Opening a Community Center | Bronwyn Arundel | Episode 491

Bronwyn Arundel | Episode 491

Bronwyn Arundel studied and graduated with a major in Ceramics and Art History at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Bronwyn now sells her work in over 20 Galleries and Gift Stores. In 2014 and 2015 ACTS awarded Bronyn’s work with Best New Product. Bronwyn also exhibited at the ACTS Fine Art Juried show.  In July 2015 Bronwyn moved from Halifax to Nanaimo, BC where she is continuing her production studio practice with wholesale and local juried craft shows. In March of 2018 Bronwyn expanded her business to include Nanaimo Ceramic Arts Studio and Gallery (NCEA. This location has an 800 square foot class room, tech rooms allowing her to teach pottery and to host other professional ceramic artist workshops. NCA has a 300 square foot gallery space to where Bronwyn features ceramic artists from Vancouver Island and across Canada. Over the last year she has developed an Artist in Residency program that focuses on the business development of visiting artists. Bronwyn is creating a community for the education of the ceramic arts in Nanaimo BC.

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Mentorship | Ciro Di Ruocco | Episode 490

Ciro Di Ruocco | Episode 490

Ciro Di Ruocco is an emerging visual artist/curator, splitting his time between studios in Nanaimo, BC, Canada and his hometown of Duxbury, Vermont. Ciro’s work in ceramics is complimented by an affinity for printmaking and surface/ texture design. Ciro combines a utilitarian sensibility with a contemporary street art aesthetic, fusing his own imagery to create works that are inspired by our daily lives. Ciro is currently an MFA candidate at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

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A Ton of Self-Doubt and Still Doing It | Kirk Jackson | Episode 489

Kirk Jackson | Episode 489

Kirk Jackson is originally from Lewis Center, Ohio.  Kirk discovered clay, as an expressive material, while studying at The Ohio State University.  While pursuing a BFA there. Kirk had the opportunity to spend a semester in Jingdezhen, China and also did a summer residency at Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts.  After completing his BFA, Kirk worked as Studio Manager at Watershed, participated in the Working Artist Program at Longwood University, was a Resident Artist as well as instructor at Seward Park Clay Studio.  Kirk then became a Long-Term Resident for two years at Red Lodge Clay Center and two years at the Clay Studio of Missoula.  Kirk currently lives and works out of his own studio in Missoula, Montana.

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Being Where You Can Be Found | Masa Sasaki | Episode 488

Masa Sasaki | Episode 488

Masayuki “Masa” Sasaki, is a classically trained artist, with multi-facetted interests. Masa is an accomplished pianist, award-winning painter, and uniquely stylistic potter. Since moving from his native Japan in the late 1980’s, Masa has impressed teachers, patrons, and his fellow artists with his unique sense of precision and artistic vision.
“We live in the world where we are surrounded by machine-made and mass-produced goods today. I feel, as a contemporary craftsman, the need to validate the value of handmade items by making things that could not be easily duplicated and unique to my own artistic perspective. For me it is not enough that a final piece be essentially functional and pleasant, it must also be lasting in its desirability for use. Long after I have ceased to be productive the pieces that I accomplish today should still be enjoyed, appreciated, and used. This is the elusive quality that brings value to functional art, the lasting character that transcends the artist and outlives him. Whether in my paintings, musical composition, sculpture or pottery I desire most of all that the usefulness and aesthetic appeal be both easily perceived, and lasting.”

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The Professor Talks About the Process | Curtis Houston | Episode 487

Curtis Houston | Episode 487

 

Curtis Houston, a lifelong native of the South who currently resides in Lower Alabama. Curtis is the Three-Dimensional Art Professor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Southern influences have shaped Curtis’ perception of the world and tinged his work with a sense of wry quirky wit. Within these cultural and regional idiosyncrasies, Curtis’ sense of kitsch-like designs find their visual narrative and artistic voice.

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Dreaming to Doing in 3 1/2 Years! | Tasja Pulawska | Episode 486

Tasja Pulawska | Episode 468

Tasja Pulawska was born in Warsaw in 1983 and lived in different parts of Europe before finally finding her home in Copenhagen. Tasja studied graphic design in Warsaw and Media art at the Bauhaus university in Germany. Tasja worked as a Graphic designer for about 5 years, and about 10 years ago she tarted playing with clay. Tasja decided to make pottery her full-time occupation in 2014. Tasja was a workshop assistant in a shared working space/studio in Oslo, and after moving to Denmark in 2014 she became Eric Landon’s apprentice and later assistant at Tortus Copenhagen (for two and half years). Tasja opened her own workshop in December 2016.

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“I Believe in the Cold Call” | Patrick Kingshill | Episode 485

Patrick Kingshill | Episode 485

Patrick Kingshill was born in Eureka California. He received his BFA from San Jose State University and MFA from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.  In 2014 Patrick studied glass and ceramics at the University of Sunderland, England and has recently worked as an apprentice for Takeshi Yasuda in Jingdezhen, China. Patrick now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Going Smaller to Make More | Christine Tenenholtz | Episode 484

Christine Tenenholtz | Episode 484

Christine Tenenholtz has been making her way in clay for nearly 25 years. After apprenticing with a few established potteries Christine discovered a love of product design and production. Christine struck out on her own with a signature line of mid range, colorful, functional work, selling primarily in the Southwest, and in her thriving Etsy shop.

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A Pottery Story from Trinidad | Bunty O’Connor | Episode 483

Bunty O’Connor | Episode 483

Bunty O’Connor learned pottery at evening classes in 1970. Interested in using local clay, Bunty collected and tested different clays of Trinidad. In 1987, Bunty and husband Rory, started Ajoupa Pottery making terra-cotta figurines and exporting in the Caribbean. Globalization eventually caused the closure of the business. Bunty now teaches mosaic and Raku workshops and works on making whatever she wants!

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Promoting Music with Clay | Marc Armitano Domingo | Episode 482

Marc Armitano Domingo | Episode 482

Marc Armitano Domingo was born in Northern California. He spent his childhood traveling to Venezuela where his parents are from and fell in love with Baroque music from a young age. His Grandparent's house was covered in Venezuelan art, Bromeliads, and a vast collection of Orchids on their roof. His passion for Baroque music led him to study Historical Performance on Viola da Gamba where he learned more about Baroque and Renaissance art and especially ornamentation. In Baroque music, pieces are usually left quite bare and minimal and it is up to the performer to add expression, graces, trills, and other agrément. In this style, Marc uses simple forms and adds appliqués, etchings, and other decorating techniques to create variety and beauty in a piece. Most of his work has some sort of utilitarian purpose.

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