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 Jeff Chown. He shares the dual role of North American representative for Blaauw Kilns and teacher of material science at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. In our interview, we talk about advances in fiber kiln technology and trends among millennial ceramic entrepreneurs. To find out more about Blaauw Kilns visit www.blaauwkilns.com. This interview was recorded at Fire Clay Tile in Aromas, CA. For more information on Fire Clay Tile visit www.fireclaytile.com.

Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, I need your help. We are in the midst of our fall membership drive and need 77 new patrons to reach our December 1st goal. Visit patreon.com/redclayrambler to pledge your support and become a sustaining member. We have a batch of rewards to offer including the new Vintage Radio shirt, handmade pots, posters and much more. Visit patreon.com/redclayrambler to sign up today.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Gail Kendall, Raven Halfmoon, Brant Weiland, and Jared Peterson. The group are linked through the Advanced Student Project Network at Red Lodge Clay Center. Each year five emerging artists are chosen for a three-week residency that is guided by an established mentor in the ceramic field. Kendall was this year’s mentor working with Weiland and Peterson. Halfmoon participated in the ASPN residency three years ago before returning as a long-term artist-in-residence. In the interview, we talk about setting goals after school, adjusting to the increased talent level at a major art institution and the characteristics that make for a healthy community studio. For more information on the program visit www.redlodgeclaycenter.com.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast is sponsored by “To Contain and To Serve.” This multimedia exhibition features the work of ceramic artist Forrest Middelton and Calligrapher Arash Shirinbab. The two award-winning artists have been collaborating for the past 2 years to explore the interplay of hospitality, morality and justice in contemporary cultural landscapes. The resulting series of calligraphy-inscribed ceramics draw from varied aesthetic influences including the Persian ‘Nishapur’ tradition and the writings of Syrian refugees on Twitter. The exhibition is held at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, in Oakland and runs from October 28 to November 24. For more information please visit www.containandserve.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast gets made. My wife Melissa Brzycki steps into the interviewer role to ask me about the evolution of the show and my favorite interview moments. This minisode is released in conjunction with the launch of my Patreon fundraiser, which allows you to help with the production of the show in exchange for access to patron-only perks including podcast swag and exclusive recordings. To become a patron, visit www.patreon.com/redclayrambler.  

I am so honored that you all have made the Red Clay Rambler a part of your studio practice, commute, home life, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you for your support! We've built a great community, and I look forward to sharing many more exciting, thought-provoking episodes with you all.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Matt Fiske. His sleek pottery forms are glazed with raw materials he collects during hiking expeditions. With a family history in mining, Fiske has developed a process of acquiring and processing parent rocks into raw glaze materials. In our interview, we talk about his geology-heavy ceramic practice, developing a playful spirit with empirical testing, and determining the price for objects that require excessive labor. To see examples of his work please visit www.mattfiske.com. To read more about his research visit his blog at www.mattfiske.wordpress.com.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast is sponsored by “To Contain and To Serve.” This multimedia exhibition features the work of ceramic artist Forrest Middelton and Calligrapher Arash Shirinbab. The two award-winning artists have been collaborating for the past 2 years to explore the interplay of hospitality, morality and justice in contemporary cultural landscapes. The resulting series of calligraphy-inscribed ceramics draw from varied aesthetic influences including the Persian ‘Nishapur’ tradition and the writings of Syrian refugees on Twitter. The exhibition is held at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, in Oakland and runs from October 28 to November 24. For more information please visit www.containandserve.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Maggy Rozycki Hiltner. Her most recent exhibition, What Lies Beneath, features large scale quilted fabric pieces made from found embroidery. The body of work uses skeletons, devils and other characters to question social norms about gender, class and death. In our interview, we talk about her interest in found embroidery, how she develops a character within the narrative of an exhibition and how her family history with religion and the occult has affected her aesthetic. To find out more visit www.maggyrhiltner.com.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast is sponsored by To Contain and To Serve. This multimedia exhibition features the work of ceramic artist Forrest Middelton and Calligrapher Arash Shirinbab. The two award-winning artists have been collaborating for the past 2 years to explore the interplay of hospitality, morality and justice in contemporary cultural landscapes. The resulting series of calligraphy-inscribed ceramics draw from varied aesthetic influences including the Persian ‘Nishapur’ tradition and the writings of Syrian refugees on Twitter. The exhibition is held at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, in Oakland and runs from October 28 to November 24. For more information please visit www.containandserve.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Forrest Middelton, Arash Shirinbab, and Raeshma Razvi. Middelton, a ceramic artist, and Shirinbab, a calligrapher, have been working for the past two years towards an exhibition titled “To Contain and To Serve.” Their dialogue centers on the interplay of hospitality, morality and justice in contemporary cultural and media landscapes. The objects produced during the collaboration are calligraphy-inscribed ceramic tableware and tile inspired by the Persian ‘Nishapur’ tradition. Documentary filmmaker Razvi has been shooting the collaboration for future use in a film. In the episode, the artists use the question “Is creativity inherently spiritual?” as a jumping off point to discuss the introspective nature of craft and how cross-cultural exchange can provide a solution for political discord.

