Birds of Clay Podcast

In our final episode, we’re feeling all the things—grateful, exhausted, and still buzzing with excitement. We catch up on life, reflect on where we draw inspiration, and dive into the differences between mentors and teachers. Plus, we take a joyful look at Glenn Barkley’s Ceramics: An Atlas of Forms—not so much a review, more a celebration. Thanks for sticking with us this season. See you soon for more great chats!

Here's links to some of the things we spoke about this episode: 

artisan

Shifting Ground

Sixty

Moon Do Bang

Goldmark Gallery Docos

Foster a Potter

The Journal

Australian Ceramics Triennale 

Thanks everyone for your support. We're excited to be back soon with Season 3 later in 2025...

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Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

Today we chat with our new friend and local maker Sarah Hotchin. Sarah is a true artist with creativity at her core. She is currently working as a graphic designer while also creating with clay. We speak to her about living in Istanbul where she learnt the skill of hand building and the importance of sharing a meal. She also speaks about being part of a studio in San Francisco and how it feels coming back to regional Queensland. A highlight is hearing about Sarah's practice of journaling - we are truly inspired! 

Sarah shares a creative life with her husband Joseph Bergado and they have just launched Hotchin Bergado with a collection of Sarah's ceramics called Tidal Whispers. These beautiful functional hand built pieces are brought to life with rich imagery and story inspired by Sarah's reflections in her journal. 

https://www.hotchinbergado.com/

https://www.instagram.com/hotchin_bergado/

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Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

In this episode, we chat with Kirsti Falconer, a ceramic artist based on Yuggera country in the Lockyer Valley. Kirsti shares how her background in painting, gallery curation, teaching, and community organising informs her ceramic practice. We explore her creative evolution, the role of place and community in her work, and celebrate her recent First Class Honours and University Medal from the University of Southern Queensland. Tune in for a rich conversation on art, identity, and creative connection.

You can get in touch with Kirsti on instagram @kirstifalconer

As always we'd love to hear from you! 

Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

Rora and Jane catch up for a relaxed cuppa and chat. We discuss a few updates in our lives and delve into some recent discussions that piqued our interest that have been happening on Instagram. Jane also has just read Clay: A Human History by Jennifer Lucy Allen and shares some great stories from it.

As always we'd love to hear from you! 

Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

We have a special episode today – a live recording of the launch for Issue 641 of the The Journal of Australian Ceramics (JAC), Adelaide on Kaurna Land, 3 May 2025 (election day!). 

The afternoon launch event included a visit to the APY Studio Adelaide, including meeting some of the Blak Manta artists featured in JAC issue 641. Then we headed to Es Ceramics studio visit to see a throwing demonstration from Guy Ringwood.

Next stop was The Wheaty for a panel discussion on the journal theme INDUSTRY & STORY with Alison Smiles, Dee Taylor-Graham, Guy Ringwood and Jo Crawford facilitated by JAC's editor Montessa Maack and Myself (Jane) and supported by WA's own Matt Russell. Introduced by the CEO of The Australian Ceramics Association (TACA) Diamando Koutsellis. 

APY Studio Adelaide @collectiveartcentre @apy_ac_collective & Alfred Lowe @aforalfie

Es Ceramics Studio @es_ceramics_australia  

Guy Ringwood  @ringwoodartsco

Alison Smiles @alisonsmilesoften

Dee Taylor-Graham @waldies.school

Jo Crawford @unisa.art

Montessa Maack @montessamaack

Matt Russell @mattrussell7

Diamando Koutsellis @diamando

The Wheatsheaf Hotel @thewheaty

Just a heads up – the sound does get a bit better as it goes on. The Wheaty is a pub on a main road and on a flight path!

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Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

In this episode, we sit down with celebrated Brisbane-based ceramic artist Clairy Laurence, whose bold, expressive sculptures elicit dreams, fairytales, and the surreal. Known for her richly detailed figures and distinctive visual language, Clairy shares the story behind her artistic evolution—from early apprenticeship days to her full-time practice, and her deep roots in Brisbane’s creative community. We delve into her memories of Amfora Gallery, her role in the Field Trip space, and the development of her unmistakable style. Clairy also reflects on the joys and challenges of teaching, the shifting landscape of Australian ceramics, and the development of an artistic voice. 

Instagram: @clairylaurence & @fieldtrip.gallery

https://www.clairylaurence.com/

We head down to Meanjin (Brisbane) to visit the amazing Laura Pascoe at Vacant Assembly, a hybrid arts working space in the vibrant and changing suburb of West End. Laura embraces a sensitive approach to her making, drawing on the Australian landscape. She also has a passion for holding space for others to create and exhibit. Our rich chat covers many topics including the intersection of architecture and clay, community, making, woodfiring and life as a creative.

Laura Pascoe is a Meanjin (Brisbane)-based ceramic artist, interior designer, and art curator with a background in architecture. She blends creativity with community, using her expertise in interior design, art selection, and ceramics to foster collaboration and authenticity through her work and the gallery she co-founded, Vacant Assembly.

https://www.laurapascoe.au/

https://www.instagram.com/la.pascoe/

______________________________________________________________

Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

Rora and Jane finally get the chance to sit down and catch up. 

The beginning of 2025 has been a little rocky and both of our lives seem to be dominated by lots of teaching. So teaching? What role does it play in our practice? What about balance? How do we teach? What do we teach and when do we teach? It's a rambling ride of a chat but hope you get something from it.

If you have feedback, ideas or just feeling like sharing, please reach out. 

______________________________________________________________

Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

Today we chat with the multi-talented Larissa Warren. We delve into hearing all about her recent commission at HOTA, what it's like being a regional artist, and how she lives a creative life. Larissa also shares her passion for research - examining clay, people and history and speaks about her curation of an upcoming national touring exhibition. We are so grateful for this chat and are taking away some great advice for our own practices!

Check our Larissa's show 'Echos of Place' at Gallery Smith in Prahan, Melbourne until April 19th, 2025. 

Larissa Warren is a ceramicist, curator, writer and art teacher, working from her home studio in an underground bunker on Tamborine Mountain, Queensland. Larissa has gained national recognition through exhibitions and media coverage. She won Ceramic Arts Queensland’s Siliceous Award for Ceramic Excellence in 2018 and HoTA: Home of the Arts in Surfers’ Paradise commissioned a major body of her work for Here and Now: Gold Coast Triennial. She has published in the Queensland History Journal, Pottery Making Illustrated, Australiana and Australian Journal of Ceramics. She is curating an upcoming national touring exhibition with Museums & Galleries Queensland, featuring 12 mid-career ceramic artists who respond to local histories and clays.

ratbagstudios.com

______________________________________________________________

Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @jane.orme.pottery

This episode we're speaking with Ipswich ceramic artist, Isis Reading. Using very few tools other than her hands, Isis creates uniquely figurative functional and sculptural ceramics, thoughtfully finished with an array of hand-made glazes. We discuss how Isis uses her creative practice to support her family, how she maintains a positive outlook and how she has cultivated a creative, slow, love-filled lifestyle. 

If you'd like to follow her work or stay notified on her markets, check out Isis on instagram: @eyes_of_isis_ 

______________________________________________________________

Talk to us via email [email protected] or DM @birdsofclay_podcast

Find us on instagram

Rora @aurora_elwell

Jane @Jane.orme.pottery