NCECA 360 Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Today we are featuring Clay Roots: Exploring Ceramics Across the Black Diaspora with Malene Djenaba Barnett, Lydia C. Thompson, David MacDonald, and Ashlyn Pope about the rich tapestry of ceramics across the Black Diaspora. From the ancestral lands of Africa to the vibrant Caribbean and the diverse cultures of African Americans, join us as we explore the artistic expressions and design aesthetics that are rooted in clay. This conversation was recorded in person at the 2024 NCECA Coalescence Conference in Richmond, Virginia. 

Special thanks to The Brickyard Network for co-producing this episode and supporting podcasting in the ceramics community. If you enjoy this podcast, please support NCECA’s programming by donating at www.nceca.net/donate.

For this episode of NCECA 360 we have an interview from our 2016 conference in Kansas City, MO. You will hear host Brian Jones talk with Stu Kestenbaum about his long career in the arts. Kestenbaum was the director of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts for many years and is currently the host of the Make/Time podcast. The podcast is a joint venture among the nation’s top craft schools to shed light on the importance of craft makers in American society. You can find out more information at www.craftschools.us.

Join us in Pittsburgh, PA March 14-17 for our next conference Cross Currents: Clay and Culture. Registration for this year’s conference is now open and preregistration is encouraged. For more information please visit www.NCECA.net.

Moderator Adam Field talks with the 2015 Emerging Artists about their professional development and the difficulty of maintaining an authentic voice in a vast ocean of social media. The discussion includes Rachel Garceau, Andrew Casto, Kelly O’Briant, Roberto Lugo and Joanna Powell. The discussion was recorded at the 2015 NCECA conference in Providence, RI. For more information on these artists, or the programming NCECA has to offer please visit blog.NCECA.net.

Ceramic artists Andy Brayman, Ayumi Horie, Alleghany Meadows and moderator Peter Beasecker present their panel “Studio Practice/ Entrepreneurial Attitude”. This presentation and discussion explores the actions of three artists that have applied high levels of creativity and risk in their own business and ceramic practice. Their approaches to creating a sustainable studio are as unique and diverse as their artwork, speaking to the multitude of opportunities available to today’s creative business owners.

For more information on these artists, or the programming NCECA has to offer please visit blog.nceca.net.

For this episode of NCECA 360 we have a panel on Sustainable Ceramics from our 2012 conference in Seattle, WA. Nancy Selvage, David Binns and Guido Strijbos share their experience with evaluating and improving the environmental impact of ceramics practice. More information about sustainability can be found by searching Green Task Force at blog.nceca.net. To get involved with the Task Force look for topical discussions at this year’s conference in Pittsburgh. Previous topics include ceramics and climate change, reducing your carbon footprint, and firing kilns with repurposed vegetable oil. You can also stop by the Task Force table in the resource hall to pick up information and meet other members. To register for next year’s conference please visit NCECA.net.

For this episode of NCECA 360 we have an interview from our 2016 conference in Kansas City, MO.  You will hear host Brian Jones talk with artist Nancy Blum about her career and her work in public art projects. To see examples of Blum's work visit nancyblum.com.

For more information about our organization, or to register for next year’s conference please visit NCECA.net.

For this episode of NCECA 360 we have a special presentation of Clay Stories from our Two Thousand sixteen conference in Kansas City, MO. Curated by Steven Branfman and Owen Dearing, Clay Stories features ceramic artists telling true stories in front of a live audience at our yearly NCECA conference. If you are a fan of the story telling podcasts the Moth Radio Hour or Risk you are going to love this episode. Today you will hear Paul Lewing, Deborah Chronister, Jim Romberg, Robin Hopper and a handful of other storytellers talk about the mentors and experiences that inspire their lives in clay.

If you would like to participate in a Clay Stories event at the 2017 Portland conference please pitch your five-minute story at www.claystories.org. For more information about NCECA 360, or the programming NCECA has to offer please visit blog.NCECA.net.

On today’s episode you will here a panel discussion on fueling innovation in your studio practice with the 2016 emerging artists. Each year six early-career artists are commended at our conference for their unique body of work and contribution to the field of ceramics. Along with an exhibition and financial award they are given the opportunity to present a short lecture on their work. This year’s emerging artists include Joanna Poag, Kyungmin Park, Peter Morgan, Tom Jaszczak, Bobby Tso, and Sean O’Connell. To see videos of the emerging artist presentations from this year's conference please visit the WatchNCECA channel on Youtube. For more information on NCECA programming please visit NCECA.net.

For this episode of NCECA 360 we have a group interview from our recent 50th anniversary conference in Kansas City. You will hear artists and educators David Macdonald, Sharif Bey, Gail Kendall and David Eichelberger discuss how mentorship has shaped their ceramic lives.For more information about NCECA 360, or the programming we have to offer please visit NCECA.net.

NCECA is currently seeking Program Proposals around the idea of Future Flux, for next years conference in Portland, Oregon. Artists, educators, curators, critics, historians, technical and professional practices experts, students (undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate), etc. are all encouraged to apply! The deadline for this year’s submission is May 4th so act now. 

For this episode of NCECA 360 we have a lecture from our 2012 conference in Seattle, WA. You will hear Australian artist and educator Janet Deboos discuss how boredom “can be an essential partner to skill and deep creativity.” For more information on this lecture, or to register for our upcoming 50th anniversary conference please visit www.NCECA.net.