The Potters Cast

Clark County Open Studios is a juried show that takes place throughout Clark County in Southwest Washington. Each year 50 artist are chosen to participate along with 3 emerging artists. This year my wife, Jennifer and I were accepted into the show along with a number of other ceramic artists. Jennifer and I hosted an "after party" with a few of the other ceramic artists to talk about the event. 

https://ThePottersCast.com/1080

Today we are talking with Melissa Weiss. She has been on The Potters Cast twice before- Melissa's second appearance was in episode 624 in which we talked about her book she had just released, and  her first was in episode 183 where we got to hear her story of setting up a community studio. In today's episode we now hear her story of going through the hurricane, Helene through which she lost her studio. In the picture below you will see a photo from her Instagram feed  where you can see the roof of her studio circled in red and the waters completely engulfing the building.

https://ThePottersCast.com/1079

Hurricane Helene was devastating for so many people. Many potters were hit very hard with the storm. Mudtools, founded by Michael Sherrill, was hit so hard that their building was swept away as the waters rose. In todays episode, Michael tells his story of the storm.

https://ThePottersCast.com/1078

Tamara “Solem” Al-Issa is a Syrian/Filipina Toronto-based sculptural artist with a focus on conveying preservation of time. Solem’s work pulls from memories of the architecture and practices within SWANA and Southeast Asia through exploring familiar shapes, colours and textures from these regions.  The Deep Blue series presents hand-built traditional shapes in a custom mixed cobalt blue which is a colour that evokes a familiar sense of nostalgia and wistfulness. In the SWANA region, the colour blue (particularly turquoise) is known to have mystical and protective qualities.

http://ThePottersCast.com/1077

Peacefully working from her home studio on Vancouver Island, Karen Dance pursues her desire to create out-of-the-ordinary pottery pieces. Karen is inspired by the human form, natural movement, expressive features, and all the wonders found in nature. With over 35 years as an artist in many mediums, it was the melding of Karen's education at CMU Creature design and prosthetics along with Ceramics training at Sheridan college that led her on this path of exploration.

http://ThePottersCast.com/1076

Michael Bridges is a potter living in Chicago, Illinois. Michael is a hand builder that identifies as a wheel thrower. Skulls, jack-o-lanterns, and spookiness are right at home in Michael's work.

http://ThePottersCast.com/1075

Dennis Blatchley is a ceramic artist living and making in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Dennis makes a wide range of slipcast terracotta tableware with a distinct matt finish. Dennis' work comes in a choice of colours, that can be ‘mixed and matched’ to create a variety of exciting colour combinations.

http://ThePottersCast.com/1074

Sarah Chatawanich has been a working artist for over 20 years within a wide range of disciplines. Sarah's current work focuses on the Japanese art of nerikomi. Sarah mixes stains with porcelain to create colored clays, which are then layered into blocks and sliced through to reveal unique patterns. Sarah's pieces are sanded at various stages and polished to create smooth, vibrantly colored surfaces.

http://ThePottersCast.com/1073

Samuel Newman, founder of Suay Ceramics, is a Portland-based potter who draws inspiration from his Pennsylvania roots and the values of community and craftsmanship. Samuel's dynamic forms and atmospheric firings capture the creative journey, offering functional wares that foster meaningful connection and introspection through shared daily experiences.

http://ThePottersCast.com/1072

Maria Loram is a ceramic artist, born in Russia, and is now based in California. Art has been Maria's lifelong companion, and despite a detour into linguistics at Moscow State University and a subsequent move to LA, she has now built a career in private tutoring. Maria's core fascination with art’s power to explore and understand the world remained dormant yet undiminished. The turning point came with a divorce, which serendipitously guided Maria back to art, Eastern philosophies, and meditation practice. In 2022, a pottery wheel from Facebook marked the rebirth of her artistic journey through the medium of ceramics. Diving into classes and workshops led by renowned ceramicists like Tortus and Moondobang, Maria has embraced the endless possibilities of shape, texture, and color.

http://ThePottersCast.com/1071