw was through a negative lens. Even when I found a moment of joy, it was fleeting, tainted by the reminder that Denise would never experience joy again. 


In my work, the adorned, floral layers are a reflection of this duality. They represent Denise—once vibrant and full of life—or they represent me, as I slowly shed the layers I’ve accumulated over the years in an attempt to reconnect with myself and the world around me.