555: David MacDonald on the influence of the Civil Rights Movement

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. In part one of our interview David talks about discovering ceramics at Hampton University in the 1960’s, the influence of Joseph Gilliard, and his early-career art that reflected the social change of the Civil Rights Movement. 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

Susan Dewsnap uses resists to paint seemingly endless curves that move and undulate around her forms. In our interview we talk about digesting visual influences, her exploration of line weight in painting, and the ceramic scene around Maine, where she is a faculty member at Bates College. We also discuss the upcoming exhibition of the E. John Bullard Collection at the Bates Museum of Art, which opens October 24th. www.susandewsnap.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

Rose Katz trained as a studio potter before working in industrial ceramics for a decade. In our interview we talk about problem solving for large scale production, how factories deal with switching materials when mines close, and cofounding Ceramic Materials Workshop along with her husband Matt. Rose is also a cohost of For Flux Sake, with Matt and Kathy King, which just started its fifth season. www.forfluxsakepodcast.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

Ruth Easterbrook’s functional forms are decorated with layers of inlayed glazes that melt into floral patterns. In our interview we talk about her recently finished residency at The Clay Studio, understanding her capacity as a maker, and using repetition to refine the color relationships in her patterns. www.rutheasterbrook.com Thank you to The Clay Studio for letting Ruth and I record this interview at the studio in August of this year.   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

Julie Wiggins carves crisp floral drawings into her forms creating patterns that are inlayed with cobalt pigment. We start our interview comparing musical improvisation to structured play in the studio, along with her love of the band Phish, whom she has seen over 250 times since the mid-1990s. We also discuss traveling for international residencies and the role she took on after Hurricane Helene distributing aid and supplies to her mountain community. www.juliewigginspottery.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 Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

Gillan Doty is an atmospheric potter based in Asheville, NC. Doty lost his studio to catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Helene and is part of the vibrant arts community that is rebuilding in the area. In our interview we talk about how recent residencies at the Archie Bray Foundation and The Clay Studio shifted his aesthetic as he worked with new kilns and materials. www.gillandoty.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 Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

Nancy Servis is a curator, historian, and writer who has spent decades shining light on California and the clay artists that work there. In our interview we talk about the value of regional galleries in educating the public, artists she thinks need more attention in California history, and her experience curating this year’s 80th Scripps College Ceramic National. www.servisarts.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

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

Jonathan Eberle joins me on the show today to talk about the life and legacy of his father Ed Eberle (1944-2023). Ed Eberle is best known for his sculptural vessels and paintings that depict cultural archetypes through groupings of figures. In our interview we talk about Ed’s time at Carnegie Mellon (1975-1985), Jonathan’s role as a legacy holder and filmmaker, and Eberle Studios, which continues to provide space for working artists in Pittsburgh, PA. www.eberlestudios.art   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

To start our 14th season of the podcast we have a panel featuring guest host Kathy King talking with Dustin Yaeger, Joy Kin, and Connor Czora in front of a live studio audience at this year’s NCECA conference in Salt Lake City. Philosopher and educator John Dewey wrote, “The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.” Today’s episode explores the self-revelation that happens through art making, and how recent societal and political changes are impacting LGBTQIA+ artists. Special thanks to NCECA for co-producing this episode and to Cole Collier for running the sound for the podcast room this year.   I want to send out a special shout out to today’s host Kathy King, along with Matt and Rose Katz to congratulate them on their 100th episode of For Flux Sake. That dropped this week and is available on all major podcast apps. I’ve had a great time making that show with them over the last four years and I’m proud that they are a part of the Brickyard Network. If you’d like to check out their back catalogue visit www.brickyardnetwork.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 Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com