The Potters Cast

Auguste Yung is a half-Chinese, half-Swedish ceramicist working out of Los Angeles California. Auguste melds wheel throwing and hand building to create unique textures and forms inspired by nature. Despite a winding path that included studying international relations and then working in TV development, Auguste found his true passion when he stumbled upon ceramics during the pandemic. https://ThePottersCast.com/1088

Michael Corney was raised in the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan area where he was influenced by the bright colors of nature and the vibrant cultures that surrounded him. Michael received his BA from Cal State University Fullerton and his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. While primarily a studio potter, Michael has taught workshops at Anderson Ranch, Penland School of Crafts and Santa Fe Clay. He has participated in shows at Santa Fe Clay (NM), Northern Clay Center (MN), The Schaller Gallery (MI) and Akar Design Gallery (IA) Michael is currently a working artist in San Miguel De Allende, Mexico! https//ThePottersCast.com/1087

Paula Murray studied science at the University of Ottawa, Canada, ceramics at Sheridan College, and completed two residencies at the Banff Centre before embarking on a successful career. Elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (2006) and the International Academy of Ceramics (2017), she has received several Canada Council and CALQ grants for her distinctive work. Paula's full-time studio practice is inspired by her close relationship with nature and the years spent sailing between Canada and South America while raising her two children. Her ongoing study of spiritual writings inspires many of the themes explored in her work. https://ThePottersCast.com/1086

Tim Kowalczyk is back. Tim has been on The Potters Cast a few times over the years. This time he is back to talk about the importance of social media. http://ThePottersCast.com/1085

Shaylise Sylvester is an artist who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she was born and raised. Shaylise discovered her passion for ceramics during her undergraduate studies and has been honing her skills for three years now. Shaylise is currently exploring and studying the history of ceramics, looking at historical artifacts, and finding her voice through her work. Shaylise tends to focus on wheel throwing but also enjoys the freedom of form that hand-building allows. Shaylise work is primarily functional at the moment, and she is interested in the development and history of functional pots. She also enjoys the idea of creating a functional pot that is unique and beautiful in shape. Shaylise had taught ceramics in California and now teaches at a local community studio in Fairbanks. Shaylise is currently a ceramics student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is preparing a portfolio for graduate school. https://ThePottesCast.com/1084

From her earliest memory Natalie Miller has loved making art. As a young adult Natalie took a break from art, focussing more on working with horses. In her mid 30's Natalie was hit with an overwhelming drive to create again. Natalie started with pen drawings and painting, before taking her first pottery class at Station Gallery in Whitby. From the very first class she was hooked. It was everything I'd ever hoped it would be. Natalie is very much inspired by Mid Century Modern, Scandinavian design, clean lines, and bold colour palettes. Natalie lives with her partner and their two cats in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. http://ThePottersCast.com/1083

Craig Britton & Brittany Whitaker are ceramic artists currently residing on San Juan Island, WA. Craig and Britt's collaborative work is inspired by nature and often includes hand-painted flora & fauna motifs. However, Craig's current body of work explores texture, materiality, and the creation process. http://ThePottersCast.com/1082

Morgan Peck is a ceramicist living in Los Angeles. Morgan's namesake ceramic company, started in 2011, includes mirrors, lamps, sculptures, and vases all made in her backyard studio. Peck’s work continues in the footsteps of the studio potters that preceded her and she makes note of numerous styles, hinting at the Memphis Group, the Bauhaus, and Art Deco. Sometimes reproducing the forms of Venetian glass and the splotchy surfaces of 19th century spongeware, she moves through these references with a modest, considered, and decidedly modern touch. https://ThePottersCast.com/1081

Clark County Open Studios is a juried show that takes place throughout Clark County in Southwest Washington. Each year 50 artist are chosen to participate along with 3 emerging artists. This year my wife, Jennifer and I were accepted into the show along with a number of other ceramic artists. Jennifer and I hosted an "after party" with a few of the other ceramic artists to talk about the event. https://ThePottersCast.com/1080

Today we are talking with Melissa Weiss. She has been on The Potters Cast twice before- Melissa's second appearance was in episode 624 in which we talked about her book she had just released, and her first was in episode 183 where we got to hear her story of setting up a community studio. In today's episode we now hear her story of going through the hurricane, Helene through which she lost her studio. In the picture below you will see a photo from her Instagram feed where you can see the roof of her studio circled in red and the waters completely engulfing the building. https://ThePottersCast.com/1079

