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Eli Akins | Episode 1054
Eli Akins of Waldo Street Pottery is a mostly self taught ceramist in downtown Atlanta, GA, with a focus on large bonsai containers. “Finding a voice within a rigid set of parameters while making art for other artists is the challenge with Bonsai Pots”.
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How did you grow after the diagnosis?
Coming out of what I refer to often as a fever dream which was a couple of years of those brain tumors causing a lot of problems. I couldn’t believe the energy that I came back with. I started walking slower, thinking slower, everything was slower and I just came out of it with a ton of energy and a ton of drive. And I have been in this studio every day, when the sun comes up it’s that time.
This is a little tongue in cheek but how is clay better than the music industry?
I can speak only to myself and I am just doing my own creative thing, but instead of supporting others with their creativity I am supporting myself with my own. I think that’s what’s satisfying about it.
How many hours a week do you spend time in the studio?
Fifty or sixty hours I think. I am in the studio a lot, I love it. I live across the street from it. I walk to work every day. I walk home for lunch and come back and work until the sun goes down.
Do you have a specific style of Bonsai that you like to make your pots for?
Not necessarily style because I appreciate all of the styles. What I really appreciate the most is deciduous trees and broadleaf evergreens. Pines and junipers don’t really speak to me like maples and elms and beech and hornbeams do. I appreciate trees that drop their leaves in the winter time.
What do you typically have on coming over the speakers in your studio?
A lot of Grateful Dead. Live Grateful Dead shows. What I have learned from that that is they have made thousands of shows and in my lifetime I will make thousands of pots. None of their shows are perfect but they all have a little bit of magic in them. I don’t think any of my pots will ever be perfect but hopefully they have a little bit of magic to them.
What’s your other hobby?
Other hobbies? Bonsai! A lot of time if I need a break I just go outside and prune or water or feed the trees or whatever I need to do. So Bonsai is a big one and I have a wonderful support group of friends that I like to take breaks and go see a show and go hang out and have fun and have a good time together.
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Instagram: @waldo_street_pottery