The Potters Cast

Justine Riley is an artist exploring with thread, clay, paper, poetry, and books. Justine lives in the last house on a country road with her husband and son. Justine artistic path began in Florida when Justine signed up for a ceramics class at the local community college. There Justine met Josh, fell in love with pottery, and found the clay community. A few years later Justine and Josh moved to Kentucky, where they now have home studios, chickens, a garden and a creek where their son digs for rocks.

Meghan McCrone currently lives and creates in the mountainous, oceanside town of Squamish British Columbia. Muddy Marvels Pottery is a bright studio nestled into Meghan's beautiful garden. Over the past 5 years Meghan has invited budding potters to assist her and learn the full spectrum of what it means to be a potter. She herself was an apprentice in Whistler for Vincent Massey and feels it is her turn to give back, encourage and inspire those just starting their pottery journey. Meghan graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Ceramics and since then has participated in countless shows, markets, and galleries. Meghan continued to UBC and obtained her BEd. She has been teaching art in schools throughout BC for over 15 years and currently is teaching at the Squamish Waldorf School. In addition, Meghan also offers regular month-long pottery workshops in her home studio. She loves to collaborate with other creatives and encourages inquiries for special or wholesale orders.

Morgan Loehr is a potter based in the heart of San Francisco. Morgan loves to get lost in the details and focus on creating colanders and berry bowls. Morgan really enjoys the repetitive process that piercing requires!

Minoo Sayyah Sina started pottery at an art workshop initially as a hobby which grew to be a fundamental part of Minoo's life. At first Minoo stared wheel throwing and then handmade pottery became her favorite, especially pinch, slab, and recently kurinuki. After working with various clay, Minoo passed her glazing course and then molding. Minoo loves making pottery and does it with love and passion. Minoo's work is unique, simple, and imperfect.

Melissa Weiss is a studio potter in Asheville, NC. She has been working with clay for 15 years. She makes her living selling her one of a kind handmade functional pottery online, at shows and teaching workshops.She makes her work with various techniques mainly carving in the Kurinuki style, coil building, slab work and wheel throwing. She digs and makes her own iron rich stoneware from clay she digs on her land in the Arkansas Ozarks. Melissa has not had a formal education in ceramics. She is self taught with the guidance of many other potters.

Abbie Preston Edmonson is an object maker and entrepreneur living and working in Houston, Texas. As the owner and designer of Box Sparrow Studio, Abbie creates ceramic functional works. Abbie is a graduate of Valdosta State University in Georgia, receiving her BFA in Studio Art in drawing, painting, and ceramics.

Paul Lyon's ceramic art has always been influenced by nature and the textures found in our environment. Paul is consistently intrigued by the numerous imprints objects can leave in his clay forms. Paul's inspiration comes from rocks, wooden tools, handmade poking sticks, stamps, and his all time favorite... his daughter's beads. Paul is continually experimenting with throwing forms on the potters wheel and then manipulating the clay. Currently Paul is investigating the affects of gravity on his blue glaze and how it puddles and pulls over the textures he has created. Paul is amazed how it can transform into a one of a kind unique creation, imitating nature.

Krista Cameron has been passionate about pottery for over 16 years and has a Diploma in Ceramics from St. Lawrence College and has been participating in regional exhibits and sales since 1998. Krista's current studio is found near Charleston Lake nestled among the rocks and pine trees, a beautiful setting which she endeavors to capture in her art. Krista has been showing in Eastern Ontario since 2000. Krista sells her work at The Green Gecko and Casual Living. Krista teaches pottery at her Charleston Lake, Ontario studio and in Brockville at Hilltop Studio.

Makoto Fujimura (b. 1960, Boston) is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive "slow art" has been described by David Brooks of New York Times as "a small rebellion against the quickening of time". Makoto is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision makers and advising governmental policies on the arts. Makoto is also launching the Kintugi Academy. Makoto uses Kintsugi as an metaphor mending.

