Author Archive: Paul Blais

Kintsugi and Hope | Makoto Fujimura | Episode 620

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Makoto Fujimura | Episode 620

Makoto Fujimura (b. 1960, Boston) is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time”. Makoto is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision makers and advising governmental policies on the arts. Makoto  is also launching the Kintugi Academy. Makoto uses Kintsugi as an metaphor mending.

A sample of Master Nakamura’s Kintsugi

Waterfall Mansion & Gallery (waterfall-gallery.com) of Makoto Fujimura paintings (makotofujimura.com)

Contact

makotofujimura.com

Instagram: @academykintsugi

How Awesome is It to Be a High School Teacher | Frank Eagar | Episode 619

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Frank Eagar | Episode 619

The knowledge Frank Eagar has gained through not only producing art, but teaching art, and has broadened his knowledge regarding how and why art has been produced through the centuries. As a ceramic artist all of Frank’s pieces from a simple cup to a sculpture are a small representation of both himself and his experiences. Teaching art has given Frank the privilege to increase others knowledge and appreciation of art, by showing and teaching the depth of being that goes into the creation of individual pieces. As a ceramicist, Frank believes in producing both functional as well as sculptural pieces. The beauty and simplicity of functional ware is timeless, and yet still carries the fingerprint of its creator long after he is gone. Frank also enjoys making 3D ceramic sculptures. Though these are a more complex representation of Frank, he enjoys creating these pieces from birdbaths, to fountains, even to a figurative sculpture because of the versatile qualities of the clay. Frank always enjoys experimenting with shape, pattern, color, and form in my pottery. Currently, the distortion of basic shapes and play upon its actual or created lines either in a whimsical or obtuse manner are a recent creative focus of Frank.

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Selling is a Relationship | Laurence André | Episode 618

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Laurence André | Episode 618

Laurence André is a french potter living and working in Manigod, a small village located in Northern French Alps. Laurence settled her studio in the old walls of an old cheese dairy farm. Being into clay for 10 years now, working a white clay on the wheel or on plaster molds, Laurence is happy to imagine and produce small batch of tableware ceramics, slipware decorated one-of-a-kind pieces with folk patterns, flowers & animals that form merry different collections. Laurence is a self-taught, learning through experience – which she in turn is passing on during clay workshops in her studio.

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The Perfect Apron | Teppi Jacobsen | Episode 617

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Teppi Jacobsen | Episode 617

 

 

Teppi is the creator of The Perfect Apron. Teppi wanted a better answer to cleaning and keeping her hands dry. Teppi’s creation  is the best solution to staying clean and dry during all pottery sessions!  Teppi made sure that The Perfect Apron is eco friendly so it eliminates the need for paper towels. It can also be used for cooking, grading, and other messy tasks!

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The Handmade Should be Handbought | Hannah Shipway | Episode 616

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Hannah Shipway | Episode 616

Hannah Shipway has worked as a professional potter for the past five years. Hannah has her own studios in Oxford, England, and also in Dorset on the South Coast of England. Hannah makes wheel-thrown, functional tableware in small batches, all of which are sold exclusively from the iconic Albatross Cafe in Bristol.

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Student Director at Large- The Candidates | Brandy Green & Michelle Castro | Episode 615

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Brandy Green & Michelle Castro | Episode 615

Today is a special release day. Instead of releasing two episodes on Tuesday and Thursday, The Potters Cast is releasing both of this week’s episode on Tuesday. As a result of NCECA 2020 conference getting canceled this year, the normal process of NCECA having a dedicated time of having the candidates for the Director at Large and the Student Director at Large share about what they would bring to the position and then to answer questions from the audience wasn’t available. These two episodes are the replacement platform to allow these fine candidates to share their stories. In this second episode we are going to dedicate this to the position of Student Director at Large. These two candidates, Brandy Green and Michelle Castro, will be the second to go.

Brandy Green

Brandy Green was born in Missouri in 1994. In 2016 Brandy received her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from the College of the Ozarks where she worked as a production potter and studio technician. Currently, Brandy is a graduate student at Texas Tech University due to achieve her Masters of Fine Art in 2021.

Michelle Castro

Michelle Castro received her BFA at Midwestern State University in 2016. She is now a first-year graduate student at Florida State University. Her socially engaging practice is ongoing, and she has had to rethink how to be socially engaging while socially distancing.

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Director at Large- The Candidates | Simon Levin & Cat Traen | Episode 614

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Simon Levin & Cat Traen | Episode 614

Today is a special release day. Instead of releasing two episodes on Tuesday and Thursday, The Potters Cast is releasing both of this week’s episode on Tuesday. As a result of NCECA 2020 conference getting canceled this year, the normal process of NCECA having a dedicated time of having the candidates for the Director at Large and the Student Director at Large share about what they would bring to the position and then to answer questions from the audience wasn’t available. These two episodes are the replacement platform to allow these fine candidates to share their stories. In this first episode we are going to dedicate this to the position of Director at Large. These two candidates, Simon Levin and Cat Traen, will be the first to go.

A little about the process. I invited all four to schedule an time with me. The recordings were done on a “first come, first served” basis. And then they were put together in the same manner. I hope you enjoy these conversations.

Simon Levin

Simon Levin has been working in clay since 1990, when an elective ceramics course in college lead to an M.A. and an M.F.A from the University of Iowa.  He is a full time studio potter working exclusively with wood firing. His work is exhibited and published internationally. Simon is a writer for many ceramic journals, though he dislikes writing about himself in the third person. In 2013 he was a Senior Fulbright Scholar researching local materials.   Simon has built wood fired kilns for both US colleges and universities as well as schools in Taiwan and China. Between 2004 and 2019 his apprenticeship program has trained and influenced 21 potters. A resident of Wisconsin for 18 years, Simon has recently moved to Pawnee Illinois where he is currently re-establishing his pottery.

Cat Traen

C.A. “Cat” Traen is a international teaching artist working in clay since 2002, earning degrees from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Motivated by enriching others through community building and collaboration, Cat has mentored thousands of students and teachers to equip and ignite the next generation in clay.

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Ceramic Garments | Shae Bishop | Episode 613

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Shae Bishop | Episode 613

Shae Bishop earned his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. Shae’s artwork explores the relationships between ceramics and textiles. Shae has been a resident artist at The Archie Bray Foundation, Red Star Studios, and elsewhere in the US, as well as in Indonesia, Turkey, and Hungary.

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