Patti Baumgartner doesn't spend a lot of time admiring her art. Despite being blind, she creates unique ceramics that reflect the spirit of Southeast Alaska. Before Baumgartner lost her sight in 1987, she'd studied art at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

"I was sighted, so I have visual memory," she says. "What I learned was how to modify things - like my patterns and templates using Braille - so I can still work. You can get broken in life, but your spirit can fly free with art."

Baumgartner transfers her Braille designs onto the green ware using clay carbon paper. "I carve it out. I use the traditional colors of red and black and I sometimes use a turquoise-y green. I love to use native designs - they totally inspire me," she says.

In addition to her ceramic work, she recently began working with pre-cast tiles, adding her unique designs to tile trivets and tile designs on wooden boxes. She also works in carved stone, using alabaster and soapstone.

Although she lost her sight, Baumgartner says she's grateful to those who have helped her find an outlet so she can still see - through her art.

This includes "[Fresno artist] David Hoff, who taught me how to make brush strokes again. A brush feels different when it's got the weight of paint on it. He'd never had a blind person take his class - but he didn't flinch. He even invited me down to teach in Reno. And Harry Caulkins who came up to teach a class at [the University of Southeast Alaska] on northwest native art. We stood up on benches, and I got to feel the art work outside at the university."

But most of all her husband, Jim, who "sees" her through every day - and who loads the kiln and fires her art.

Baumgartner's art is available at the Juneau Artists Gallery.