The knowledge Frank Eagar has gained through not only producing art, but teaching art, and has broadened his knowledge regarding how and why art has been produced through the centuries. As a ceramic artist all of Frank's pieces from a simple cup to a sculpture are a small representation of both himself and his experiences. Teaching art has given Frank the privilege to increase others knowledge and appreciation of art, by showing and teaching the depth of being that goes into the creation of individual pieces. As a ceramicist, Frank believes in producing both functional as well as sculptural pieces. The beauty and simplicity of functional ware is timeless, and yet still carries the fingerprint of its creator long after he is gone. Frank also enjoys making 3D ceramic sculptures. Though these are a more complex representation of Frank, he enjoys creating these pieces from birdbaths, to fountains, even to a figurative sculpture because of the versatile qualities of the clay. Frank always enjoys experimenting with shape, pattern, color, and form in my pottery. Currently, the distortion of basic shapes and play upon its actual or created lines either in a whimsical or obtuse manner are a recent creative focus of Frank.

Laurence André is a french potter living and working in Manigod, a small village located in Northern French Alps. Laurence settled her studio in the old walls of an old cheese dairy farm. Being into clay for 10 years now, working a white clay on the wheel or on plaster molds, Laurence is happy to imagine and produce small batch of tableware ceramics, slipware decorated one-of-a-kind pieces with folk patterns, flowers & animals that form merry different collections. Laurence is a self-taught, learning through experience - which she in turn is passing on during clay workshops in her studio.

Teppi is the creator of The Perfect Apron. Teppi wanted a better answer to cleaning and keeping her hands dry. Teppi's creation is the best solution to staying clean and dry during all pottery sessions! Teppi made sure that The Perfect Apron is eco friendly so it eliminates the need for paper towels. It can also be used for cooking, grading, and other messy tasks!

Hannah Shipway has worked as a professional potter for the past five years. Hannah has her own studios in Oxford, England, and also in Dorset on the South Coast of England. Hannah makes wheel-thrown, functional tableware in small batches, all of which are sold exclusively from the iconic Albatross Cafe in Bristol.

Brandy Green & Michelle Castro | Episode 615 Today is a special release day. Instead of releasing two episodes on Tuesday and Thursday, The Potters Cast is releasing both of this week's episode on Tuesday. As a result of NCECA 2020 conference getting canceled this year, the normal process of NCECA having a dedicated time of having the candidates for the Director at Large and the Student Director at Large share about what they would bring to the position and then to answer questions from the audience wasn't available. These two episodes are the replacement platform to allow these fine candidates to share their stories. In this second episode we are going to dedicate this to the position of Student Director at Large. These two candidates, Brandy Green and Michelle Castro, will be the second to go.

Today is a special release day. Instead of releasing two episodes on Tuesday and Thursday, The Potters Cast is releasing both of this week's episode on Tuesday. As a result of NCECA 2020 conference getting canceled this year, the normal process of NCECA having a dedicated time of having the candidates for the Director at Large and the Student Director at Large share about what they would bring to the position and then to answer questions from the audience wasn't available. These two episodes are the replacement platform to allow these fine candidates to share their stories. In this first episode we are going to dedicate this to the position of Director at Large. These two candidates, Simon Levin and Cat Traen, will be the first to go. A little about the process. I invited all four to schedule an time with me. The recordings were done on a "first come, first served" basis. And then they were put together in the same manner. I hope you enjoy these conversations.

Shae Bishop earned his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. Shae's artwork explores the relationships between ceramics and textiles. Shae has been a resident artist at The Archie Bray Foundation, Red Star Studios, and elsewhere in the US, as well as in Indonesia, Turkey, and Hungary.

More than anything else Lucy Ernst is an environmental artist. Lucy started out sculpting with bones and 'dead things' and then moved into clay when she discovered the idea of wild clay. With her work Lucy wants to force people to open their eyes to the environment around them, to the wild things, and to change how they see their world, their everyday!

This year's NCECA that was slated to take place in Richmond, Virginia had to be cancelled as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. In this bonus episode of The Potters Cast the executive director, Josh Green and a few of the board member, Board Steward Rhonda Willers, Current President Holly Hanessian, and incoming President Elect Pete Pinell all got on a conference call with me to tell their story of how NCECA is doing. After the introductions we talked about three things- How they came to their decision and its impact, what is going on currently and in the future with NCECA, and how we as a community can help.