Hurricane Helene was devastating for so many people. Many potters were hit very hard with the storm. Mudtools, founded by Michael Sherrill, was hit so hard that their building was swept away as the waters rose. In todays episode, Michael tells his story of the storm. https://ThePottersCast.com/1078

Tamara “Solem” Al-Issa is a Syrian/Filipina Toronto-based sculptural artist with a focus on conveying preservation of time. Solem’s work pulls from memories of the architecture and practices within SWANA and Southeast Asia through exploring familiar shapes, colours and textures from these regions. The Deep Blue series presents hand-built traditional shapes in a custom mixed cobalt blue which is a colour that evokes a familiar sense of nostalgia and wistfulness. In the SWANA region, the colour blue (particularly turquoise) is known to have mystical and protective qualities. http://ThePottersCast.com/1077

Peacefully working from her home studio on Vancouver Island, Karen Dance pursues her desire to create out-of-the-ordinary pottery pieces. Karen is inspired by the human form, natural movement, expressive features, and all the wonders found in nature. With over 35 years as an artist in many mediums, it was the melding of Karen's education at CMU Creature design and prosthetics along with Ceramics training at Sheridan college that led her on this path of exploration. http://ThePottersCast.com/1076

Michael Bridges is a potter living in Chicago, Illinois. Michael is a hand builder that identifies as a wheel thrower. Skulls, jack-o-lanterns, and spookiness are right at home in Michael's work. http://ThePottersCast.com/1075

Dennis Blatchley is a ceramic artist living and making in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Dennis makes a wide range of slipcast terracotta tableware with a distinct matt finish. Dennis' work comes in a choice of colours, that can be ‘mixed and matched’ to create a variety of exciting colour combinations. http://ThePottersCast.com/1074

Sarah Chatawanich has been a working artist for over 20 years within a wide range of disciplines. Sarah's current work focuses on the Japanese art of nerikomi. Sarah mixes stains with porcelain to create colored clays, which are then layered into blocks and sliced through to reveal unique patterns. Sarah's pieces are sanded at various stages and polished to create smooth, vibrantly colored surfaces. http://ThePottersCast.com/1073

Samuel Newman, founder of Suay Ceramics, is a Portland-based potter who draws inspiration from his Pennsylvania roots and the values of community and craftsmanship. Samuel's dynamic forms and atmospheric firings capture the creative journey, offering functional wares that foster meaningful connection and introspection through shared daily experiences. http://ThePottersCast.com/1072

Maria Loram is a ceramic artist, born in Russia, and is now based in California. Art has been Maria's lifelong companion, and despite a detour into linguistics at Moscow State University and a subsequent move to LA, she has now built a career in private tutoring. Maria's core fascination with art’s power to explore and understand the world remained dormant yet undiminished. The turning point came with a divorce, which serendipitously guided Maria back to art, Eastern philosophies, and meditation practice. In 2022, a pottery wheel from Facebook marked the rebirth of her artistic journey through the medium of ceramics. Diving into classes and workshops led by renowned ceramicists like Tortus and Moondobang, Maria has embraced the endless possibilities of shape, texture, and color. http://ThePottersCast.com/1071

Don Katz is a blind potter based in Los Angeles, California. Don became blind due to bacterial meningitis in 2001. After waking up from a month-long coma he had to relearn to walk and feed himself and adjust to his sightless reality. What began as an introductory pottery course at The Braille Institute of Los Angeles, has now become Katz’s obsession. Don's ceramics teacher once told him as he struggled on the wheel that “you are stronger than dirt,” words he lives by today. Don appreciates feeling the clay take shape on the potter's wheel and how the touch informs the form. He enjoys creating unique handmade functional and decorative ceramic objects. http://ThePottersCast.com/1070

Brenton Duhan grew up between North Carolina and Kandern, Germany--home to two distinct and rich pottery traditions. Brenton studied at Brown University and RISD in Providence, practiced museum exhibit design in DC, and gave tours and made ceramics in New Orleans before moving to New Haven, Connecticut. Brenton is currently maintaining a ceramic practice while studying architecture at Yale University. http://ThePottersCast.com/1069