Ron Meyers 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 Ron Meyers. Known for his highly decorated terra cotta forms, Ron uses expressive painting and sgraffito drawing to create images of fish, birds, and other animal motifs, that often have human characteristics. During his extensive career in ceramics he has taught at the University of South Carolina (1967-1972) and the University of Georgia (1972-1993). He lives in Athens, Ga where he maintains a studio and exhibits widely in the United States.

In the interview we talk about finding one's voice as a maker, the development of his "usual suspects" characters, and how retiring from teaching energized his ceramics career. You can find Ron's work online at the Signature Shop, AKAR, and Red Lodge Clay Center.
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Michael Simon 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 Michael Simon. After studying at the University of Minnesota in the late 1960's, Michael set up a studio in the Athens, GA area where he has been making pots for more than 30 years. From shallow round bowls to complex squared boxes Michael developed a unique approach to matching form with decoration. His images of fish, birds, trees, and other nature-based motifs are simple in their geometric orientation but bold in their iconographic impact. In the interview we talk about intuition, the influence of Michael's teacher Warren Mackenzie, and a lifetime devoted to finding truth in the pursuit of pottery.

In 1980 Michael started saving a few of the best pots from every kiln load. This grew into a large collection that has been the focus of two recent retrospective exhibitions, and a book Michael Simon: Evolution. In the dust jacket of Evolution, potter and author Mark Shapiro eloquently states how Michael has influenced American ceramics:

"Because of the uncanny power of his work, Michael Simon became one of the most influential potters of his generation. His compelling vision of functional pottery transformed students who took his workshops and pottery pilgrims who made the trek to his rural studio. With the revelation of his off round forms thrown on the wheel and his powerful iconographic motifs, Michael Simon opened the door to a more personal way of thinking about the functional pot."

—Mark Shapiro, potter and editor of “A Chosen Path: The Ceramic Art of Karen Karnes

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.

During my visit with Michael I could see how much he yearned to make pots again. When he speaks about the last batch of pots he made in 2005 his eyes sparkle with the same passion and excitement that led him to a long career in clay. In one conversation we spoke about the ideas he felt are still left unfinished. This bowl - in particular its wide angular rim - is one of the ideas that inspire him to want to make pots again.

It was a great pleasure to see that after all his years of working he still gets excited over a rim. I can relate to that fascination with the details of a form. Sometimes the simplest change in a tried and true form can lead to years' worth of new exploration.

Best of Season Two on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast

Steven Hill: Episode 46 Steven Hill talks about dedication and getting started


Richard Notkin: Episode 39 Richard Notkin talks about dealing with fear in the studio 


Kyle Carpenter: Episode 51 Kline, Carpenter, and Philbeck talk about balancing family and studio life


Kristen Kieffer: Ep. 61 Galloway, Kieffer, and Kline talk about trends in ceramic design

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have the Best of Season Two. This compilation episode covers a wide range of topics including dealing with fear in the studio, searching for authenticity in a consumer society, and balancing family life with an art practice. A huge thank you to all the listeners that took the online survey and emailed their favorite episodes from the last year. It has been a pleasure to produce the show and I look forward to starting Season Three in the near future.

The episode features excepts from interviews with Steven Hill, Richard Notkin, Bobby Silverman, Kyle Carpenter, Ron Philbeck, Michael Kline, Julia Galloway, Kristen Kieffer, Alex Matisse, Josh Copus, Lindsay Rogers, and Vernon, Pam and Travis Owens from Jugtown Pottery. For more information on these artists, or their interviews, please visit www.talesofaredclayrambler.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.

Episode 58 The Owens family talk about Jugtown Pottery 


Episode 52 Live in Asheville- Matisse, Rogers, and Copus talk about nostalgia and authenticity

Episode 37 Bobby Silverman talks about the role of the traditional object in our society