My Dear Jane
Title
My Dear Jane
Alternative Title
Small ceramic sculptures of curled, resting figures (some human, some animal, and some pairing the two together). Each piece features smooth, rounded forms and earthly glazes in reddish-brown and muted blue tones. Figures are shown lying on their sides in fetal-like or curled positions.
Creator
Bartels, Mallory
Abstract
Stoneware, Gas Kiln, Cone 10
Chun Blue, Phil’s White, Shino, Oil Spot
The idea for My Dear Jane came into being during a deep reflection of self-identity. In recent years, I have used the image of a young girl - my third-grade self, donning tighty-whities and choppy bangs - to personify this exploration. I grew up in a family of anxiety ridden women, where nights of tear stained cheeks and trembling breaths were a familiar companion. I find solace in the way fawns respond to danger: instinctively dropping into a fetal position, vanishing into the embrace of the tall grass. At the ripe age of eight, I yearned to do the same. To disappear into my surroundings as the weight of anxiety swelled in my chest. At times, the world is simply too much for a small creature to bear. The postures of the figures deliberately mirror each other: if this instinctive response offers protection to one, perhaps it can for the other as well. This emotional vulnerability is reflected in the material
itself. The stoneware demands careful handling and attentive viewing, evoking a sense of fragility. Their muted, pale colors allude to their delicacy and youth, while their intimate scale invites them to nuzzle into the palm of your hand.
Chun Blue, Phil’s White, Shino, Oil Spot
The idea for My Dear Jane came into being during a deep reflection of self-identity. In recent years, I have used the image of a young girl - my third-grade self, donning tighty-whities and choppy bangs - to personify this exploration. I grew up in a family of anxiety ridden women, where nights of tear stained cheeks and trembling breaths were a familiar companion. I find solace in the way fawns respond to danger: instinctively dropping into a fetal position, vanishing into the embrace of the tall grass. At the ripe age of eight, I yearned to do the same. To disappear into my surroundings as the weight of anxiety swelled in my chest. At times, the world is simply too much for a small creature to bear. The postures of the figures deliberately mirror each other: if this instinctive response offers protection to one, perhaps it can for the other as well. This emotional vulnerability is reflected in the material
itself. The stoneware demands careful handling and attentive viewing, evoking a sense of fragility. Their muted, pale colors allude to their delicacy and youth, while their intimate scale invites them to nuzzle into the palm of your hand.
Date
2025
Collection
Citation
Bartels, Mallory, “My Dear Jane,” MU Libraries Digital Exhibits and Online Forums, accessed March 17, 2026, https://library.missouri.edu/exhibits/items/show/233.
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