Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Josh Copus's career started in ceramics with a focus on functional pottery made with wild North Carolina clays and wood firing. In recent years his creativity has evolved into many forms of entrepreneurship, including hotel and restaurant ownership and founding an artist collective. In our interview we talk about his roots in Floyd, VA and how studio ceramics helped him understand the principles of business. We also discuss the impact of Hurricane Helene, which devastated Marshall, NC, Copus's home town and hub of his business. www.joshcopus.com

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

This week we have a special two-part interview with renowned artist and educator David MacDonald. His large functional vessels are carved with intricate patterns that highlight and celebrate African heritage. For part two of my interview with David we talk about finding an entry into African aesthetics, the formal aspects of his repeating patterns, and how the use of functional objects in daily rituals can imbue them with spirituality. MacDonald is a Professor Emeritus of Ceramics at Syracuse University where he taught from 1971 to 2008. www.davidmacdonaldpottery.com

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

Kyle Triplett pairs hundreds of ceramic elements with digital projections and light works that highlight the human relationship with land and place. In our interview we talk about making site specific work, his interest in blending physical and visual space, and the Morean Ceramic Research Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Triplett is the Morean Distinguished Professor in Ceramics at Western Michigan University and the director of the center. www.kyletriplett.com

I have a few spots left in my surface design workshop at Snow Farm August 14 - 17. If you are interested in building layers through mark making and pattern, join me for a weekend of experimentation and learning. To register visit www.snowfarm.org.

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Robert Harrison and Danielle O'Malley. In our interview we talk about the history and goals of the NCECA Green Task Force. The group works to educate and empower artists to engage in sustainability and environmental stewardship. For more information visit www.ncecagtf.com or visit the GTF booth at this year's conference.

To wrap up our miniseries on sustainability I'll be hosting a live podcast taping at this year's NCECA conference in Cincinatti on Friday March 17th at 2:30 in room 212. The panel Taking an Environmental Approach to Making features Marianne Chénard, and Green Task Force members Julia Galloway and Ché R. Ochtli. Drop by to experience this new interactive format for discussion at NCECA.

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

For the past 100 years, AMACO Brent has been creating ceramic supplies for our community ranging from underglazes to electric kilns, and they have no plans of slowing down. www.amaco.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art is an on-line source for research and inspiration, featuring images of thousands of objects made by over 800 artists. www.Rosenfieldcollection.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Caroline Cheng. A noted artist and curator, Cheng has recently expanded her practice into environmental design through the Yi Design Group. The company turns recycled ceramic material from Jingdezhen into architectural products. In our interview we talk about launching a design start-up, addressing the issue of ceramic waste, and the evolution of The Pottery Workshop. Cheng is the Executive Director of the art center, which promotes ceramics throughout China, and has studios in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dali and Jingdezhen. For more information visit www.carolinecheng.com or www.yidesigngroup.com.

NCECA will be hosting their first ever podcast room at this year's conference in Cincinnati. Thursday March 16th and Friday March 17th there will be six hour-long live tapings of popular ceramic podcasts. I'll be hosting an episode titled Taking an Environmental Approach to Making with Marianne Chénard, Julia Galloway, and Ché R. Ochtli on Friday at 2:30 in room 212. Please drop in to experience this new interactive format for discussion at NCECA. For more information visit www.nceca.net. 

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

For the past 100 years, AMACO Brent has been creating ceramic supplies for our community ranging from underglazes to electric kilns, and they have no plans of slowing down. www.amaco.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art is an on-line source for research and inspiration, featuring images of thousands of objects made by over 800 artists. www.Rosenfieldcollection.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Courtney Martin. She uses resists to create strong geometric patterns on her forms. The blend of hard and soft edges is highlighted by her wood kiln, which lends the glazes a warm depth. In our interview we talk about learning pattern making from Mata Ortiz artists, hand building large forms, and expressing environmental values through the way she works. To see examples of her work, visit www.courtneymartinpottery.com.

NCECA will be hosting their first ever podcast room at this year's conference in Cincinnati. Thursday March 16th and Friday March 17th there will be six hour-long live tapings of popular ceramic podcasts. I'll be hosting an episode titled Taking an Environmental Approach to Making with Marianne Chénard, Julia Galloway, and Ché R. Ochtli on Friday at 2:30 in room 212.

Please drop in to experience this new interactive format for discussion at NCECA. For more information visit www.nceca.net. 

