516: Rhonda Willers on embracing creative growth

Rhonda Willers uses functional pottery, sculptural vessels, and installation to focus on ideas of fragility and the passage of time. In our interview we talk about her 2019 installation Alone Together, her work in ceramics, and her book Terra Sigillata: Contemporary Techniques. We also discuss her philosophy of service work and her podcast The Artist in Me is Dead, which traces creativity through the lives of makers. www.rhondawillers.com.   Rhonda is one of many artists featured in my upcoming book The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors. The book has its official release on September 10 and is now available for pre-order.   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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com

Nick Lenker draws from video games to make ceramic sculptures that seem to have jumped right out of a pixelated computer screen into real life. In our interview we talk about his process of building with slabs before applying custom decals, investigating memory through subject matter, and how Philadelphia has shaped his creative life. www.nicklenker.com   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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com

Lisa Orr started working with low-fire ceramics decades ago, moving through majolica before developing a unique psychedelic color palette. In our interview we talk about matching thermal expansion of clay and glaze, side stacking glaze wares, and developing aventurine glazes. www.lisaorr.com   Lisa is one of many artists featured in my upcoming book The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors. The book has its official release on September 10 and is now available for pre-order.   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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com

Kathleen Clark is an award-winning photographer, whose career includes numerous exhibitions and serving as Photo Director for Los Angeles magazine and LA Weekly. Her series The White House China, depicts historical events from each American president presented on their formal state dinnerware. In our interview we talk about her inclusion in The Girl Artists of Portland, a performance art group active in the 1980s, her work in photo journalism, and her practice of using ceramics as a staging ground for political commentary. www.kathleenclarkphoto.com.   I’m excited to be teaching a hands-on workshop at Mud Queen Pottery in Linglestown, PA June 8th and 9th. There are two spots still available so if you’d like to join us for the weekend visit www.mudqueenpottery.com/workshops to register.   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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com  

Today on the show I’m joined by Brian Kakas and Lisa Giuliani for a discussion about the changing landscape of ceramic education. In the interview we talk about demographic shifts and closures in higher education, craft school education, and helping an arts community survive after a core institution downsizes its ceramics program. This episode was taped in front of a live audience at the NCECA conference in Richmond, VA. I’d like to thank Cole Collier for running sound for the event and NCECA for coproducing this episode.   Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, this month we are celebrating twelve years of the podcast! We just launched a fund drive and I need your help to support the upcoming season. Please take a minute to visit www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate to give through our PayPal portal, or become a sustaining member at patreon.com/redclayrambler. To thank our new Patreon supporters we have merch, including t-shirts, hoodies, posters, and more. Thanks for listening and being part of the Red Clay Rambler community.   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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com  

Stephanie Seguin is a functional potter based in Helena, MT, where she makes table and service ware. She is also the education manager at the Archie Bray Foundation where she has helped shape the education program as the organization has emerged from the pandemic. In our interview we talk about tactile learning, developing parameters for creativity, and the Bray’s Artist Amplified, a series of demonstrations and lectures highlighting ceramic artists. You can see her work at www.stephanie-seguin-ceramics.com The next installment of Artist Amplified features Joanna Powell and is happening May 16th at 6:30 MT. You can find out more, including Zoom links, at www.archiebray.org.   Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, this month we are celebrating twelve years of the podcast! We just launched a fund drive and I need your help to support the upcoming season. Please take a minute to visit www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate to give through our PayPal portal, or become a sustaining member at patreon.com/redclayrambler. To thank our new Patreon supporters we have merch, including t-shirts, hoodies, posters, and more. Thanks for listening and being part of the Red Clay Rambler community.   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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com  

Judi Tavill has had a broad career in the arts starting in fashion and now creating biomorphic ceramic sculpture. In our interview we talk about her career in fashion, blending drawing with sculpture, and preparing for her upcoming solo show at the Ivy Brown Gallery. Entanglements will open May 16th and run through June 26th. For more information visit www.juditavill.com.   Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, this month we are celebrating twelve years of the podcast! We just launched a fund drive and I need your help to support the upcoming season. Please take a minute to visit www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate to give through our PayPal portal, or become a sustaining member at patreon.com/redclayrambler. To thank our new Patreon supporters we have merch, including t-shirts, hoodies, posters, and more. Thanks for listening and being part of the Red Clay Rambler community.   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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com  

Today on the show I talk with Brian Chen. He makes sculptural and functional forms that reference architecture and biomechanics. In our interview we talk about how a tennis injury led him to study anatomy, creating sculptures that nest within themselves, and refining a form through repetition. To see examples of his work visit www.brianchenpottery.com.   Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, this month we are celebrating twelve years of the podcast! We just launched a fund drive and I need your help to support the upcoming season. Please take a minute to visit www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/donate to give through our PayPal portal, or become a sustaining member at patreon.com/redclayrambler. To thank our new Patreon supporters we have merch, including t-shirts, hoodies, posters, and more. Thanks for listening and being part of the Red Clay Rambler community.   Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com

Join guest host Malene Barnett as she talks with Lydia Thompson, Ashlyn Pope, and David Macdonald 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 the panel as they explore the artistic expressions and design aesthetics that are rooted in clay. This conversation was recorded in front of a live studio audience at this year’s NCECA conference in Richmond, VA.   Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com

Today on the show I talk with Malene Barnett. Her multimedia career spans design, studio art, and activism focusing on the influence and aesthetics of the black diaspora. In our interview we talk about designing textiles, taking a sabbatical to dive deep into ceramics, and founding the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a collective aimed at building equitable and inclusive creative culture. For more visit www.malenebarnett.com. Next week on the show we will broadcast a panel discussion that Malene moderated at this year’s NCECA conference.   Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com