Mystic Mija is the creative work of Jynell Dimalanta.
Born and raised in Ventura County, Jynell is a ceramic artist and educator. She discovered her passion for clay in 2010 at Oxnard College, and later earned a BA in Ceramics and Graphic Design from California State University Channel Islands. Following graduation, she was awarded the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts Post-Baccalaureate Ceramics Internship. And has participated in ceramic residency programs in China, Denmark, Mexico, and California. This exposure to different environments, materials, and communities has continued to influence her artistic practice.
Artist Statement
My work explores movement, surface, and material through a variety of finishes, including terra sigillata and slips to enhance and reveal the textures of clay. I work with both wild, locally found clay, and manufactured materials. Iām inspired by process and the intuitiveness of this material, allowing experimentation to remain at the center of my practice.
My current body of work is rooted in utility and necessity - using functional vessels as a canvas for exploring the dance between play and refinement.