Helen and Calypso are both Trojan moons, trailing moons that share orbits with other bodies orbiting Saturn. They are both irregularly shaped and quite reflective. Calypso specifically seems to have something on its surface capable of smoothing its craters, which scientists believe to be icy material coming from one of Saturn's rings.

Because of the scale of this project, I set up a little corner in my home studio to work with clay and make from home when I cannot be in the studio and if for some reason I feel like making at strange hours of the night. It's how it all started so it feels quite natural to go back to a version of what I know. I realized I had restricted my ability to create to the hours I am in the studio, which works but also places limitations to my practice. I have a very spartan set up at home: one standing banding wheel, one board, a small wooden bench for pieces to dry, and a few tools I know I use. 

These are also the first vases I am making for this project that feature a dark grey stoneware. It is one of my go to clays, but so far I had only used red stoneware and porcelain. I was asked whether there is a connection between the clay I choose and the moon I am making. The answer is: sometimes. 

Before I start making a vase I usually look up the moon online. If there are photos of the moon, I will look at it for a while. With a few exceptions, the moons will look similar, especially for smaller ones that trail the orbits of bigger moons. If a moon has a very specific feature, I will try to incorporate it in the surface treatment and/or glaze. The project is not meant to be a scientific reproduction of each moon, so I do not feel bound by the features of the moon in a strict sense.