Today on the show I talk with Bryan Hopkins. You probably know him from his exquisite porcelain vessels, but you might not have guessed some of those forms are made from low-fire porcelain. In our interview we talk about formulating low-fire translucent porcelains and how he uses a neodymium grate magnet to create speck free clay bodies. To see examples of his work visit www.hopkinspottery.com.   Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: AMACO Brent www.amaco.com The...

Today on the show I talk with Alex Thullen. In his role as ceramic materials engineer at Pewabic Pottery he maintains their line of glazes, including iridescent lusters. In our interview we talk about the mechanics of luster, how the timing of reduction effects glazes, and how his work continues research that dates back to the early 1900’s when Mary Chase Perry Stratton started the pottery in Detroit, MI. Listen back to episode 204 for more history on one of America’s oldest pottery...

Today on the show I talk with Renata Cassiano. Her ceramic sculptures are non-objective accumulations often dealing with ideas of connection and translation. In our interview we talk about reusing older work to create new forms, using a concrete saw to shape fired ceramics, and the influence of literature on her understanding of self and art. Cassiano is currently the Visiting Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Arkansas School of Art. To see examples of her work visit...

Today on the show I talk with Paul Andrew Wandless. His multidisciplinary career includes sculpture, print making, leather work, and ceramics. In our interview we talk about labor as subject matter, establishing a style across multiple mediums, and the influence of his mentors Victor Spinski and James Tanner. Wandless has authored multiple books including Image Transfer on Clay, and is the coauthor of Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques. To see examples of his work, follow...

Today on the show I talk with Amy Sanders and Gleidymar Rivera. They were chosen for the AVPT Early Career Fellowship for BIPOC Ceramic Artists, a program started this year to provide financial support and mentorship. In our interview we talk about their style of making, balancing labor-intensive practices with the need to make a living, and how they prepared for their first major sale at the Asparagus Valley Pottery Tour last April. The deadline for this year’s AVPT fellowship is October 1st...

Today on the show I talk with Lucy Fagella. She makes a variety of functional pots from her Western Massachusetts studio, including pots for the kitchen and a line of memorial urns. In our interview we talk about the cycles of the studio, glaze development, and her path to making memorial objects. You can find more about Lucy at www.lucyfagella.com. We also discuss the history of the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail and their Early Career Fellowship for BIPOC Ceramic Artists. The deadline for...

Today on the show I talk with Glenn Barkley about his new book Ceramics: An Atlas of Forms. He chooses 113 objects in the collections of major Australian and New Zealand museums to establish a broad survey of ceramic history. In our interview we talk about his research process and the unique stories these objects hold. To find out more about Glenn’s career as a maker and curator listen back to episode 227 of the podcast. To purchase the book visit Thames and Hudson.   Many thanks to...

Today on the show we have a special episode to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Brickyard Network. To raise money for the network, sixteen artists have donated work for an auction and fundraiser. Two of those kind folks, Michael Kline and Adrienne Eliades, join the show today to help us celebrate. We talk about favorite historical works, breakthrough moments in the studio, and their favorite podcasts. To bid on the work that Michael and Adrienne donated visit...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with artist, curator, and podcaster Adam Chau. We talk about using artificial intelligence to generate faux historical images, and how this work might reshape the way we think about queer history. We also discuss season two of his podcast Trade Secret and the work he does as director of exhibitions for NCECA. To see images of his work visit www.adamchau.com.   We are excited to be celebrating the 2nd birthday of...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Frank James Fisher. His work in advertising as a graphic designer has influenced his use of text and printing in his ceramics work. In our interview we talk about using UV plates for printing on ceramics, developing press molds for ultra-thin slab work, and the value of labor in pricing. To find out more about Frank visit www.frankjamesfisher.com.   We are excited to be celebrating the 2nd birthday of the Brickyard...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Seattle artist Anika Major. Her pottery features paintings of female figures created with subtle layers of watered-down underglazes. She says of the work, “Each character is a heroine within the space of the pot and allows me to explore my own perspectives of domestic comforts and eroticism.” In the interview we talk about the Cow Babe theme of her recent exhibition and making art celebrating queer identity. We also...

Today on the show we have part two of an interview with renowned ceramic artist and educator Linda Sikora. We talk about the philosophy of education at Alfred University, helping students progress through their own expectations, and being in a family of creatives. The view her recent exhibition Darkening Ground at Ferrin Contemporary visit www.ferrincontemporary.com. To find out more visit www.lindasikora.com.   Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:   For the past...

