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Red Crowned Crane Vessel with removable heads
- 15" tall

Emily currently makes her home in Volcano Village, with her husband, Dalyn, and three cats. Just a few miles from Hawai’i Volcanos National Park, Volcano Village is located in the native rainforest at 3800' elevation.

The forest is home to several native bird species that are still fairly common, including the 'Apapane, a cheerful, bright red bird, whose varied songs can be heard throughout the day from the pottery studio, hence the name ‘Apapane Pottery.

ARTIST BIO

Emily has been working with clay for over 35 years.  One of her most influential pottery teachers was Marguerite Wildenhain, whose summer pottery workshops in Guerneville, California she attended for two years. She has also participated in workshops with Dean Schwartz, Don Bendel, Paulus Berensohn, John Leach, Frank Boyden and Fred Olsen, and has an MA degree from the University of Arizona. Emily has participated in many wood and soda firings, but her current work is fired to cone 7 in a propane downdraft kiln and an electric kiln.  

Emily was born in the Midwest, but has lived in diverse areas such as Utah, Alaska, Arizona, Seattle and Hawai’i. Her work has always been inspired by the natural world, and by birds in particular. Emily moved to Hawai’i in 1998 and since then has been learning about the natural and cultural history of these islands. She has enjoyed exploring the amazing diversity of climate, landscape and people that Hawai’i has to offer.  Much of Emily’s inspiration  for forming and decorating clay vessels comes from nature and the Earth - the vast beauty, infinite forms, and intricately interwoven relationships.

Kolea Jar - 13" tall

Birds have been a special source of inspiration to Emily over the years and Hawai’i has a variety of native and introduced bird species. However, due to loss of habitat from development, competition with introduced species, and introduced disease and predators, many of the native Hawaiian species are now endangered.

Emily is especially concerned about the future survival of the beautiful forest birds of Hawai’i. She would like to aid efforts to reestablish viable populations of these birds, so that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy a walk in the native Hawaiian forest, listening to the delicate tapestry of bird songs.

Towards this end, a portion of the proceeds she receives from the sale of her pottery is donated to the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, located near Volcano Village.

Although most of Emily’s current work is inspired by Hawaiian birds and plants, she still makes pottery inspired by the cranes of the world.  These majestic birds are seen by many as symbols of peace and international goodwill, due to collaborative efforts between many countries in protecting the 15 species of cranes, world wide.
 

Emily Herb
PO Box 742
Volcano, HI  96785

Artist Contact Info: eherb@hawaii.rr.com

Website:  www.ApapanePottery.com

Photo credits: Ken Goodrich