Ryan Ball is a Twin Cities, Minnesota based potter originally from Louisiana. Working mostly in midrange white clay, Ryan produces a wide range of functional wares. Ryan pulls from a decade of production studio experience, employing colorful glazes of his own design over soft, inviting forms decorated with slip textures.

Isaac Shue is living a life of clay! As a teacher, Isaac is teaching our next generation of ceramicists by day and then working the studio life by night! Amanda Fungue color and plant lover and is seeking fun, small-batch pottery and art! Together they have collaborated together to make some amazing work. In this conversation we talk about the ins and outs of collaboration.

Ryan Rakhshan. Teacher, glaze designer, and kiln technician. Ryan occasionally makes a pot just to make sure his glazes and kilns are working.

Hector Kriete's life and art has been a path of breaking boundaries that are formed by rules and expectations. As a Latino immigrant from Colombia, Hector grew up with the mindset that financial stability was the primary goal in life. But on the inside, Hector always had a strong desire to create art and a need to be surrounded by nature. Hector spent his teenage years in Southern California trying to assimilate and suppress his true self. When Hector started accepting who he was and rediscovering himself through his roots, Hector's soul was nourished and his creativity was sparked. Hector started doing ceramics when he was a child in Colombia. When he moved to the States, Hector focused on his drawing skills, but soon felt constrained by the overwhelming amount of rules imposed by one of his high school teachers. Hector rediscovered ceramics through a teacher who allowed him to experiment and create without strict direction. This freed Hector to discover a world of unlimited possibilities. Another inspirational teacher in college taught Hector the value of making mistakes and not being afraid to take risks. Hector has learned that the best things can often come from not having expectations and allowing a co-creative process with the medium.

Dawn Klinger is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts focused on Ceramic Sculpture. Dawn has been working with clay for 30+ years, beginning in her freshman year of high school, where she fell in love with the medium. Pursuing art was not her original goal but as she began taking classes in college the positive feedback and support from her professors led her to realize, this was where she felt most at home. Dawn began her career in the early nineties teaching art and participating in art festivals in southern Florida, finding success in her ceramic sculpture and fulfillment teaching ceramics to a variety of populations. Dawn took a break from pursuing this path in 2003 to raise her children but always kept her hand in the medium. In 2015, after a move to southern Oregon, she decided to take her sculptural background in handbuilding and apply it to functional ceramics. From there, Tagliaferro Ceramics was born. Working out designs in her garage, over the course of a year Dawn created the initial pieces that would form the base of her dinner and serving ware collections. In 2016, Dawn partnered with a local woodworking company to open a boutique in Ashland, Oregon featuring her ceramics and his northwest hardwood cutting and serving boards. The pair were naturally aligned with simple, organic style focused on letting the material speak and minimizing embellishment. Tagliaferro is named after Dawn's maternal grandfather. Most of Dawn's childhood was spent in the care of her grandparents and it was by her grandfathers side, at his basement workbench, that she learned to create with he materials around her. The concept of family and sharing food together is at the core of Tagliaferro Ceramics and she choose the name to honor hers. Dawn continues to evolve the business, creating a website in Feb. 2019, running the Ashland boutique and most all, refining and creating new designs in her creekside studio.

Abby is a production potter specializing in wheel-thrown homewares. "From my heart to your home". After a long career as a professional photographer, Abby began pottery 2 1/2 years ago and found peace and healing in the quiet solitude of working with her hands. Abby began her career in Salem, MA and is (at the time of this publication) is in the process of relocating to Duluth, MN where she is moving into her first dedicated workshop and studio space.

For years Annelies Callewier has invested in the small family in knowledge, experience, workshop and equipment. From Annelies' perspective, life is too short to master the whole trade. Each potter learns all the necessary things of the trade to be able to earn his or her bread and specializes in a specific work. Annelies' passion in recent years is the serial production of utility pottery.

