Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Janet Koplos. A noted critic and writer, Janet has published over 2000 articles and essays since she started writing about art in 1976. From 1990 to 2009 she was senior editor in Art in America and has authored numerous books, including her most recent What Makes a Potter: Functional Pottery in America Today. In our interview we talk about the role of the critic in our time, the key to editing other writers' words, and documenting the lives of over fifty potters for her book. For more information visit Janet's author page at Schiffer publishing. On today's AMACO Community Corkboard we have the 29th Annual Saint Croix Valley Pottery Tour happening May 7-9, 2021. The tour will be held all online this year and feature sixty-four of the country's best potters. For more information visit www.minnesotapotters.com or follow @stcroixvalleypotterytour on Instagram for previews and updates. I want to send a special thank you to ClayShare for sponsoring the podcast. Through their online ceramic education platform, they offer hundreds of full-length classes, as well as thousands of instructional videos that can be streamed straight to your smart TV or compatible device. They offer a wide range of topics that are perfect for the beginner to the experienced potter. With your membership you will receive weekly live tutorial broadcasts, access to virtual workshops with well-known artists, and special discounts on ceramic supplies. If you sign up today use the offer code Rambler25 to receive a 25% discount on your first three months. To sign up today visit clayshare.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Ryan Wilson Kelly. He works in both clay and papier-mache to make figure sculptures and vessels that are theatrically staged within narrative scenes. In this interview we talk about the influence of puppetry, essentializing facial expressions, and how humor can be an entry point for narrative work. Ryan's exhibition Anxious Assembly is currently on display until May 30th at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. For more information on Ryan visit www.ryanwilsonkelly.com. I want to send a special than you to ClayShare for sponsoring the podcast. Through their online ceramic education platform, they offer hundreds of full-length classes, as well as thousands of instructional videos that can be streamed straight to your smart TV or compatible device. They offer a wide range of topics that are perfect for the beginner to the experienced potter. With your membership you will receive weekly live tutorial broadcasts, access to virtual workshops with well-known artists, and special discounts on ceramic supplies. If you sign up today use the offer code Rambler25 to receive a 25% discount on your first three months. To sign up today visit clayshare.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Cassils. Their performance-based work often utilizes physical force and exertion as a metaphor for struggle and survival. In our interview we talk about creating pieces that are in dialogue with past artists, the role the audience plays as observer within a performance, and how they use their body as both a material and tool in their work. To see examples, visit www.cassils.net. I want to send a special than you to ClayShare for sponsoring the podcast. Through their online ceramic education platform, they offer hundreds of full-length classes, as well as thousands of instructional videos that can be streamed straight to your smart TV or compatible device. They offer a wide range of topics that are perfect for the beginner to the experienced potter. With your membership you will receive weekly live tutorial broadcasts, access to virtual workshops with well-known artists, and special discounts on ceramic supplies. If you sign up today use the offer code Rambler25 to receive a 25% discount on your first three months. To sign up today visit clayshare.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with curator and scholar Paul Greenhalgh. His recently published book Ceramic Art and Civilisation establishes a historical through line linking four transformative eras into a larger history that explains how ceramics helped civilizations flourish. In our interview we talk about the great aesthetic transformers (Mediterranean classical era, the Middle East, China, and the modern era), how museums structure the public's understanding of history, and why skill remains an important aspect of art history. Paul is currently Executive Director at the Sainsbury Centre, UK, a gallery and think-tank that is part of the University of East Anglia, where he is also Professor of Art History and Museum Strategy. . For more information visit www.paulgreenhalgh.net. I want to give a shout out to KC Clay Guild for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. KC Clay Guild has been supporting ceramic artists and providing a space to explore clay in Kansas City, Missouri since 1988. The guild is accepting applications for their Artist-in-Residence Program until April 15th. This program is open to anyone who is looking to jump start their ceramics career. The guild has been upgrading their already well-equipped studio and will be adding a new Blaauw Gas kiln in 2021. Benefits include a private studio space, free firing, opportunities to teach, and an annual stipend. Check out www.kcclayguild.org/AIR to learn more.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Juan Barroso. His ceramic forms are decorated with finely painted pointillist images of family members and objects that link to childhood memories and immigrant narratives. In our interview we talk about taking the "handyman" approach to art making, how pointillism stands as a metaphor for labor, and how art is a conduit for expressing emotion. To see examples of Juan's work visit www.juanbarrosoart.com. I want to send a special than you to ClayShare for sponsoring the podcast. Through their online ceramic education platform, they offer hundreds of full-length classes, as well as thousands of instructional videos that can be streamed straight to your smart TV or compatible device. They offer a wide range of topics that are perfect for the beginner to the experienced potter. With your membership you will receive weekly live tutorial broadcasts, access to virtual workshops with well-known artists, and special discounts on ceramic supplies. If you sign up today use the offer code Rambler25 to receive a 25% discount on your first three months. To sign up today visit clayshare.com. The long rise of anti-Asian violence in the U.S. is a stark example of xenophobia and white supremacist violence. I hope you will join me in committing to stand against this violence by learning tips for Bystander Intervention. The organization Hollaback! has partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice to provide free bystander intervention training, as well as de-escalation training to help the public learn how to safely step in when you see violence online or in person. To sign up for a free training visit www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with curator and scholar Wendy Gers. She has curated numerous international exhibitions including the First Central China International Ceramics Biennale in 2016 and the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale in 2014. In our interview we talk about the dynamics of curating, the award-winning exhibition Post Colonialism?, and how ceramic studios might join the Green movement by applying best practices for environmental management. To see examples of her curation visit www.wendygers.org. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Savannah Clay Community's SIP cup show. Artists are invited to submit up to three drinking vessels to be juried by Renee Lopresti for their annual cup show. This year's exhibition is taking place all-online and the deadline for submissions is midnight EST on March 31st, 2021. For more information visit www.savannahclaycommunity.com. I want to give a shout out to KC Clay Guild for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. KC Clay Guild has been supporting ceramic artists and providing a space to explore clay in Kansas City, Missouri since 1988. The guild is accepting applications for their Artist-in-Residence Program until April 15th. This program is open to anyone who is looking to jump start their ceramics career. The guild has been upgrading their already well-equipped studio and will be adding a new Blaauw Gas kiln in 2021. Benefits include a private studio space, free firing, opportunities to teach, and an annual stipend. Check out www.kcclayguild.org/AIR to learn more.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Mark Shapiro. He is a noted potter and author of ceramic history based in western Massachusetts. In this interview we focus on his research into Thomas Commeraw, one of the most important potters working in New York City in the early 1800's. We discuss the iconic Oyster jars that are attributed to his studio, his political and religious life within the African American community, and his participation in a tumultuous colonial project in Sierra Leonne. For more information visit www.stonepoolpottery.com. To read an example of Mark's previous research check out his book on Karen Karnes, A Chosen Path, which was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2010. