In the interview we talk about the value of the North Carolina pottery scene, the relevance of folk art in contemporary life, and his relationship with ceramic critic Garth Clark. In 2011 Jones used his blog (Critique of a Critic) to engage Clark in a lively discussion about the role traditionally made objects, and their makers, have once they enter the fine art world. The discussion fueled Jones to push his work in new directions, yielding his "Country Funk" style. You can read more about their discussion and find out more about Jones Pottery at www.jonespottery.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.
I love all the podcasts, but am especially enjoying all the North Carolina ones. I'm looking forward to the panel discussion. On several occasions you have expressed interest in different learning environments for clay and I was wondering if you have heard of Haywood Community Colleges Professional Crafts Program in Clyde, NC. It was run for decades by the amazing Gary Clontz who retired in the last 5 or 6 years and went on to start another professional pottery program at Piedmont Technical College in South Carolina. Currently the director of all four crafts programs is Terri Guess and the head of ceramics is Steve Loyd. The focus of the program was on high production and business. There was repetitive throwing, but unlike apprenticeships there was no specific aesthetic to replicate. We mainly looked to the traditional and folk pottery of the area. I'm not sure what it's like now as I finished in 1997.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the thought and hard work that you put into the podcast. I love the conversational style, and you ask great questions.
Patty Bilbro
I studied with Gary Clontz at Piedmont Tech and can wholeheartedly agree that he is amazing. I'm so grateful to have learned from him.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gary. love ya.