Ryan Durbin and Becca Otis host a podcast called Wheel Talk. With 20 years of experience together and 5 years of friendship under their belts, they have candid, real and honest conversations about what it's actually is like to running a small business, whether it be a full time gig (Becca) or a sweet side hustle (Ryan).

Sara Ballek is a ceramic artist living in Asheville, North Carolina. Sara is currently a Resident Artist and instructor at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville. Sara works with a number of methods and processes to create functional pottery with a focus on color, pattern, and texture.

I see my artwork as a journey in which the process - the very visceral act of creating is as significant as the final outcome. It is labyrinthine in its development and I am often surprised by the intuitive level of its revelation. I am entranced by the visual traces of this journey and the slow development of a patina of color and texture, the subtle variation of simple forms, and the impact of timing, and of time. To me, these layering's are reminiscent of geological formation and similarly offer insight to the factors of influence, as well as to the many possibilities of interpretation.

In this episode I gave you, the listeners an opportunity to grab the mic and share your mind. This is in celebration of reaching 600 episodes! I can't believe that we have hit such a crazy number. I owe all the thanks to you and to our amazing guests that we have had over the years. So from the bottom of my heart I want to say, Thank you.

Jessica's early years were spent in Upstate New York. The daughter of an engineer and a photographer, Jessica grew up in her father's workshop and her mother's darkroom. Jessica earned a BA in Studio Art at UT Austin and has worked in graphic design and ceramics for over 20 years.

Kimmy Rohrs and Aaron McSorley are the potters behind whiskey and clay - ceramics for everyday use from the high deserts in Santa Fe New Mexico and Terlingua Texas. Kimmy throws all the pots at her studio in a converted gas station near downtown Santa Fe, drives them up the mountain to their adobe home where the couple and their kiln live, Aaron then fires each piece to cone 10 temperatures in a heavy reduction firing environment. The outcome is rustic, minimal, and simple pieces to add joy to everyday life.

Ceramics found Embla Sigurgeirsdottir in 2011 when she stood at crossroads in life and took her on a journey she didn´t expect, an adventure had begun and a new passion for life. Embla works mainly with surface texture by carving into and through her porcelain designs, creating strong patterns and dramatic effects of light and shadows. Embla's designs often come from the ability of the material itself. Working with porcelain and drawn to its white and translucent nature, Embla plays with the boundaries it gives her, always trying to push it a little further each time.

Denise McDonald originally trained as a Landscape Architect, obtaining a Degree in Landscape Architecture in 1991. Denise quickly realized that wasn't for her and switched to a career path in ceramics by doing a TAFE Diploma of Ceramics in 1996-97. Denise worked in production potteries over the next few years to learn the skills and traditions of her trade from the roots up, most notably, she did the Dartington Pottery Traineeship in England in 1998-1999. Denise began her business DM Pottery in 2010.

Working out of her home studio in Virginia, Marianne Tolosa creates almost exclusively mugs inspired by the garden. There is an inherent intimacy to objects that have been made by hand, and Marianne's work is created with the hope of bringing quiet beauty, meditation, and joy into a person's coffee or tea ritual.

Born in Pennsylvania but raised in Nebraska, Danielle Whigham received her B.A. in studio art from Northwestern College in 2007. While in college, Danielle was able to take advanced classes in ceramics, painting, and printmaking. Over the past two years, Danielle has been starting up a small ceramic studio in her home while also making the transition from full-time mom to studio potter. Danielle has been able to sell her work at several markets across the state and start an online store.

Lindsay Klix is the ceramic artist who runs Off Your Rocker Pottery. Lindsay has been working in clay for 21 years and specializes in dinnerware, including full dish sets. Lindsay's work has been featured in the American Farmhouse Style Magazine, in the number one selling cookbook No Crumbs Left, and more.

