Growing up in the southeast I have always had a contrary relationship with the face mug, I found them gauche and endearing at the same time. This style of object has a rich and complicated history in and out of the USA.
My relationship in making these objects doesn’t seek to negate or abolish any prior tradition, but rather to draw on my personal tendency towards anthropomorphizing things and associating objects with individuals. These are one of the more fun things I have the pleasure of making.