Sid Luck 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 fifth generation potter Sid Luck. With his wood-burning groundhog kiln, he continues a family tradition of pottery making that has existed in the Seagrove, NC area since the early 19th century. Sid started making pottery for JB Cole in 1957 and though he has had other professions he has never stopped making pottery. He has been named a living treasure of North Carolina and is a recipient of the NC Heritage award.

In the interview we talk about whiskey jugs, war, and the evolution of the Luck tradition. For more information on Sid's work please visit www.lucksware.com. Sid has been featured in numerous articles and two documentaries by Jim Sharkey. You can view a clip from the 1999 documentary Crawdad Slip at www.folkstreams.net.

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.

Sid gave me a tour of the Luck Pottery including the groundhog kiln. This low slung wood fired kiln is unique to the NC piedmont area. The design has been used for everything from lead glazed terra cotta to salt fired stoneware. To add salt to his kiln Sid attaches a metal gutter pipe funnel that is attached to a leaf blower. This ingenious solution blasts the pots with both salt and borax, which he adds in at a 80/20 mixture. 

Live at the NC Potter's Conference: Pottery, Podcasting and Posterity with Brian Jones

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a live episode taped at the North Carolina Potter's conference. The episode features myself and Brian Jones presenting on Pottery, Podcasting and Posterity to a wonderful audience at the Sunset Theater in Asheboro, NC. In the interview we talk about creative competition, social media as ceramic advocacy, and developing a podcasting style.

Brian Jones is a ceramic artist and podcaster based in Portland, OR. He was an early motivator and inspiration for me to start the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast. You can find out more about his work and podcast at www.brianrjones.com. You can access his podcast directly by subscribing to the Brian R Jonescast on Stitcher and iTunes.

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.

Lisa Orr 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 ceramic artist Lisa Orr. Based in Austin, TX she makes colorful earthenware pottery reminiscent of a garden in full bloom. She has developed a unique method of turning pots in bisque molds on a potters wheel. This achieves a soft uniquely manipulated form, which is then colored with runny translucent glazes. In the interview we talk about the influence of Betty Woodman, color synesthesia, and Lisa's documentaries on Mexican folk pottery. You can see more of Lisa's work at www.lisaorr.com.

Lisa has been traveling to Mexico for the last eight years to visit area's rich in folk pottery traditions. To date she has released documentaries about the Pinneapple Pottery of San José de Gracia and the Trees of Life from Izúcar de Matamoros. To view a trailer for the videos, or purchase a copy, please visit www.potteryofmexico.com. Lisa is also the founder of Art of the Pot. This studio tour is a collection of Austin Potters who invite renowned ceramic artists to take part in exhibitions every Mothers Day weekend. For information on the tour please visit www.artofthepot.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.

Use #virtualclay to join us in a conversation about social media.

This is your chance to get involved in an NCECA panel. Virtual Realities, Material World addresses the role of social media in the professional lives of ceramic artists Michael Kline, Ben Carter, Adam Field, and Carole Epp. Use #virtualclay on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to pose questions, share ideas, and build community. We will be collecting your questions from now until Friday March 21st.

Thanks for adding your voice!

Highlights from the Florida Heat Surface Conference 2014

Images from the first installment of the Florida Heat Surface Conference held at St. Petersburg Clay Company from February 19th - 23rd, 2014. Demonstrating artists were Chandra DeBuse, Adam Field, Julia Galloway, Kristen Kieffer, Michael Kline, Forrest Middleton, Lisa Orr and myself.

Forrest Middelton demoing image transfer.



Kristen Kieffer and Chandra Debuse demoing on Sunday afternoon.



Workshop participants unloading their pots from the salt and soda kiln.



Michael Kline and Julia Galloway prep for their demos with an impromptu late night discussion.




I had the best seat in the house for Lisa Orr's glazing demonstration. I had to snap a few shots while I was demoing with her Sunday morning.

The owners of St. Pete Clay, Matt Schiemann and Adam Yungbluth, pulling the BBQ out of their specially designed roaster. It pays to work with people who appreciate good pots and good food!

I recorded a few episodes of the podcast while I was in St. Petersburg. I am looking forward to releasing them in the next month. 

To see  more images from the workshop you can view the album I made at the Carter Pottery Facebook page. A huge thank you to the presenters, the staff at St. Pete Clay, and the workshop participants. Can't wait to do this again in a few years!