For the last nine years, Elena Vasilantonaki has been making with clay, inspired by her need to express herself, to achieve communication, and to present her view of the human nature to others. Born in 1977 in Athens Greece, Elena moved to over six cities by the age of eighteen. After completing her BA in English Literature at the University of Athens, Elena taught at a local school for a few years until she stopped to become a full time mother. During that period Elena started taking painting lessons as a creative outlet. In 2010 Elena met with neighbor and talented English potter, Janet Lines who introduces Elena to clay and the ancient firing techniques of raku and pit firing. In 2016 Elena turns her home basement into her studio while still taking pottery classes. In 2018 Elena completes a one year seminar on ceramics technology at Iridanos pottery school by acclaimed potter Menandros Papadopoulos. She has been working out of her studio ever since.

Chiara Della Santina was born and raised in Tuscany but spent many years living abroad. Chiara moved back to Orbetello (her hometown) 5 years ago. For many years Chiara worked as a language teacher. About 2 years ago Chiara decided to shake up her life and become a full-time potter. So far it's been the best decision Chiara ever made in her entire life!

Stephanie H. Shih explores concepts of home—not just as a physical place, but also as cultural, generational, and emotional spaces we inhabit—through the lens of Asian-American identity. Eighteen pieces from her current body of work will be exhibited at the American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona, CA) in 2020. Stephanie lives in Brooklyn.

Bethany Sheesley is a ceramic artist, brand designer, and studio owner with a BFA from the University of Iowa. Bethany has spent the last decade fully immersed in design and ceramics. Three years ago, Bethany realized a dream of hers by creating a new pottery studio in Phoenix, AZ, where she lives and works with other artists. Bethany's ceramic work is an ever-evolving exploration, inspired by nature, design, and a variety of artistic mediums.

Tara Carter is a ceramic artist living in Telluride, Colorado. Tara earned her BA in Ceramics and MBA from Otterbein University in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Since graduating in 2011, Tara has been teaching ceramics classes, developing her own work by attending a variety of workshops, and exhibiting her wares.

Gabriela Martinez (Gabo Martini) was born in Tarimoro, Guanajuato, Mexico in 1995. She received her BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Ceramics from Texas State University in 2018. Martini's work is inspired by indigenous Mexican and Native American art. She carves patterning and lettering onto terracotta vessel forms.

Mia Moss is a potter born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After moving to Berlin in 2014, Mia decided to commit to pottery as her career. In 2017, Mia opened a small community space, to give classes and bring in other potters. In 2019, Mia moved again to an even bigger space.

Amy Brummond is the clay enthusiast and self-taught potter behind Pine Zen Pottery. She loves combining color and pattern in her work. Amy practices yoga and meditation daily and gets outside as often as possible. She currently resides in Minnesota--where she lives with her husband and two sons.

Emma Hall is a 30 year old, self-taught potter based in the beautiful Cotswold's in the U.K. Emma has always been creative, even creating her own shows at age 16, but she didn't continue this creativity and went to university studying something completely different. Emma says something she learned in life is that if you are truly creative it will find you again and so she did with pottery. Emma creates brightly colored and fluid pieces. Addicted to color is a fitting description for Emma. She exclusively uses Amaco Brent branded glazes to get the colors she loves. Emma's pottery is hand built with slip used for the decoration.

Joe Lee is a ceramic artist living in Irvine, California. Joe has been doing pottery for 10 years and he likes to throw vessels and cover the surfaces with intricately carved patterns.

Keith Hershberger is a potter living in Philadelphia who has made a living working in clay for over 20 years. In 2011 Keith founded the Highland Park Pottery Tour, a neighborhood based tour where ceramic artists invite the public into their homes and studios to view and purchase their work.

Creating pots is for Yoon Surl the ultimate act of consciousness. Rather than letting Youn's unconsciousness drive his art work, Yoon fashions clay into a shape that corresponds to a preconceived vision.

Dave Zackin studied animation at RISD, taught art classes for adults with schizophrenia for a few years, redesigned the recycling stickers for the City of New York, and then got into ceramics. His work, mostly depicting old men with big noses, is often made from greenware and bisquware discarded by others.

Louis Reilly has been making functional pottery since 2008. Louis maintains a steady studio practice and exhibits his work internationally. Louis obtained his BFA in 2009 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his MFA in 2013 from Utah State University. Louis serves as Studio Coordinator at KC Clay Guild and teaches ceramics at Benedictine College.