Janelle Urata

Janelle, a San Diego native, studied and worked in San Francisco as a researcher and dental hygienist and continues to work full-time in research. Outside of her professional work, she spends time with ceramics and braiding as a way to engage her hands and step away from the computer. Her background in dental hygiene has shaped the attention to detail present in her work. She first encountered ceramics in the Bay Area and now works out of Baca Street Pottery in Santa Fe. A fourth-generation Japanese American, Janelle approaches Kumihimo as a way to explore and stay connected to her cultural heritage.