Ceramic artist M i r i a m Aroeste works with earth a n d fire, the t w o elements that define her personality. The quiet, g r o u n d e d w o m a n w h o sits for hours m a n i p u l a t i n g clay is also fiery and outgoing. She networks and promotes not only her o w n work, but others' as well through her business Art-tistic Resources. These t w o seemingly contradictory traits c o m p l e m e n t each other creating a w o n d e r f u l b a l a n c e in Aroeste's life. A t eighteen, A r o e s t e left her h o m e in M e x i c o a n d w e n t to Europe. A n astute journalism teacher in Italy o b s e r v e d t h a t her w r i t i n g style w a s m o r e f i c t i o n a l t h a n journalistic a n d e n c o u r a g e d her to w o r k in the film industry as a scriptwriter. In time, she d e c i d e d that she w a n t e d to be where the a c t i o n w a s a n d she took on various positions i n c l u d i n g p r o d u c t i o n assistant a n d assistant director. She w o r k e d in the industry for five years in Italy and three more in M e x i c o before coming to V a n c o u v e r in 1990. A f t e r a c o u p l e of years, A r o e s t e d e c i d e d to make a change. She became a professional visual artist. The c a t a l y s t for this c h a n g e w a s t h e birth of her first c h i l d . A r o e s t e n e e d e d to stay closer to home. She h a d already taken up ceramics as an Interest. N o w it b e c a m e her passion. " I ' m a very p a s s i o n a t e p e r s o n . W o r k i n g w i t h t h e clay is my f o r m of m e d i t a t i o n . The process a l l o w s me to be in my centre. It's a r o m a n t i c m o m e n t w h e n I start the relationship w i t h the clay, getting it to have a life. I love the feeling - squishing it, s l a p p i n g it. It's like being a k i d . " This first part of t h e process is q u i e t a n d m e d i t a t i v e . W e a r i n g o l d c l o t h e s a n d listening to her f a v o u r i t e m u s i c , A r o e s t e loses h e r s e l f in the process. W h e n she has the s h a p e a n d size she wants, she begins the more passionate w o r k of firing. This is w h e r e the adrenalin kicks in, where strength, precision a n d c o o p e r a t i o n are essential. The physically d e m a n d i n g task of firing is the m a s c u l i n e principle c o u n t e r i n g the more f e m i n i n e nature of the m o l d i n g . Earth - fire, feminine masculine. Herein lies the balance. A r t provides f r e e d o m . A r o e s t e says, "There are no rules, no compromises. Sometimes the project leads. S o m e t i m e s e v e r y t h i n g c h a n g e s . M y art is o n e of t h e o n l y p l a c e s I c a n d o this." This f r e e d o m can provide healing. O n c e w h e n Aroeste t o l d a friend about s o m e personal struggles, her friend c o m m e n t e d , " Y o u must be d o i n g w o n d e r f u l art right now." It w a s true, Aroeste realized. Her art h a d taken on a n e w dynamic, reflecting her o w n inner turmoil. A r o e s t e is n o w a w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d ceramic artist, e x h i b i t i n g her w o r k in several local galleries as w e l l as internationally. In 2 0 0 5 , a l o n g w i t h local artist G r e g g Simpson, she w i l l b e participating in a g r o u p e x h i b i t i o n in C a g n e s d u M e r in S o u t h e r n France, the t o w n w h e r e Renoir lived and