On today’s episode of MassMusings, we interview current Studio M artists Grant Ederer and Stephen Tornero about their exhibition A Fair Trade, which is on view through January 5, 2025.

A Fair Trade features ceramics by Grant Ederer, and weaving by Stephen Tornero. To create the exhibition, the artists traded artwork over several years to inspire one another. The result is like an elegant improvised duet expressed through repeated shapes, textures, and colors in the gallery space. Learn more about the artists below, or click here for further exhibit information.

Grant Ederer is a ceramicist living and working in Akron, Ohio. He studied industrial design at Pratt Institute (2016), which cultivated his interest in functional, sculptural, and tactile characteristics of clay. He uses a wide variety of techniques in his studio practice including wheel throwing, hand building, mold making, and slip casting. He is inspired by biomorphic forms and how they interact with architectural lines and elements.

Stephen Tornero is a textile artist and art teacher from Canton, Ohio. His weavings focus on using color with dye and resist techniques to create patterns on the surface of the cloth. Using a mixture of traditional techniques with nontraditional methods, he creates artwork that pushes textiles as an art form while maintaining their connection to the past. Stephen teaches art to middle school students and art education courses at Kent State University.

The Massillon Museum appreciates operating support from the Ohio Arts Council and ArtsinStark, marketing support from Visit Canton, and the support of the citizens of Massillon. This exhibition is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Views and opinions expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the museum.