An opening reception for “To Contain and To Serve” will take place Saturday October 28th from 4-6pm at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California in Oakland, CA. To find out more about the event visit ICCNC.org or www.containandserve.com. For more information about Forrest Middelton please visit www.flmceramics.com. For more information about Arash Shirinbab please visit www.arash-shirinbab.com. For more information about Raeshma Razvi please visit www.vimeo.com/RaeshmaRazvi.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a double interview featuring Brian Harper and Carole Epp. In the first segment, I talk with Carole about her work on the book The Crafted Dish. The cook book combines photographs of pottery in use with recipes of the featured artists’ favorite foods to celebrate using handmade in daily life. Sixty-Four Canadian artists are included in the publication, whose release on October 9th coincides with the second annual National Clay Week. To find out more visit www.thecrafteddish.com or www.nationalclayweek.org.

In the second segment, I talk with sculptor Brian Harper. He creates complex architectural forms by joining thousands of premade modular ceramic units. The scaffold-like forms are built around commercial ceramic objects that represent the uniform predictability of high-volume, low-cost manufacturing. In the interview, we talk about the concept behind his sculptures, the easing of his political anxieties though creativity, and the mission of Art Axis, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that Brian founded to promote the professional pursuits of artists in the field of ceramics. Brian is an Associate Professor of Fine Art and the head of the Ceramics Program at Indiana University Southeast, and is the Executive Director of Artaxis.org. To find out more about his work visit www.brianharperstudio.com.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler is sponsored by National Clay Week Open Studios, a nationwide event that celebrates clay, community and creativity. October 13-15 artists across the U.S. are invited to open their doors to the public for demonstrations, lectures, and exhibitions. Join us for a celebration of the ceramic arts! For more information on how you can join the event visit www.nationalclayweek.org/openstudio.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Sue Tirrell. Her functional pots feature animal and landscape imagery created with underglaze and sgraffito drawing.  She uses a recurring cast of barn yard animals to create simple narratives that speak to the humor and complexity of human relationships. For more information on her work please visit www.suetirrellceramics.com.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler is sponsored by National Clay Week Open Studios, a nationwide event that celebrates clay, community and creativity. October 13-15 artists across the US are invited to open their doors to the public for demonstrations, lectures, and exhibitions. Join us for a celebration of the ceramic arts! For more information on how you can join the event visit www.nationalclayweek.org/openstudio.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a panel discussion with Liz Myers, Kaden Meyrs, Krista Botsford, Paul Stokstad, Trever Foss, and Carter Pasma. The group of potters participated in a two-week wood firing workshop with Simon Levin at his Mill Creek Pottery in Gresham, WI. In the interview, we talk about collaborative learning and the multi-day process of loading/firing an Anagama kiln. For more information on wood firing workshops at Mill Creek Pottery please visit www.simonlevin.com.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler is sponsored by National Clay Week Open Studios, a nationwide event that celebrates clay, community and creativity. October 13-15 artists across the US are invited to open their doors to the public for demonstrations, lectures, and exhibitions. Join us for a celebration of the ceramic arts! For more information on how you can join the event visit www.nationalclayweek.org/openstudio.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Jacob Meer and Ian Connors. The two are connected through apprenticeship training with Simon Levin and specialize in wood firing. In the interview, we talk about the value of an apprenticeship, living in rural Wisconsin and learning to fire wood kilns.  You can see examples of their work at www.jacobmeer.com and www.ianconnors.com. Simon Levin has helped educate seventeen potters at his Mill Creek Pottery in Gresham, WI. For more information on the apprenticeship visit www.simonlevin.com.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler is sponsored by National Clay Week Open Studios, a nationwide event that celebrates clay, community and creativity. October 13-15 artists across the US are invited to open their doors to the public for demonstrations, lectures, and exhibitions. Join us for a celebration of the ceramic arts! For more information on how you can join the event visit www.nationalclayweek.org/openstudio.