Today on the show we have the first in a two-part interview with renowned ceramic artist and educator Linda Sikora. We talk about growing up in Canada, her path to being a potter, and how the concepts of service, storage, and display shaped her recent exhibition Darkening Ground at Ferrin Contemporary. Linda has been teaching at Alfred University since 1997 and has been an integral part of educating a generation of artists at the institution. To find out more visit www.lindasikora.com.   ...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have the final installment of a mini-series featuring current artists-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation. In this episode I talk with Janina Myronova about the narratives and characters that are the foundation of her vibrant figure sculptures. We also talk about the influence of Ukrainian folk traditions, making large scale single-fired works, and the ways her time at international residencies has shaped her. To see example of her...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Maura Wright. Her recent exhibition Midwest Sweat at the Jane Hartsook Gallery in NYC, takes a humorous and critical look at feminine self-care products and rituals. In our interview we talk about working in many aesthetic directions at the same time and blending gallery work with studio pursuits. Wright is a current long-term resident at the Archie Bray Foundation. To see examples of her work visit maura-wright.com. ...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Simphiwe Mbunyuza. Through his large-scale sculptures, he references the landscape of the eastern cape region of South Africa where he grew up. In our interview we talk about his early art experiences, coming to the states for an MFA, and developing potent references to Xhosa culture in his sculpture. Mbunyuza is a long-term resident at the Archie Bray Foundation. To see his work follow him at @simphiwembunyuza on...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Heidi Fahrenbacher. She runs Bella Joy Pottery in Plainwell, MI making multiple lines of functional pottery. In our interview we talk about her circuitous path to being a maker and how working the show circuit influenced her formula for pricing. To see examples of her work visit www.bellajoypottery.com. (Content note: Grief due to homicide/suicide are discussed in the interview.)   Today’s episode is brought to you...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Rosti Eismont. For decades he was an art director and graphic designer for major magazines, including over thirty years at Studio Potter. Parallel to his career in print he worked as a potter and painter from his studio in Richmond, New Hampshire. In our interview we talk about his childhood as a refugee, his approach to design, and the emotional impact of selling a lifetime collection of art. To see examples of his...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Pete Pinnell. Pinnell is a long-time ceramic artist who has engaged the community through his numerous articles for Clay Times and his work as a professor at the University of Nebraska. In recent years he has focused on teapots, developing both high- and low-fire collections of his signature refined forms. In our interview we talk about simplifying complex ideas for students and re-finding your voice throughout your...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Anat Shiftan. Her sculptures incorporate floral elements that are precariously arranged as a metaphor for the human perception of nature and our impact on the environment. In our interview we talk about her childhood and family history, historical depictions of nature, and retiring from teaching after twenty years at SUNY New Paltz. To see examples of her work visit www.anatshiftan.info.   Hey Red Clay Rambler fans,...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Philadelphia sculptor Lauren Mabry. Her minimalist sculptures are surfaced with vibrant glazes that melt to both conceal and reveal their underlying forms. In our interview we talk about expressing ideas within abstraction, her ongoing glaze research, and working with dynamic glazes like Gloop. To see her work visit www.laurenmabry.com.   Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, this month we are celebrating eleven years of the...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Sergei Isupov. Through his unique blend of figure sculpture and drawing he investigates the internal and external forces that shape human relationships. In our interview we talk about his approach to narrative, growing up in a family of artists, and how current events, including the war in Ukraine, affect his work. To find out more about Sergei visit sergeiisupov.com.   Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, this month we are...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have the sixth installment in a series of interviews about parenting. For the series I invite artist couples to talk with each other about finding balance between creative work and life as a parent. Today’s interview features Courtney Martin and John Geci, whose ceramic and glass studio is located near Penland, NC. If you would like to see their work visit www.courtneymartinpottery.com or www.jgeciglass.com.   Today’s episode is brought to...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have the fifth installment in a series of interviews about parenting. For the series I invited artist couples to talk with each other about finding balance between creative work and life as a parent. Today’s interview features Mallory Wetherell and Matt Ziemke. The couple are based in Kearny, NE, where Mallory is the head of Ceramics at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Matt is a senior lecturer and gallery director. To see their work...

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Rebecca Hutchinson. Her 2022 installation Re-Generation at the Everson Museum featured cocoon-like vessels that were surfaced with drawings of a rare central New York Orchids done by artist Mallory Wetherell. This work highlights environmental sustainability and hybridity, two themes that recur throughout Hutchinson’s career. In our interview we talk about structural concepts she’s learned from observing animal...