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

For the past 100 years, AMACO Brent has been creating ceramic supplies for our community ranging from underglazes to electric kilns, and they have no plans of slowing down. www.amaco.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art is an on-line source for research and inspiration, featuring images of thousands of objects made by over 800 artists. www.Rosenfieldcollection.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with En Iwamura. From his studio in Shigaraki, Japan he makes ceramic heads that reference traditional Haniwa tomb figures while using the aesthetics of Manga and Anime. In our interview we talk about developing his approach to cultural artifacts, essentializing the figure, and his time at the Archie Bray. For more information visit www.en-iwamura.com or his gallery Ross + Kramer.

NCECA will be hosting their first ever podcast room at this year's conference in Cincinnati. Thursday March 16th and Friday March 17th there will be six hour-long live tapings of popular ceramic podcasts. I'll be hosting an episode titled Taking an Environmental Approach to Making with Marianne Chénard, Julia Galloway, and Ché R. Ochtli on Friday at 2:30 in room 212. Please drop in to experience this new interactive format for discussion at NCECA. For more information visit www.nceca.net. 

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

For the past 100 years, AMACO Brent has been creating ceramic supplies for our community ranging from underglazes to electric kilns, and they have no plans of slowing down. www.amaco.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art is an on-line source for research and inspiration, featuring images of thousands of objects made by over 800 artists. www.Rosenfieldcollection.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Adero Willard. After many years as a studio potter, she has recently moved towards large scale sculptural vessels that incorporate dense overlapping patterns. In our interview we talk about matriarchal influences, how an object can hold power, and the exhibition Clay Holds Water, Water Holds Memory. Willard curated the show to highlight eighteen black women or non-binary artists for this year's NCECA conference. For more information visit www.aderowillard.com or www.clay-water-memory.com.

NCECA will be hosting their first ever podcast room at this year's conference in Cincinnati. Thursday March 16th and Friday March 17th there will be six hour-long live tapings of popular ceramic podcasts. I'll be hosting an episode titled Taking an Environmental Approach to Making with Marianne Chénard, Julia Galloway, and Ché R. Ochtli on Friday at 2:30 in room 212.

Please drop in to experience this new interactive format for discussion at NCECA. For more information visit www.nceca.net. 

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

For the past 100 years, AMACO Brent has been creating ceramic supplies for our community ranging from underglazes to electric kilns, and they have no plans of slowing down. www.amaco.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art is an on-line source for research and inspiration, featuring images of thousands of objects made by over 800 artists. www.Rosenfieldcollection.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Wesley Brown. He combines thrown forms with thick slabs to make sculptures and pottery that feels monumental both in their emotion and scale. In our interview we talk about his methods of building, finding a unifying surface, and teaching at East Stroudsburg University, where he is a Fredrick Douglas Scholar. He has a show on display until March 3rd at ESU's Madelon Powers Gallery. To see examples of his work, visit www.wesleytbrown.com.

NCECA will be hosting their first ever podcast room at this year's conference in Cincinnati. Thursday March 16th and Friday March 17th there will be six hour-long live tapings of popular ceramic podcasts. I'll be hosting an episode titled Taking an Environmental Approach to Making with Marianne Chénard, Julia Galloway, and Ché R. Ochtli on Friday at 2:30 in room 212. Please drop in to experience this new interactive format for discussion at NCECA. For more information visit www.nceca.net. 

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

For the past 100 years, AMACO Brent has been creating ceramic supplies for our community ranging from underglazes to electric kilns, and they have no plans of slowing down. www.amaco.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art is an on-line source for research and inspiration, featuring images of thousands of objects made by over 800 artists. www.Rosenfieldcollection.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Kurt Anderson. His ceramics and paintings feature compositions of robots, animals, and human hybrids that are visually playful and filled with humor. In our interview we talk about color dynamics and trusting your aesthetic voice. To see examples of his work, visit @kurtandersonpottery on Instagram. To start the episode I talk with Rebecca Harvey, the new director of the Archie Bray Foundation, about the residency program at the Bray. The deadline for this year's residency applications is February 15th. To find out more visit www.archiebray.org/residencies.

NCECA will be hosting their first ever podcast room at this year's conference in Cincinnati. Thursday March 16th and Friday March 17th there will be six hour-long live tapings of popular ceramic podcasts. I'll be hosting an episode titled Taking an Environmental Approach to Making with Marianne Chénard, Julia Galloway, and Ché R. Ochtli on Friday at 2:30 in room 212. Please drop in to experience this new interactive format for discussion at NCECA. For more information visit www.nceca.net. 

Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

For the past 100 years, AMACO Brent has been creating ceramic supplies for our community ranging from underglazes to electric kilns, and they have no plans of slowing down. www.amaco.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art is an on-line source for research and inspiration, featuring images of thousands of objects made by over 800 artists. www.Rosenfieldcollection.com.