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Savannah Clay Community's SIP cup show. Artists are invited to submit up to three drinking vessels to be juried by Renee Lopresti for their annual cup show. This year's exhibition is taking place all-online and the deadline for submissions is midnight EST on March 31st, 2021. For more information visit www.savannahclaycommunity.com. I want to send a special than you to ClayShare for sponsoring the podcast. Through their online ceramic education platform, they offer hundreds of full-length classes, as well as thousands of instructional videos that can be streamed straight to your smart TV or compatible device. They offer a wide range of topics that are perfect for the beginner to the experienced potter. With your membership you will receive weekly live tutorial broadcasts, access to virtual workshops with well-known artists, and special discounts on ceramic supplies. If you sign up today use the offer code Rambler25 to receive a 25% discount on your first three months. To sign up today visit clayshare.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Natalia Arbelaez. Her terracotta sculptures often involve figures interacting with one another or conveying emotion with their facial expressions. She draws from her Colombian family's immigration story to tell a larger cultural history of hybridization that is a result of migration. In our interview we talk about activating ceramic objects through performance, and the research and art making she has been doing around artists of color in museum collections. To see examples of her work visit www.nataliaarbelaez.com. She is also one of the co-organizers of the Color Network, an organization founded to aid in the advancement of people of color in the ceramic arts. For more information visit www.thecolornetwork.org. I want to give a shout out to KC Clay Guild for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. KC Clay Guild has been supporting ceramic artists and providing a space to explore clay in Kansas City, Missouri since 1988. The guild is accepting applications for their Artist-in-Residence Program until April 15th. This program is open to anyone who is looking to jump start their ceramics career. The guild has been upgrading their already well-equipped studio and will be adding a new Blaauw Gas kiln in 2021. Benefits include a private studio space, free firing, opportunities to teach, and an annual stipend. Check out www.kcclayguild.org/AIR to learn more.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Brett Kern. His ceramic sculptures of dinosaurs and spacemen are tied to his love of collectable toys and pop culture nostalgia. In our interview we talk about making slip cast molds from the inflatables he creates, dealing with flippers who buy his work to resell on eBay, and his recent exhibition The Lost World. The yearlong exhibition at the Erie Art Museum featured sculptures of Rocky, E.T., and other 1980's icons rendered in a Hellenistic style. For more information visit www.brettkernart.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the Southern Crossings Pottery Festival. SXPF is a volunteer run non-profit with a focus on celebrating handmade pottery and the makers who nourish our lives and those around us. They have transitioned their festival to happen virtually this year March 5-7. In addition to this year's sale the festival is also hosting a benefit raffle for Blessings in a Backpack working to feed children in the greater Louisville area. To join in these virtual events, visit www.SXPF.org. I want to send a special than you to ClayShare for sponsoring the podcast. Through their online ceramic education platform, they offer hundreds of full-length classes, as well as thousands of instructional videos that can be streamed straight to your smart TV or compatible device. They offer a wide range of topics that are perfect for the beginner to the experienced potter. With your membership you will receive weekly live tutorial broadcasts, access to virtual workshops with well-known artists, and special discounts on ceramic supplies. If you sign up today use the offer code Rambler25 to receive a 25% discount on your first three months. To sign up today visit clayshare.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Masa Sasaki. His functional pots are decorated with vibrant color schemes emphasizing motifs of deer, one-eyed aliens and punctuation marks, forming a cryptic biography for the viewer to decode. In the interview we talk about the meaning behind his symbols, how previous professions helped build skills for his ceramic career and developing a market for his work. To see examples of his pots, visit www.masasasakiceramics.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the Southern Crossings Pottery Festival. SXPF is a volunteer run non-profit with a focus on celebrating handmade pottery and the makers who nourish our lives and those around us. They have transitioned their festival to happen virtually this year March 5-7. This year's lineup includes a great group of artists from across the US, who you can talk to at Meet the Artist zoom events that are happening this week Feb 25, 26 & 27. The festival is also hosting a benefit raffle for Blessings in a Backpack working to feed children in the greater Louisville area. To join in these virtual events, visit www.SXPF.org. I want to give a shout out to KC Clay Guild for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. KC Clay Guild has been supporting ceramic artists and providing a space to explore clay in Kansas City, Missouri since 1988. The guild is accepting applications for their Artist in Residence Program until April 15th. This program is open to anyone who is looking to jump start their ceramics career. The guild has been upgrading their already well-equipped studio and will be adding a new Blaauw Gas kiln in 2021. Benefits include a private studio space, free firing, opportunities to teach, and an annual stipend. Check out www.kcclayguild.org/AIR to learn more.

Noted Navajo sculptor and ceramic artist Christine McHorse died earlier this week. She was born in 1948 in Morenci, Arizona and started working full-time in the arts after attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe in the 1960's. At the school she met her husband Joel and learned to make ceramics in the Pueblo style from his family. After more than two decades selling at the Santa Fe Indian Market, she transitioned into a style of sculptural vessels that drew national and international acclaim. In our interview we talk about shifting her work into the fine art world and developing her forms in micaceous clay and bronze. This interview was originally recorded in 2016.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Jessica Putnam Phillips. Jessica creates objects that are decorated with depictions of women in combat situations juxtaposed against floral patterns from historical dinnerware. She uses the pairing to question and contrast the role women play in both domestic and public service. In our interview we talk about using art to personalize military experience, how creative work can help service members deal with stress-related disorders, and ClayShare, an online ceramic education platform that she founded in 2018. For more information visit www.jessicaputnamphillips.com or www.clayshare.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Mandy Kolahi. She co-founded POT, a community studio in Los Angeles, to create a safe space for artists of color and other marginalized groups to work in ceramics. In our interview we talk about how the founding principles of equality guided the growth of the studio, how they have pivoted their programming since the pandemic, and how studios like POT can break the opportunity cycle for the next generation of artists. For more information visit www.potstudiola.com. LA County has reduced business occupancy to twenty percent, putting a major squeeze on POT's business plan. They have launched a Go Fund Me campaign to help them keep their doors open for the next six months. For more information visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-pot.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Larissa Warren. She is based in Tamborine Mountain in southeast Queensland, Australia where she uses the Nerikomi process to make ceramic vessels that reference geological strata. In addition to her ceramic practice, she has been researching the raw clays that are native to her surrounding area and the potters that have used them dating back to the 1940's including the Morris sisters, Doris Aagaard, and Frances Carnegie. In our interview we talk about searching for raw clays, the history of past generations of Queensland potters, and the impact these women had on their rural mountain community. To find out more visit www.ratbagstudios.com. You can read Larissa's article "Wild Women Wild Clay" in the most recent edition of the Journal of Australian Ceramics. