About Me
Who am I and what am I about?
Simply put I am a female, African American, retired Chicago police officer turned full time artist. My name is Donna Marie Adams, I use my maiden name, Shannon to honor my father, who had no sons to carry on the family name.
My Journey with Clay
My clay journey began in the mid-70's I learned how to throw in college and I loved it! Then life happened. After retiring, I dove into genealogy and exploring the lives of my Ancestors, free and enslaved. My research impacted my view of so many things.
My Artistic Process
When I returned to clay, I rediscovered its challenges and its power. I don't throw on the wheel, think of the movie, Ghost. I hand build. That means I use slabs and coils of clay, I use my hands to push, pull and smooth to create my work, along with various tools, some of which came from my kitchen! I use two different colors of clay, a white and a rich dark brown. The white clay allows me to use a range of glaze colors. The dark brown clay is perfect for when I want the piece to stand out on it's own or when I'm creating pieces representing African Americans and Ancestral spirits.
I prefer creating non-functional work because it gives my imagination the freedom to run wild! But if I do by chance create functional pieces they will be fun and unique!
Why I create
Creating art gives me joy. And when someone feels something, joy, reflection, sorrow, hope, touched by the Ancestors, when they see my work, I know I've done what I came here to do! My goal is to create works that touches people and invites them to see themselves, or the world in a new light!
My work is all hand built one at a time and always evolving. I am a woman who will push her own boundaries knowing that Art Has No Rules except the ones I place on myself!
A Proud Milestone
A proud achievement, my art was selected to be shown in both the 2019 and the 2021 Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry!
I hope you enjoy my art as much as I enjoyed creating it!