Polonia Odahara Novack

Polonia Odahara Novack was born in Santa Monica, CA. She is the granddaughter of Japanese immigrants and daughter of a Japanese-American mother. All were incarcerated in a U.S. concentration camp in California during WWII. Having grown up in a postmodern Southern California landscape, within a crucible of surf and car culture, she remains drawn to social justice and environmental issues, both which continue to inform her work. Clay-focused studies range from working with indigenous potters in San Marcos Tlapazola, Oaxaca, Mexico, to the MN NICE program at Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN. She currently lives and works in Saint Paul, MN.