“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it” – Nelson Mandela
Fear is an essential part of the human experience. Linked to our earliest human ancestors as a survival instinct, its power is unquestionable. While we have evolved to interpret and act upon fear, it remains a constant in our lives. Although fear stimulates an uncanny awareness of danger and discomfort, it can also catalyze change. As we grapple with life’s uncertainties, fear fosters moments of growth, motivation, and introspection. This year’s colloquium examines our complex ability to both overcome and embrace fear, for it is often in these vulnerable moments where we are the most afraid that we feel the most alive.
Topics may include (but are not limited to):
To submit a proposal, please send an abstract of roughly 250 words with name, contact information, and departmental affiliation to usi1lacolloquium@usi.edu by February 20th, 2026. More information about this event may be found on our colloquium website: https://www.usi.edu/idc
Amy Elsner
Hornets’ Nest Vase
The piece was created Spring, 2026
Ceramic
Artist Statement
Nature is my source of inspiration. I am drawn to natural forms that show beauty and warning. The hornets’ nest became a piece that I wanted to create because it represents a powerful balance between harmony and dissonance. From a distance, the nest has a beautiful, layered pattern. At the same time, it signals danger and causes an instinctive sense of caution.
In creating this vase, I focused on building up the surface with repeated layers and textures that mimic the structure of the nest. My process involved shaping the clay into a cylinder. Then I shaped and altered the clay to form an uneven surface. I then built layers of the nest by adding ripped paper towel strips that were dipped in a bonding adhesive for clay. The paper towel strips become a part of the clay. The physical process of working the clay and adding layers of clay allowed the form to develop organically. After the bisque firing or first firing, I painted the vase with a sponge so that the texture and color would resemble a
hornets’ nest. I added a clear glaze before the final firing to make it a ceramic art piece.
My ceramic Hornets’ Nest Vase explores the way humans instinctively respond to visual signs of danger. A hornets’ nest is a natural structure that most people recognize immediately as a warning. Its layered, swirling surface suggests that something is potentially threatening and alive inside. Even without seeing the hornets, the form of the nest triggers a sense of unease. Humans are highly responsive to visual cues that signal risks. The shape and texture of the hornets’ nest communicate danger before any physical threat appears. When viewers encounter this vase, they often react emotionally. This reaction is before they begin to analyze it as an object of art.
Reactions to my piece come from the brain’s instinctive “fight or flight” response. When humans perceive a potential threat, the brain quickly prepares the body either to escape or defend itself. The hornets’ nest acts as a visual signal that activates this instinct. In this way, my ceramic vase functions like a warning sign.
By translating the form of a hornets’ nest into ceramic, I wanted to explore how this simple natural structure can trigger strong psychological responses. My hope is that viewers pause for a moment and recognize how deeply our instincts shape the way we see danger, even when it is made of clay.