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Savannah Clay Community's SIP cup show. Artists are invited to submit up to three drinking vessels to be juried by Renee Lopresti for their annual cup show. This year's exhibition is taking place all-online and the deadline for submissions is midnight EST on March 31st, 2021. For more information visit www.savannahclaycommunity.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Jason Sandy. He is a modern-day mudlark searching the foreshore of the Thames River in London. In our interview we talk about the history of London as a riverside city, the wide variety of objects that are found in the anaerobic mud of the Thames, and what these objects tell us about the eras they came from. We also discuss his newly published book Thames Mudlarking: Searching for London's Lost Treasures. To find out more about Jason follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/jasonmudlark. You can purchase Thames Mudlarking in Europe now, and it will be released in the United States in April. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the POT LA Go Fund Me campaign. POT is a full-service studio owned and operated by artists of color with a mission to create a "space that felt accessible and empowering for those that felt marginalized in ceramic spaces." Due to the pandemic POT needs your help while transitioning to online programming. Help them in reaching their Go Fund Me goal to keep this important space going! To support them directly visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-pot.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Deb Schwartzkopf. She recently released a best-selling book on ceramics titled Creative Pottery. In our interview we talk about writing the book, using templates to help construct asymmetrical shapes, and using bisque molds to make multi-part ceramics forms. We also discuss how she shifted to teaching online as her home city of Seattle shut down due to COVID and how she has implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion training into her small business. To find out more about the book and see examples of her work visit www.ratcitystudios.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the POT LA Go Fund Me campaign. POT is a full-service studio owned and operated by artists of color with a mission to create a "space that felt accessible and empowering for those that felt marginalized in ceramic spaces." Due to the pandemic POT needs your help while transitioning to online programming. Help them in reaching their Go Fund Me goal to keep this important space going! To support them directly visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-pot.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Kate Roberts. Roberts often uses unfired clay to create sculptures of topiaries, gates, and landscapes that feel both ancient and temporary, like they might slip out of existence right before your eyes. In our interview we talk about the influence of literature on her work and the risks and rewards of building site-specific installations. Kate has an exhibition titled After Image on display now until February 5th at the Jane Hartsook Gallery in New York City. For more information visit www.greenwichhouse.org or www.katerobertsceramics.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have a series of online ceramic workshops with Clay Share. This network for online ceramic learning features classes, community forums, and other resources to help give your studio practice a boost. The next workshop features Adam Field, who will be teaching about Cultivating Inspirations in Clay over the next two weekends, January 16th and 23rd, 2021. To sign up for this workshop or to find out more about Clay Share visit www.clayshare.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with George Rodriguez. He creates ceramic sculptures decorated with vibrant low relief patterns that explore themes of personal identity and community building. In our interview we talk about the influence of the Bonderman Travel Fellowship, which funded his travel to twenty-six countries, and how this shaped his understanding of culture. We also discuss the logistics of building large ceramic sculpture, how adornment can initiate sacred space, and his exhibition La Flor, El Nicho, y sus Memorias, which was recently on display at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA. To see examples of George's work visit www.georgerodriguez.net.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Natania Hume. She is a potter and educator who splits time between teaching at a private school in Massachusetts and making pots in her studio in Vermont. In our interview we talk about selling small batch wholesale ceramics through home stores, looking for subtleties of color and form within minimalism, and using daily rituals to find work/life balance. To see examples of her work visit www.slow-studio.com. Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, it's been a wild year, and I want to thank you for spending your time with me, listening to world-class artists speak about their lives and creativity. It's an honor to do this work, and I appreciate you choosing to listen week in and week out. As we wrap up 2020, I need your help funding future episodes. I'm not on a major network like NPR or Gimlet. I am a one-man operation, and I depend on the support of my listeners to keep the show going. I know this year has been tough for many folks, so for our Fall Fund Drive I'm keeping my request simple. I ask that if you are able, you commit four dollars a month to the show. That's only a dollar an episode to keep you inspired and connected to the greater ceramic community. I've got big plans for 2021 and your support now can help make those plans a reality. There are two easy ways to donate, one through the Pay Pal portal at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate or by making a monthly pledge at patreon.com/redclayrambler. If you join Patreon today you can access perks like t-shirts, water bottles, and other podcast swag, as well as having access to the Patreon exclusive Tales from the Vault podcast, which features remastered episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. Thanks for listening and stay safe out there.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Marty Gross about the Mingei Film Archive. We talk about how a gift from Bernard Leach started him on a decades long project to collect and restore videos surrounding the Mingei movement. In our interview we also talk about his methods for digitizing reel to reel films, understanding the impact of D.T. Suzuki on Soetsu Yanagi, and how these videos reshape the way we think about Shoji Hamada and other Mingei leaders. To see examples of the films, visit www.mingeifilm.martygrossfilms.com. Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, it's been a wild year, and I want to thank you for spending your time with me, listening to world-class artists speak about their lives and creativity. It's an honor to do this work, and I appreciate you choosing to listen week in and week out. As we wrap up 2020, I need your help funding future episodes. I'm not on a major network like NPR or Gimlet. I am a one-man operation, and I depend on the support of my listeners to keep the show going. I know this year has been tough for many folks, so for our Fall Fund Drive I'm keeping my request simple. I ask that if you are able, you commit four dollars a month to the show. That's only a dollar an episode to keep you inspired and connected to the greater ceramic community. I've got big plans for 2021 and your support now can help make those plans a reality. There are two easy ways to donate, one through the Pay Pal portal at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate or by making a monthly pledge at patreon.com/redclayrambler. If you join Patreon today you can access perks like t-shirts, water bottles, and other podcast swag, as well as having access to the Patreon exclusive Tales from the Vault podcast, which features remastered episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. Thanks for listening and stay safe out there.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview about the Studio Potter with Jill Foote-Hutton and Jessica Detweiler. Established in 1972 the Studio Potter has been active in documenting the growth of American studio ceramics. In our interview we discuss the move into a digital format for the journal and the opportunities this presents for the organization. We also discuss equity in organizations, nonprofit funding options, and the Grants for Apprenticeship program. For more information visit www.studiopotter.org. