I came to Civitella to participate in the first NEA funded Ceramic Residency. I had the amazing fortune to work with a local ceramics factory, Cotto Etrusco. While at Cotto Etrusco I developed an entire new body of work. Making ceramics in Italy taught me unexpected new lessons about a material that I have been working with most of my career. This is the first time I have participated in a residency with artists that are not solely visual artists. I took the opportunity to engage both writers and composers in my studio. It was wonderful to engage these vastly different perspectives. My time at Civitella has led to friendships that I will maintain for the rest of my life.