About the Artist

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Janis Mars Wunderlich, born in Akron, Ohio, in 1970, received a BFA J from Brigham Young University (1992) and an MFA from the Ohio State University (1994). She has given numerous lectures and workshops throughout North America. Articles by her have appeared in periodicals, including Ceramics Monthly, which also featured her art in the December 1999 issue. She is featured in the book The Best of New Ceramic Art and the upcoming title 500 Figures in Clay. She has exhibited worldwide and her work is found in permanent and private collections. 

ARTIST’S STATEMENT 

Family Supports (front cover): The mother figure is holding several children. Children are even on her legs, almost like leg braces. They slow her down, but she also enjoys the support and stability they give her. 

Family Fight (back cover, right): We call this piece “Family Home Evening.” “Explosions” seem to occur when we’re trying to have a nice family bonding moment. Those we love the most can take us to the edge. 

Bird Brothers (back cover, left) is based on a Grimm’s fairy tale, “Twelve Brothers,” about loyalty among siblings. It parallels my experience growing up in a family of ten kids. 

Dreaming of Children (back cover, below): As a newlywed, I dreamed about and imagined my future children. 

In the Garden (p. 66) is inspired by my love of the earth, of gardening, and of the excitement of seeing the “fruits of your labors!” I’ve made this “garden gnome” with stacks of fruit and veggie-men and garlic-guys. The gnome’s “carrot-top” head is inspired by our family trait—most of us are red-heads. 

Parenting Is No Cup of Tea (p. 183) is a teapot that captures the complexities of balancing the roles of artist and mother. Teapots and mothers are about function—accommodating, protective, predictable, soothing. My children cling to me constantly. I understand that children grow up and stop clinging, but parents continue to “wear their children” on the inside .. . in thoughts, hopes, and memories. This teapot has a bunch of kids hanging on the inside, too. 

Six Swans (p. 186) is inspired by a Grimm’s fairy tale about the power of family.

Dear Friends and Readers: 

Within the pages of Dialogue, we continue to provide an open forum for Mormon studies. We strive to offer our readers articles reflecting thorough research, peer review, and writing of a high quality. We pride ourselves on helping our readers expand their intellect and enhance their spirit. 

This year with the help of our readers’ financial support, the Dialogue Foundation embarked on a multi-year program to heighten the visibility of the journal and encourage new research. We launched a program called “New Voices.” This is a cash awards program for young writers, aimed at increasing the ranks of young contributors and readers of Dialogue. We also sent more than a thousand complimentary issues of Dialogue to those who requested sample issues on our newly upgraded website and through a direct mail campaign, introducing the journal to interested Mormon scholars, writers, and thinkers all over the country. 

To assist our readers and researchers, a very thorough forty-year index is being finalized by James E. Crooks, librarian at UC-Irvine. A pre liminary index can be found presently on our website; the finalized and printed version will be published in 2006. In addition, we hope to provide by year’s end free access to all past issues up to the year 2002 in the University of Utah’s Marriott Library online collection. 

As the year’s end approaches, we would like to thank each of you whose support by subscriptions and gifts has made all our progress possi ble. Because subscriptions do not cover even the basic costs of publishing, we are especially grateful for your tax-deductible contributions. Only through the donations of our loyal readers can we expand our base of sat isfied subscribers and keep up with current technology trends. 

Within this issue you will find a donation envelope to renew your subscription, buy a gift subscription, and make a donation. You can also make donations and place orders at www.dialoguejournal.com. Keep the spirit of Dialogue alive. Make a donation today! 

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season. 

Molly McLellan Bennion 
Chair, Board of Directors