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the POT LA New Year's Day Sale. POT is a full-service studio owned and operated by artists of color with a mission to create a "space that felt accessible and empowering for those that felt marginalized in ceramic spaces." Due to the pandemic POT LA needs your help while transitioning to online programming. On January 1st leaders in the ceramic arts will be selling work and donating 100% of the proceeds to the organization under the hashtag #SupportPOTLA. Please help us in reaching the goal of raising $5,000 to keep this important space going! You can follow them on Instagram at @pot_la and support them directly at www.Patreon.com/POTLA. Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, it's been a wild year, and I want to thank you for spending your time with me, listening to world-class artists speak about their lives and creativity. It's an honor to do this work, and I appreciate you choosing to listen week in and week out. As we wrap up 2020, I need your help funding future episodes. I'm not on a major network like NPR or Gimlet. I am a one-man operation, and I depend on the support of my listeners to keep the show going. I know this year has been tough for many folks, so for our Fall Fund Drive I'm keeping my request simple. I ask that if you are able, you commit four dollars a month to the show. That's only a dollar an episode to keep you inspired and connected to the greater ceramic community. I've got big plans for 2021 and your support now can help make those plans a reality. There are two easy ways to donate, one through the Pay Pal portal at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate or by making a monthly pledge at patreon.com/redclayrambler. If you join Patreon today you can access perks like t-shirts, water bottles, and other podcast swag, as well as having access to the Patreon exclusive Tales from the Vault podcast, which features remastered episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. Thanks for listening and stay safe out there.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Bill Brouillard. He came to clay in the 1970's and has had a variety of positions including being a resident artist at the Penland School and teaching for many decades at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). In our interview we talk about the value of team teaching, which he did with Judith Salomon at CIA for over thirty years, and his most recent body of work relating our faith in technology to a secular religion. To see examples of his work, visit the show notes at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/episodeguide. Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, it's been a wild year, and I want to thank you for spending your time with me, listening to world class artists speak about their lives and creativity. It's an honor to do this work, and I appreciate you choosing to listen week in and week out. As we wrap up 2020, I need your help funding future episodes. I'm not on a major network like NPR or Gimlet. I am a one-man operation and I depend on the support of my listeners to keep the show going. I know this year has been tough for many folks, so for our Fall Fund Drive I'm keeping my request simple. I ask that if you are able, you commit four dollars a month to the show. That's only a dollar an episode to keep you inspired and connected to the greater ceramic community. I've got big plans for 2021 and your support now can help make those plans a reality. There are two easy ways to donate, one through the Pay Pal portal at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate or by making a monthly pledge at patreon.com/redclayrambler. If you join Patreon today you can access perks like t-shirts, water bottles, and other podcast swag, as well as having access to the Patreon exclusive Tales from the Vault podcast, which features remastered episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. Thanks for listening and stay safe out there.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy. She is a curator and writer focusing on the intersection of craft and contemporary art, with a particular interest in increasing the visibility of artists of color. She is currently the Assistant Curator at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, where she has helped organize over twenty exhibitions, while also managing MAD's Burke Prize for contemporary art. In our interview we talk about her curatorial fellowship at the Center for Craft and the accompanying exhibition Sleight of Hand. The exhibition brings together six contemporary artists using clay who create humorous, quirky, or anthropomorphized objects in clay, centered around complex issues of race, gender, and immigration status, among other pressing social and political realities of our day. The exhibition is on display in Asheville, NC now until January 22, 2021 and features Diana Yesenia Alvarado, Natalia Arbelaez, Salvador Jiménez-Flores, Yvette Mayorga, Woody De Othello, and Maryam Yousif. For more information visit www.angelikvizcarrondo.com or www.centerforcraft.org/exhibition/sleight-of-hand.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Graham Taylor. Taylor's historical ceramic reproductions are featured in cultural institutions forming a gateway for viewers to understand the methods, techniques, and lives of past civilizations. In our interview we talk about his training in the Cardew lineage and how this led him to manage the Kolonyama pottery in Lesotho for many years, how working with archeologists has influenced his understanding of historical ceramics, and the evolution of ceramics from the Neolithic to the Roman era in the United Kingdom. To find out more visit www.pottedhistory.co.uk. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the EQCLAY20 Scholarships at Sonoma Community Center. The Equity in Clay Scholarships have been generously co-sponsored by AMACO Brent and provide a reduced $5 registration fee to the Virtual Ceramic Surface Series for those who self-identify as an underrepresented or marginalized individual. To receive the discount, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ participants simply register for the workshop of their choice, using the code EQCLAY20. For more information or to register visit www.sonomacommunitycenter.org/surface-series-2020/

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Jennifer Ling Datchuk. She was raised in a bicultural household and makes sculpture, installation, and performance art that address identity and womanhood. In our interview we talk about the role hair and self-objectification play in her performance art, working in Jingdezhen, and how her understanding of identity changes through art making. She is based in San Antonio, TX, where she teaches at the Southwest School of Art. To find out more about Jennifer visit www.jenniferlingdatchuk.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the EQCLAY20 Scholarships at Sonoma Community Center. The Equity in Clay Scholarships have been generously co-sponsored by AMACO Brent and provide a reduced $5 registration fee to the Virtual Ceramic Surface Series for those who self-identify as an underrepresented or marginalized individual. To receive the discount, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ participants simply register for the workshop of their choice, using the code EQCLAY20. For more information or to register visit www.sonomacommunitycenter.org/surface-series-2020/

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with cultural historian Bob Batchelor. He has written on diverse subjects ranging from comic icon Stan Lee to prohibition era bourbon boss George Remus and has recently published an illustrated history of Rookwood Pottery. In our interview we talk about the life and work of founder Maria Longworth Nichols Storer, the role star decorators like Kitaro Shirayamadani played in the success of the company, and the effect the Great Depression had on Rookwood. The book is now available anywhere fine books are sold and can be purchased from Rookwood at www.rookwood.com. For more information on Bob visit www.bobbatchelor.com. On this week's show I also talk about using www.iwillvote.com to locate your polling place and find out how to vote by mail in the upcoming American elections. Visit the website to find out more on how to safely vote in your state.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Audra Doughty. She has used her business Mud Queen Pottery to create a thriving community of ceramic enthusiasts in the Harrisburg, PA area. After Pennsylvania reopened in-person businesses she adapted her classroom to make it safe for students to learn in-person while social distancing. In our interview we talk about renovating a farmhouse barn into an art center, taking risks to expand her business, and tips for creating a safe working environment. For more information on Audra visit www.mudqueenpottery.com. On this week's show I also talk about using www.iwillvote.com to locate your polling place and find out how to vote by mail in the upcoming American elections. Many states are already in the voting process with record turnout for early voting. Visit the website to find out more on how to safely vote in your state.