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A collaboration between Amy Patricia Komar and Sheila Carol Roock, Talking Tricksters creates unique functional and decorative ceramic objects, specializing in dinnerware with original whimsical illustrations. Many feature narratives incorporated in the work, or on accompanying cards, of tricksters, animal, or other stories. Our signature image is Amy’s interpretation of the trickster archetype.

Sheila works on the wheel and spins great functional pottery, especially her voluptuous teapots. She has studied under Sandy Pierantozzi and Neil Patterson, attended Philadelphia University City Arts League, where she was the Pottery Studio Manager.

Amy’s been making art her whole life in one way or another. Starting on the stage with dance, directing and acting, storytelling has remained central to her work. She studied at The Art Student’s League in NYC, did graduate work at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and received her MFA from CVPA, Syracuse University. Amy hand builds and specializes in whimsical surface
design. In addition to her trickster, Amy is known for other original characters and storylines, such as BluFoot, Ancient Voices, and The Miguen tales. She creates custom work for special occasions, particularly involving family history.

Amy’s signature image has evolved over many years of exploring the trickster archetype. Her interpretation is often seen as a rabbit or a coyote. He absolutely carries a ‘tude. Found in almost every culture, the trickster is one who crosses boundaries, breaks the rules, is playful, clever, and almost always a trouble-maker. The trickster can be both the messenger of the ‘gods’ as well as the ‘wise fool.’ He is entertaining while sacred. We recognize ourselves in the trickster and mostly, we learn from the trickster tales…no matter how many times we hear them. We’ve met him as the Raven, Coyote, Bart Simpson, Anansi, the Road Runner, and the Monkey King.

“Storytelling, you know, has a real function. The process of the storytelling is

itself a healing process, partly because you have someone there who is taking

the time to tell you a story that has great meaning to them. They’re taking the

time to do this because your life could use some help, but they don’t want to

come over and just give advice. They want to give it to you in a form that

becomes inseparable from your whole self. That’s what stories do. Stories

differ from advice in that, once you get them, they become a fabric of your

whole soul. That is why they heal you.” – Alice Walker

 

We hope our work brings a smile to your lips!