Sean O'Connell on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with potter Sean O'Connell. I met Sean in 2010 while he was making five hundred plates for the Salad Days Residency at Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts. He focused on a lobed plate form as a canvas and set out to experiment with hundreds of solutions for surface decoration. I admired his methodical approach to such a monumental assignment. I continue to see the same dedication to visual inquiry in his current body of work. He says of the work, "My curiosity is satisfied through the idiosyncrasies of each individual arrangement of form, the visual splendor of color and pattern, and the spontaneity of brushwork."

In the interview we talk about developing self critique, assessing the value of a new opportunity, and the ongoing cycle of disappointment and reward associated with making art. You can find his work on Facebook and Etsy. For more information on Sean please visit www.seanoconnellpottery.com.

To subscribe to the Red Clay Rambler podcast on iTunes please click here. To add the podcast to your Stitcher Radio on Demand Playlist click here. You can also stream the latest episode on the podcast tab for this site.

The Archie Bray Brickyard Bash 2013

Giselle Hicks

Jeremy Bridell

Adam Field

Jon Zimmerman

Jeff Campana

Jonathan Read

My set up for the show. The images above are a few highlights from the resident exhibition which was on display in the Warehouse gallery during the Bash. 

The live auction in full swing.

The Archie Bray Foundation hosted their annual Brickyard Bash this past weekend. Hundreds of artists, collectors, and supporters came out for the Hawaiian themed party and live auction. This was my first time attending a live auction for ceramics. It was fascinating to see people covet ceramic art. I was amazed at the passion and determination the bidders had to secure the pieces they wanted. 

I'm not sure what the final numbers were but the event was a success. Click here to see the final bids for the auction. Great to see people come out to support a wonderful art center.

George McCauley on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with artist and Renaissance man George McCauley. Over his 45 year career he has made pottery, mixed media sculpture, and metal work, as well as being a cowboy, carpenter and movie producer. His self described "casual" approach to art making highlights the emotive quality of gestural mark making and loose brushwork. In the interview we talk about developing a unique artistic voice, the evolving nature of student/teacher relationships, and the film that he recently made about his mentor Ron Meyers.
 

Click here to view the trailer for the film Ron Meyers and the Usual Suspects. To learn more about the film please follow the Ron Meyers Film Project on Facebook. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the film you can contact George through his website www.georgemccauley.com.

George has traveled extensively but maintains a studio in Helena, MT. His studio is another testament to his unique sense of style. If you are ever in the Helena area it is well worth the visit.  

To subscribe to the Red Clay Rambler podcast on iTunes please click here. To add the podcast to your Stitcher Radio on Demand Playlist click here. You can also stream the latest episode on the podcast tab for this site.

In the Studio: Plates and Platters

I am finishing a round of plates and platters this week. I've enjoyed working on four at a time and stretching the pattern across the forms. It is a great exercise to work on balancing density and negative space within the overall design. For my upcoming show at Red Star I will hang these together as a set but this is also a good way to come up with asymmetrical balance on individual platters.

Adam Field on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with potter Adam Field. Based in Durango, CO Adam produces a wide variety of functional ceramics ranging from intricately carved porcelain forms to massive Korean Onggi jars. He says of the work, "I am fascinated with antique artifacts, the way they can speak of mastery of lost peoples, places, and cultures. This inspires me to create works that both radiate history and capture my own place and time."

In the interview we talk about developing a market for your work, using social media to build community, and the year he spent apprenticing in a traditional Korea pottery. In addition to his clay work Adam is an accomplished videographer and photographer. You can find his images and videos on Youtube, Instagram and Facebook. For more information on Adam please visit www.adamfieldpottery.com.

To subscribe to the Red Clay Rambler podcast on iTunes please click here. To add the podcast to your Stitcher Radio on Demand Playlist click here. You can also stream the latest episode on the podcast tab for this site.

It has been a pleasure to watch Adam make Onggi jars this summer. He uses a coil and paddle technique to shape the jars on a Korean style kick wheel. I am amazed at the fluidity he has in making such a large form. Click here to watch a time lapse video of Adam making a jar at the Ohbuja Onggi studio in Korea.