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Lindsay Montgomery. Her Italian inspired maiolica ceramics function as narrative paintings highlighting the social ills of our time including topics of environmental degradation, the patriarchy, and wealth inequality. Drawing from ceramics and paintings of the early Renaissance she often uses demonic figures and hellscapes to create a sense of impending doom. In our interview we talk about her love of the dark side of the Renaissance imagery, understanding the power dynamic of historical influences, and the role Walter Ostrom played in shaping her path in the arts. To see examples of her work visit www.lindsaymontgomery.ca. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the 4th annual Hudson Valley Pottery Tour. The online tour features fourteen artists who will be selling a variety of functional and sculptural studio ceramics October 17th and 18th. Work can be purchased through each artist's online shop and virtual time slots are available for one-on-one shopping experiences. For more information visit www.hudsonvalleypotterytour.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Walter Ostrom. Originally recorded in the summer of 2015 this interview is being rebroadcast in celebration of Clay Week. I made a playlist featuring five archival releases that relate to the themes of Clay Week. This episode fits with Teaching Tuesday. Through his almost forty-year teaching career at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design he upheld functional ceramics as a conceptually rich medium that deserved equal footing in academia. One of the early adopters of earthenware Maiolica pottery in North America, Walter has been a major influence on generations of ceramic artists. To hear the rest of the themed episodes stream them from our website at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/resources/clay-week-2020-play-list. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Clay Week Open Studio, an international outreach event that celebrates clay, community, and creativity. Join us this weekend October 9-11, 2020 for virtual demonstrations, lectures, and online sales that are happening across the U.S. To find out more about Open Studio visit www.clayweek.org/openstudio.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Ann Carrington. Based in Margate, UK, Ann makes sculpture using tin cans, flatware, and other metal objects that reference the peculiarities of British material and popular culture. I first saw her work last year when I saw one of her bouquets made from dozens of spoons shaped into delicate floral shapes. In our interview we talk about being a part of a creative squatter community in London early in her career, her interest in upcycling, and making art of the Queen and Royal family. She was commissioned to make The Royal Jubilee Banner for the Queen in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee. The banner hung from the stern of the Royal Barge "The Spirit of Chartwell" as it made its journey up the River Thames during the Diamond Jubilee procession in June of 2012. To see examples of her work visit www.anncarrington.co.uk. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Clay Week, an international outreach event that celebrates clay, community, and creativity. Next week October 5-11th, 2020 there will be virtual studio tours, lectures, online sales, and live interviews with the Color Network, Art Axis and NCECA. To find out more visit www.clayweek.org.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Jamie Bates Slone. She draws from her own experience with mental illness to create figurative sculpture that addresses disease and resilience. In our interview we talk about the psychology of color, how body positioning in sculpture can create empathy, and being a role model for young women. Slone is an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, which has a department of three professors dedicated to teaching figure sculpture. For more information visit www.jamiebatesslone.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the EQCLAY20 Scholarships at Sonoma Community Center. The Equity in Clay Scholarships have been generously co-sponsored by AMACO Brent and provide a reduced $5 registration fee to Virtual Ceramic Surface Series workshops for those who self-identify as an underrepresented or marginalized individual. To get the discount, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ participants simply register for the Ceramic Surface Series workshop of their choice, using the code EQCLAY20. For more information or to register visit www.sonomacommunitycenter.org/surface-series-2020/ Michiana Pottery tour is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast. Join 26 potters from around the country for the 9th-annual Michiana Pottery Tour, happening virtually beginning on September 26th. You'll find a list of participating potters, links to their webstores, and more information at www.michianapotterytour.com or on our Instagram page: @michianapotterytour Ceramic Materials Workshop is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. Ceramic Materials Workshop is a place online to learn about how materials really work. They've been teaching about glazes at the most prestigious ceramic universities for years, and now offer online classes that are open to everyone around the world. Class sessions begin every January, April, July and October 1st, or you can try their new self-guided online workshop the Middle Glazes: The Story of Mid Temperature Glazes available now. Use the coupon code REDCLAY, all one word, for 25% off the Middle Glazes for a limited time. Find out more and sign up at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Sara Truman. After teaching in a variety of classroom environments she has been focused for the past seven years on being a high school ceramics teacher. In our interview we talk about mentoring students inside and outside of the classroom, the founding of the Intersections think tank for K-12 art educators, and starting a community-based studio to serve Gainesville, FL. To see examples of her work and more information about Intersections visit www.saratruman.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have a fundraising effort to support three artists and their families who have been affected by the CZU Lightning Complex Wildfires in California. Jon and Liz Payne, Sam and Sarah Clarkson, and Andy Ruble have all lost homes in the recent wildfires. To find links to their individual Go Fund Me campaigns visit www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/resources. Michiana Pottery tour is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast. Join 26 potters from around the country for the 9th-annual Michiana Pottery Tour, happening virtually beginning on September 26th. You'll find a list of participating potters, links to their webstores, and more information at www.michianapotterytour.com or on our Instagram page: @michianapotterytour Ceramic Materials Workshop is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. Ceramic Materials Workshop is a place online to learn about how materials really work. They've been teaching about glazes at the most prestigious ceramic universities for years, and now offer online classes that are open to everyone around the world. Class sessions begin every January, April, July and October 1st, or you can try their new self-guided online workshop the Middle Glazes: The Story of Mid Temperature Glazes available now. Use the coupon code REDCLAY, all one word, for 25% off the Middle Glazes for a limited time. Find out more and sign up at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Sharif Bey. Bey has extensive experience in ceramics/sculpture, art community programming, and art teacher training, all of which he utilizes in his role as an associate professor of Art Education at Syracuse University. His recent work includes figurative sculpture and large-scale ceramic necklaces that address identity and adornment. In our interview we talk about helping teachers prepare for K-12 classrooms, balancing theory and application in art education teacher training, and his interest in West African nkisi power figures. To see examples of Sharif's work visit www.sharifbeyceramics.com/ On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the Show Us Your Glaze photo contest. For this year's celebration the Clay Week organization (@clay_week) is teaming up with Ceramic Materials Workshop to host a photo contest featuring your favorite glazes. To enter post an image on Instagram of a pot with your favorite glaze along with the recipe. You will be entered to win $200 towards an online glaze chemistry workshop with Ceramic Materials Workshop (@ceramicmaterialsworkshop). Make sure to use the hashtag #showusyourglaze and #clayweek2020 so we can find your submission. Post your entry by October 2nd at midnight to be eligible. To find out more about Clay Week visit www.clayweek.org. Michiana Pottery tour is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast. Join 26 potters from around the country for the 9th-annual