Jumping Before You Look | Melina LaVecchia Daniels | Episode 190

Melina LaVecchia Daniels | Episode 190

Melina LaVecchia

Melina LaVecchia Veggie PlatesMelina LaVecchia Daniels specializes in creating tableware that is not only functional but relates to food and the user in an aesthetically-minded way. Each piece is made to inspire you to linger around the table just a little bit longer and to enjoy the luxury of gathering around food together.
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Ask For What You Want | Jeremy Ayers | Episode 189

Jeremy Ayers | Episode 189

Jeremy Ayers

Jeremy Ayers Tea Pot 2Jeremy Ayers’ recent pottery is about elemental relationships between form and surface.  Jeremy has simplified his color scheme  and  is rejecting a colorful glaze palate. This allows textural and visual contrasts between the glaze, raw clay and form to be highlighted. Contrasts between sharp lines of glaze and the repetitive forms puts a sharp focus on both elements.  The exposed clay is presented on equal footing with the glazed surface.  The white glaze flashes the exposed clay body, warming the raw clay surface.  Jeremy’s focus with this recent work is to make pottery that is about pottery. He loves the raw clay of an atmospheric firing,  but his work is fired in oxidation.
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The Sculptor’s Voice | Eric Knoche | Episode 188

Eric Knoche | Episode 188

Eric Knoche

Eric Knoche 8Eric Knoche touched clay for the first time 15 years ago and has had dirty hands ever since.  Eric lives and works in Western North Carolina where he is currently building a new wood kiln and studio.  Besides clay, Eric’s other great passion in life is dancing the Argentine Tango.

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Designing a Life Like We Design Our Art | Steve Rolf | Episode 187

Steve Rolf | Episode 187

Steven Rolf

Steven Rolf White butter dishS. C. Rolf lives and works as a studio potter in River Falls, WI, creating one-of-a-kind functional pots. His work reflects an ongoing search to unite his ideas with the generosity and the intimacy that the functional pot offers.
S. C. Rolf holds multiple degrees in Art and exhibits his work nationally and internationally. Rolf has received a number of national and international awards. He lectures and teaches workshops throughout the country. His work has been included in numerous publications, Museum collections, and Kitchens cupboards.

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Instagram Strategies | Ron Shaw & Jeni LiCata | Episode 186

Ron Shaw & Jeni LiCata | Episode 186

Jeni LiCota and Ron Shaw

Jeni LiCota and Ron Shaw urchinThe Claw and The Sea is the brainchild of two lovers, Ronald Shaw and Jeni Licata. Together, Ron and Jeni create an array of functional and sculptural ceramics inspired by botany, mycology, marine biology, and astronomy. These pieces range from handmade, soda-fired tableware sets like plates, cups, bowls, and serving pieces, to their sea-urchin-themed salt and pepper shakers, starfish Christmas ornaments, or salvaged pallet wood urchin towel racks. Jeni and Ron also have intricately-carved sporenet terrariums with homegrown and propagated succulent plants.

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A Sculptor’s Journey | Gerard Ferrari | Episode 185

Gerard Ferrari | Episode 185

Gerard Ferrari

Gerard Ferrari Rat Rod w Insectual PowerGerard Ferrari, 2011 McKnight Artist Fellow for Ceramic Artists, holds an MFA(VCU) and a BA(Berea). His artistic career began in 1989 and his Professorial career in 1999. In 2009 he left academia to become a stay-at-home parent, artist, and micro-homesteader. Above all, he has an active imagination and creative spirit.

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“I Love to Make Beautiful Things” | Sarah O’Sullivan | Episode 184

Sarah O’Sullivan | Episode 184

Sarah O'Sullivan Working

Sarah O'Sullivan VaseAs part of her undergraduate studies at the National Art School, Sydney, O’Sullivan spent a semester on exchange at the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, where she learnt and refined a number of industrial ceramic processes such as designing and printing decals, plaster model/mould making and slip casting.  These skills have stayed with her and form the foundations of her current art practice.

O’Sullivan focused her 2012 Masters of Fine Art research project on Australian imagery on porcelain. During this study she undertook a three-month internship at a remote Indigenous Art Centre in Ikuntji, NT. Since completing her MFA O’Sullivan has exhibited at the 4th ASNA clay triennial in Pakistan, had her work toured through the Emporio Armani stores in Australia, selected as a finalist for Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards and held a solo exhibition at Sabbia Gallery, Sydney and Craft Gallery, Melbourne. O’Sullivan has just returned from a mentorship with Sung Jae Choi in Gimhae, South Korea.

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Building a Communal Pottery Studio | Melissa Weiss | Episode 183

Melissa Weiss | Episode 183

Melissa Weiss

Melissa with her mud harvest

Melissa with her mud harvest

Melissa Weiss is a self-taught studio potter in Asheville, NC. All the pots Melissa makes are made from the clay she digs from her land in Arkansas and is minimally processed. Melissa makes functional pottery and fires it in a gas reduction kiln with reduction cooling. Melissa also runs an 8000 sq ft warehouse which houses over 20 artists.

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Sleep- The Cost of Pottery | Adriana Christianson | Episode 182

Adriana Christianson | Episode 182

Adriana Christianson 1

Adriana Christianson PlateAdriana Christianson is a studio potter based in Croydon , an outer eastern suburb near Mt. Dandenong in Melbourne , Australia. All of Adriana’s work is made and fired in her tiny garden studio that is surrounded by a rambling garden behind her 1920’s original farmhouse. Adriana began potting in High School and continued at Prahran College of Advanced Education to study a Diploma of Art & Design majoring in Ceramics. Adriana then started working in the production pottery of Jan Lewis and Tabletop Ceramics as a Studio Assistant and decorator . Her 30 year journey with clay has always run paralell with ‘growing’ her family and teaching adults and children pottery in community settings . The inspiration for Adriana’s work comes from the beauty and intricacies of floral wallpapers and fabrics of the 1800’s, (especially William Morris and Liberty) also the blue and white Willow pattern dinnerware, which she constantly collects.

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Seasons of a Potter’s Life | David Voorhees | Episode 181

David Voorhees | Episode 181

David Voorhees

David Voorhees wood-fired stoneware slab vaseDavid Voorhees is a western North Carolina potter. David has spent 40 years working in wood-fired porcelain and stoneware, oxidation porcelain, and a bit of raku. David is relatively new to wood-firing with his own wood kiln since 2009. He is passionate about this process, the community it requires, and the rebirth it has caused in his artist journey.

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