Final chance to help Odyssey ClayWorks on Indiegogo

Odyssey ClayWorks has been raising money to increase their programing. There are only two days left to donate so head over and check out their Indiegogo campaign www.indiegogo.com/projects/pots-for-life. They have a $25,000 goal and have great plans for the money raised.

We must raise a minimum of $25,000 in 2013 in order to continue our mission. The funds will allow us to host lectures and slide presentations (which are free and open to the public), continue after-school and summer kids programs, pay fair wages to instructors and provide studios for our resident artists. We are also instituting a new vocational program for autistic adults and a therapeutic program for veterans. Every little bit helps! 

Here's how we plan to use the funds:

$4778.....Two Brent Model 16 Adaptive/Wheelchair accesible potter's wheels

$4999.....Pug mill mixing machine for clay production

$500.......Material cost and labor to create two 100 sqaure foot studios for rental

$4000.....Scholarship fund for lower income students (This will afford 10 adults and 10 children the opportunity to participate in our programs this year)

$8000.....Specialist Instructor pay (8 hours per week for 50 weeks) at $25/hour (For new programming including a therapeutic program for veterans and a vocational program for autistic citizens) 

$3000......Resident artist project support grants (Will create six $500 mini grants to resident artists this year to complete a large scale project)

Pots for Life: Crafting a Sustainable Future for Odyssey ClayWorks from Link'd Video on Vimeo.

Matt Kelleher on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with potter Matt Kelleher. He designs utilitarian ware with a keen eye for the architecture and edge quality of his hand built forms. He combines layers of slip with the soda firing process to create rich translucent surfaces that capture the mood and density of the Western NC landscape he now calls home.

In the interview we talk about cultivating curiosity, escaping the boundaries of the artist statement, and learning through new life experiences. For more information on Matt you can visit www.mattkelleher.com. You can also find him on Facebook.

To subscribe to the Red Clay Rambler podcast on iTunes please click here. To add the podcast to your Stitcher Radio on Demand Playlist click here. You can also stream the latest episode on the podcast tab for this site.

Matt and his wife, potter Shoko Teruyama, spent the month of June working and teaching at the Archie Bray. I loved the vase drawings Matt tacked up to his studio wall. He uses brown butcher paper to design and make cut outs for potential forms. The curilinear lines of the drawings gave the studio a beautiful energy. 

Matt and Shoko are past resident artists at the Penland School of Craft. Check out this 2007 video from the PBS Craft in America Series were they talk about their residency experience. 

Watch Matt Kelleher and Shoko Teruyama on PBS. See more from Craft in America.

Bray Days: The Beginning

I'm in the midst of a summer residency at the Archie Bray Foundation. The combination of ceramic talent, rolling hills, and long days make Helena, MT the perfect place to be in the summer. This is truly an amazing place to live and work.

Here is the pictorial story of my first three weeks. For daily photos follow me on Instagram @carterpottery.


My next door neighbor Adam Field working on an Onggi Jar.

Linda Lopez working on one of her intricate sculptures.





Mt. Ascension, Mallory Wetherell at Spring Meadow Lake, the Helena mountain bike shuttle, and the view during one of Tara Wilson and I's weekly mountain bike trips.


I came out here to make pots right? There are so many great outdoor distractions but I promise I am working hard in the studio. I've been working through new bowl ideas while I test a new clay at a new temperature. The yunomi at the top was one of the first successful pots I've made during my time here. Looking forward to a full glaze firing in the next week.

I've had the great fortune to interview my fellow residents for the podcast. Matt Kelleher and Shoko Teruyama were here for the month of June teaching a workshop and making pots. The interview I did with Matt will be uploaded tomorrow so make sure to check it out. Here is Matt in his studio with a wall full of vase sketches.

Adam Field and I just recorded an interview as well. He has had an interesting life with lots of international travel and good stories. His interview will go up next week.

More to come soon!