Michiana Pottery Tour, happening virtually beginning on September 26th. You'll find a list of participating potters, links to their webstores, and more information at www.michianapotterytour.com or on our Instagram page: @michianapotterytour Ceramic Materials Workshop is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. Ceramic Materials Workshop is a place online to learn about how materials really work. They've been teaching about glazes at the most prestigious ceramic universities for years, and now offer online classes that are open to everyone around the world. Class sessions begin every January, April, July and October 1st, or you can try their new self-guided online workshop the Middle Glazes: The Story of Mid Temperature Glazes available now. Use the coupon code REDCLAY, all one word, for 25% off the Middle Glazes for a limited time. Find out more and sign up at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Guillermo Cuellar. In 1986 he established a pottery outside of Caracas, Venezuela, which he ran for sixteen years before deciding to relocate to Shafer, Minnesota. In our interview we talk about his time working with the World Wildlife Fund, developing a market for his ceramics in Venezuela and the United States, and the influence of Warren Mackenzie. To find out more visit www.guillermopottery.com. This episode of Tales of a Red Clay Rambler is sponsored in part by Cousins in Clay. Cousins in Clay is a group pottery show founded on kinship, recognizing that ceramic artists worldwide are related to one another through the common bond of clay. This year's show takes place ONLINE at www.cousinsinclay.com starting September 5th at 11 am EDT, and includes the work of Michael Kline, Bruce Gholson, Samantha Henneke, Courtney Martin, and Kyle Carpenter, as well as guests Lindsay Rogers, Michael Connelly, and Lydia Johnson. Visit www.cousinsinclay.com and follow @cousinsinclay on Instagram for more information.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Mike Cinelli. He blends the aesthetics of sci-fi with Greek myths to create pottery with rich aged surfaces. In our interview we talk about parenting in the time of COVID, developing design rules to give creativity structure, and using color triads from comic books to create visual punch on the surface of pots. To see examples of Mike's work, check out his upcoming show at www.companiongallery.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Clay Week Open Studio, an international outreach event that celebrates clay, community, and creativity. Join us on the weekend of October 9-11, 2020 for a celebration of clay around the world! To keep this year's open studio safe for all participants we encourage you to move your events to an online format. Virtual demonstrations, lectures, and online sales are just a few ways you can engage your community through Clay Week Open Studios. To sign up today visit www.clayweek.org/openstudio. Michiana Pottery tour is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast. Join 26 potters from around the country for the 9th-annual Michiana Pottery Tour, happening virtually beginning on September 26th. You'll find a list of participating potters, links to their webstores, and more information at www.michianapotterytour.com or on our Instagram page: @michianapotterytour

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Diana Benavidez, who builds piñatas that reflect her binational identity as an artist in the San Diego/Tijuana border region. She often places her work in installation formats with multimedia and technological aspects that help her craft stories about place and culture. In our interview we talk about growing up on both sides of the border, the history of piñatas, and the effect surveillance has on the border region. For more information on Diana visit www.dbenavidez.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Clay Week Open Studio, an international outreach event that celebrates clay, community, and creativity. Join us on the weekend of October 9-11, 2020 for a celebration of clay around the world! To keep this year's open studio safe for all participants we encourage you to move your events to an online format. Virtual demonstrations, lectures, and online sales are just a few ways you can engage your community through Clay Week Open Studios. To sign up today visit www.clayweek.org/openstudio. This episode of Tales of a Red Clay Rambler is sponsored in part by Cousins in Clay. Cousins in Clay is a group pottery show founded on kinship, recognizing that ceramic artists worldwide are related to one another through the common bond of clay. This year's show takes place ONLINE at www.cousinsinclay.com starting September 5th at 11 am, and includes the work of Michael Kline, Bruce Gholson, Samantha Henneke, Courtney Martin, and Kyle Carpenter, as well as guests Lindsay Rogers, Michael Connelly, and Lydia Johnson. Visit www.cousinsinclay.com and follow @cousinsinclay on Instagram for more information. Michiana Pottery tour is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast. Join 26 potters from around the country for the 9th-annual Michiana Pottery Tour, happening virtually beginning on September 26th. You'll find a list of participating potters, links to their webstores, and more information at www.michianapotterytour.com or on our Instagram page: @michianapotterytour

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with public historian and museum executive Christy S. Coleman. Her museum career started at seventeen portraying enslaved women at Colonial Williamsburg in their living history educational program. She went on to be the Director of Historic Programs before becoming the CEO of multiple institutions including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, MI, and the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, VA. In our interview we talk about the empathetic value of living history programs, how museums create context in the way they display objects, and Christy's work as a historical consultant for TV and film. We discuss her work on the recent biopic Harriet (2019) about the life of Harriet Tubman. In January of this year, Christy was named Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, which administers the Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. To find out more about Christy visit www.christyscoleman.com or follow her on Twitter at @historygonwrong.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Agnes Barton-Sabo, also known as Betty Turbo. Her humorous, vivid illustrations meld advertisements for food and daily necessities with social justice messages and words of encouragement. In our interview we talk about taking up papier-mâché sculpture during the pandemic, design tips she learned while working at Hatch Show Print, and how image making can support social justice movements. To see examples of her work visit www.bettyturbo.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have Clay Week Open Studio, an international outreach event that celebrates clay, community and creativity. Join us on the weekend of October 9-11, 2020 for a celebration of clay around the world! To keep this year's open studio safe for all participants we encourage you to move your events to an online format. Virtual demonstrations, lectures, and online sales are just a few ways you can engage your community through Clay Week Open Studios. To sign up today visit www.clayweek.org/openstudio. Michiana Pottery tour is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast. Join 26 potters from around the country for the 9th- annual Michiana Pottery Tour, happening virtually beginning on September 26th. You'll find a list of participating potters, links to their webstores, and more information at www.michianapotterytour.com or on our instagram page: @michianapotterytour

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Ashleigh Christelis. Based in Johannesburg, SA Christelis's career includes a variety of ceramic bodies of work and long-term teaching of ceramic classes in her local community. In the interview we talk about learning through apprenticeship, how COVID 19 has affected Johannesburg, and balancing work with the need for rest and self-care. We also address the complications of living with rheumatoid arthritis and bipolar disorder. For more information visit www.ashleighchristelisceramics.com. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the Ceramic Arts Reading Group. The group seeks mud artists of all stripes, from the glaze riffraff to the iron rabble, to form a ceramic arts reading group for women and non-cis gender men. This monthly reading group will be dedicated to creative, lively, and intellectually rigorous art theory discussions. The group chooses texts and material that are directly relevant and meaningful to the personal art practices of the members. They encourage you to join them to share and unravel ideas! Plant the metaphorical seed and hatch the allegorical egg! For more information on the reading group you can write to them at [email protected] (that's ceramic arts, with an 's').

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Mitchell Spain. Through meticulous craftsmanship he makes functional objects that appear to be rusted tin cans and farm detritus that has been stuck in a family barn since the Great Depression. In our interview we talk about addressing environmentalism through satirical imagery, refining a glaze that mimics rust, and how the pandemic has shifted his art practice. Mitchell's work will be featured in the exhibition Mo Fauxs Part Deux at the Black Book Gallery July 25th 2020 with Brett Kern and Tim Kowalczyk. For more information visit www.blackbookgallery.com. To see examples of his work visit www.mitchellspainceramics.com. On today's AMACO community cork board we have the Color Network, a group dedicated to aid in the advancement of people of color in the ceramic arts. Their aim is to assist artists develop, network, and create dialogue, while maintaining a place for resources and mentorship. For more information visit www.thecolornetwork.org or find them on IG at @thecolornetwork.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Carleigh Queenth. Through her position as the specialist head of European ceramics and glass at the Christie's Auction House in New York City, she researches, documents, and facilitates the sale of historical porcelain. In our interview we talk about the sale cycle of an auction house, the European quest for porcelain, and the factory system used for making the first European porcelains. For more information on Carleigh follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/breakingisbad. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the Ceramic Arts Reading Group. The group seeks mud artists of all stripes, from the glaze riffraff to the iron rabble, to form a ceramic arts reading group for women and non-cis gender men. This monthly reading group will be dedicated to creative, lively, and intellectually rigorous art theory discussions. The group chooses texts and material that are directly relevant and meaningful to the personal art practices of the members. They encourage you to join them to share and unravel ideas! Plant the metaphorical seed and hatch the allegorical egg! For more information on the reading group write to them at [email protected] (that's ceramic arts, with an 's').

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Adam Chau. Blending the machinery of industry with an interest in handcraft, Adam has created a digital calligraphy process which he uses to decorate tiles and vessels. In our interview we talk about developing mechanical mark-making processes, his Screenshot series investigating our evolving relationship with mobile devices, and his most recent show Sent, which revolves around the paradox of the anonymous selfie. To find out more about his work visit www.adamchau.com. We also discuss the reemergence of the Color Network, a group dedicated to aid in the advancement of people of color in the ceramic arts. For more information visit www.thecolornetwork.org. On today's AMACO community cork board we have online courses with Greenwich House Pottery. With over 40+ online classes from kiln building and Claymation, to critiques and gold leaf workshops, there's something for everyone. Whether this is your first class or your hundredth, or if you are a professional studio artist or a beginner with no access to clay there is a class for you! To register today visit www.greenwichhouse.org/pottery-online-class-catalog/ Ceramic Materials Workshop is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. Ceramic Materials Workshop is a place online to learn about how materials really work. They've been teaching about glazes at the most prestigious ceramic universities for years, and now offer online classes that are open to everyone around the world. Class sessions begin every January, April, July and October 1st, or you can try their new self-guided online workshop the Middle Glazes: The Story of Mid Temperature Glazes available now. Use the coupon code REDCLAY, all one word, for 25% off the Middle Glazes for a limited time. Find out more and sign up at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Dr. Melissa Weimer. She has worked at local, state, and national levels to improve access to evidence-based treatments for patients with substance use disorder. In addition to her role treating patients, she is an experienced educator who teaches health care students and professionals in order to increase the addiction medicine workforce. In our interview we talk about the disease model for addiction, how substance use affects neurobiology, and current medical treatments for a variety of substance use disorders. For more information on Melissa visit her profile at the Yale School of Medicine, where she is the Medical Director of the Yale Addiction Medicine Consult Service. This interview was recorded at the end of February 2020 before COVID hit the United States. As the pandemic continues to spread tremendous resources have been rightfully allocated to fight the virus. In contrast, the stigma surrounding addiction can be seen in the ways funding is applied to treat the disease. Instead of funding treatment, resources are often driven to policing and criminalizing the individuals suffering from the disease. This war on drugs approach is not effective and has contributed to over 750,000 drug overdose deaths since 1999 in the United States alone. To find out more about medical treatments for substance use disorders visit Dr. Weimer's profile at the Yale School of Medicine. On today's AMACO community cork board we have the Color Network, a group dedicated to aid in the advancement of people of color in the ceramic arts. Their aim is to assist artists develop, network, and create dialogue, while maintaining a place for resources and mentorship. For more information visit www.thecolornetwork.org or find them on IG at @thecolornetwork. Ceramic Materials Workshop is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. Ceramic Materials Workshop is a place online to learn about how materials really work. They've been teaching about glazes at the most prestigious ceramic universities for years, and now offer online classes that are open to everyone around the world. Class sessions begin every January, April, July and October 1st, or you can try their new self-guided online workshop the Middle Glazes: The Story of Mid Temperature Glazes available now. Use the coupon code REDCLAY, all one word, for 25% off the Middle Glazes for a limited time. Find out more and sign up at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com.

On today's episode, I talk about the need for the ceramic community, myself included, to be actively antiracist in our actions. As we make changes to create a more inclusive ceramic community for Black, Indigenous and artists of color I encourage you to consider Dr. King's words on the dangers of the white moderate and the hesitance to take up the fight for social justice in favor of slow reforms. The time for change is now. "First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." Martin Luther King April 16, 1963 - Letter from a Birmingham Jail To support BIPOC in our community, institute equitable hiring practices, purchase art work, and support inclusive efforts such as The Color Network: www.instagram.com/thecolornetwork

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Isaac Scott. His ceramic vessels and sculpture draw from hip hop, pop culture, and politics, and are inspired by historical cultures that communicated their values through symbolic leadership figures, such as pharaohs and Gods. He uses silk screens, stencils, and painting to create images of political figures, musicians, artists, and self-portraits that create modern myths. In our interview we talk about the power of monuments, black representation in public spaces, and his recent photographs of Black Lives Matter protests in Philadelphia, PA. During the course of a peaceful protest against police brutality, Isaac and other protesters were beaten, tear gassed, and shot with rubber bullets. To see Isaac's images from the protests, follow @thisisphotography2020 on IG. You can see images of his ceramic work at @this_is_ceramics. On today's Amaco Community Corkboard we have the Ceramic Arts Reading Group. The group seeks mud artists of all stripes, from the glaze riffraff to the iron rabble, to form a ceramic arts reading group for women and non-cis gender men. This monthly reading group will be dedicated to creative, lively, and intellectually rigorous art theory discussions. The group chooses texts and material that are directly relevant and meaningful to the personal art practices of the members. They encourage you to join them to share and unravel ideas! Plant the metaphorical seed and hatch the allegorical egg! For more information on the reading group, you can contact beanjellyceramics or yucky_nat on Instagram, or write to them at [email protected] (that's ceramic arts, with an 's'). Ceramic Materials Workshop is a proud sponsor of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. Ceramic Materials Workshop is a place online to learn about how materials really work. They've been teaching about glazes at the most prestigious ceramic universities for years, and now offer online classes that are open to everyone around the world. Class sessions begin every January, April, July and October 1st, or you can try their new self-guided online workshop the Middle Glazes: The Story of Mid Temperature Glazes available now. Use the coupon code REDCLAY, all one word, for 25% off the Middle Glazes for a limited time. Find out more and sign up at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Andrei Taraschuk. Using computer skills from his day job as a software engineer, Taraschuk creates and manages a fleet of art bots that post images of art across Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. In our interview we talk about the structure of an art bot, which social media platforms have responded best to bots, and why we need art in our daily lives. To find out more about Andrei visit www.offtheeasel.com, where you can create your own art bot to share the art you love. On today's AMACO Community Corkboard we have the History of Ceramics Instagram feed. If you need a break from politics and the pandemic you can fill your feed with photographs of ceramic vessels and sculptures from global history. Images are tagged with links to the Metropolitan Museum, Sotheby's, or other institutions to help you research your favorite genres of historical pottery and sculpture. To join in follow @historyofceramics on Instagram. Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, we have embarked on our ninth season of the show and to celebrate we are having a spring fund drive. Since the quarantine started, I've gotten emails of support about how the podcast helps listeners feel connected to the friends they can't physically be around. The podcast continues to be a great way to connect with other artists from the comfort and safety of your own home studio. You can support the show with a donation through the Pay Pal donation portal at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate or by making a monthly pledge at patreon.com/redclayrambler. If you join Patreon today you can access perks like t-shirts, water bottles and other podcast swag, as well as having access to the Patreon exclusive Tales from the Vault podcast, which features remastered episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. Your donation or pledge will help me reach the goal of raising $3000 for this fund drive. Thanks for listening and stay safe out there.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Tim Kowalczyk. His trompe l'oeil ceramic vessels mimic cardboard, Styrofoam, and other normally disposable industrial materials. In our interview we talk about the building process for making trompe l'oeil objects, the symbiotic benefits of being loyal to a gallery, and his web series "Critiquing with Kids." To find out more about Tim visit www.timsceramics.com. On today's AMACO Community Corkboard we have the History of Ceramics Instagram feed. If you need a break from politics and the pandemic you can fill your feed with photographs of ceramic vessels and sculptures from global history. Images are tagged with links to the Metropolitan Museum, Sotheby's, or other institutions to help you research your favorite genres of historical pottery and sculpture. To join in follow @historyofceramics on Instagram. Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, we have embarked on our ninth season of the show and to celebrate we are having a spring fund drive. Since the quarantine started, I've gotten emails of support about how the podcast helps listeners feel connected to the friends they can't physically be around. The podcast continues to be a great way to connect with other artists from the comfort and safety of your own home studio. You can support the show with a donation through the Pay Pal donation portal at www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate or by making a monthly pledge at patreon.com/redclayrambler. If you join Patreon today you can access perks like t-shirts, water bottles and other podcast swag, as well as having access to the Patreon exclusive Tales from the Vault podcast, which features remastered episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. Your donation or pledge will help me reach the goal of raising $3000 for this fund drive. Thanks for listening and stay safe out there.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Carrie Cleveland. She works in disaster-preparedness education and outreach for the Craft Emergency Relief Fund. CERF+ was started by artists for artists in the craft community in 1985 and has since emerged as the leading nonprofit organization that uniquely focuses on safeguarding artists' livelihoods. In our interview we talk about the Cares Act legislation and resources available to artists to help with the financial impact of the COVID pandemic. To find out more about emergency relief, career protection tools, and other resources visit www.cerfplus.org. On today's AMACO Community Corkboard we have the 28th Annual Saint Croix Valley Pottery Tour, May 8-10. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak the tour will be held online with shops going live on May 8th at 10 am CDT. For more information visit www.minnesotapotters.com or follow @stcroixvalleypotterytour on Instagram for previews and updates. I'd like to thank Amaco/Brent for sponsoring the community corkboard. Brent Equipment is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and have created a Limited Edition Black CXC wheel. For more information visit www.amaco.com. Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, we are embarking on our ninth season of the show starting this May. To support the new season, we are having a spring fund drive. Throughout the year I receive emails from fans who talk about how this podcast helps them connect with other artists around the world. One recent listener said, "I appreciate all the voices you give a platform to, especially amazing women like Naomi Clement." Giving voice to the many generations of ceramics artists that are working today is my mission, and I need your help to accomplish it. Our goal for the month of May is to raise $3,000 to support our production costs. You can get involved by making a donation through the Pay Pal donation portal at http://www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate or by making a monthly pledge at patreon.com/redclayrambler.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Justin Rothshank. Working from his home studio in Goshen, IN Justin has been making functional pottery and experimenting with low-temperature firing techniques for many years. He recently published his first full-length book Low Fire Soda, which outlines his experimentation and development of atmospheric-fired earthenware. In our interview we talk about the advantages of switching to low temperature firing, the dynamics of a good soda firing clay, and his recent project A Year of Shared Intention, which mixes shared mindfulness with artmaking. To see examples of his work or to purchase the book visit www.rothshank.com. On today's AMACO Community Corkboard we have the application deadline for the The Clay Studio National. This biannual juried exhibition showcases the depth and breadth of the ceramic art field in the United States. This year's guest juror is Lauren Sandler, Assistant Professor and Program Head of Ceramics at Tyler School of Art, Temple University. The entry has been waived this year and artists should apply by May 25. For more information visit www.theclaystudio.org/apply. I'd like to thank Amaco/Brent for sponsoring the community corkboard. Brent Equipment is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and have created a Limited Edition Black CXC wheel. For more information visit www.amaco.com. The podcast is funded through the generous support of listeners like you. Visit www.patreon.com/redclayrambler or www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate to make a donation.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Kate Johnston. She uses local materials to make highly decorated pots that are fired in a wood kiln outside of Seagrove, NC. Her work is boldly patterned with botanical imagery drawn from art deco design. In our interview we talk about developing design rules to guide one's work in the studio, the romance of NC pottery traditions, techniques for making large pots, and the benefits of competition and cooperation in a tight-knit pottery community like Seagrove. To see examples of her work visit www.katejohnstonpottery.com. You can also find out more about Kate's newly opened studio and gallery at www.thetrianglestudio.com. On today's AMACO Community Corkboard we have the Craft Emergency Relief Fund. CERF+ was started by artists for artists in the craft community as a grassroots mutual aid effort in 1985 and has since emerged as the leading nonprofit organization that uniquely focuses on safeguarding artists' livelihoods. To find out more about emergency relief, career protection tools and other resources visit www.cerfplus.org. I want to give a shout out to KC Clay Guild for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. KC Clay Guild has been supporting ceramic artists and providing a space to work in Kansas City, Missouri since 1988. I encourage you to apply for the 11th Annual KC Clay Guild Teabowl National before their June 26th deadline. Sam Chung is this year's juror and prizes include purchase and equipment awards, as well as gift certificates totaling over $1000. Find out more and apply today at www.kcclayguild.org/apply. The podcast is funded through the generous support of listeners like you. Visit www.patreon.com/redclayrambler or www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate to make a donation.