521: Christi Ruffin on the joy of collecting ceramics
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Release Date: 07/31/2024
533: Michelle Im on the versatility of tin glaze
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Michelle Im uses low-fire tin glaze to make both vibrant patterned pottery and figurative sculpture. In our interview we talk about her approach and technique for majolica, developing her RatxChicks brand, and her portrayal of familial identity in her sculptural work. You can read more about Michelle in my book or visit . My annual holiday sale is now live with over fifty new pots. They make great gifts for your loved ones for the holidays and I’m happy to offer listeners free shipping. To receive this special offer, make a purchase before December 16th at and use the offer code...
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532: Greg Daly on painting with flame to create reduced lusters
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Greg Daly is a master of the luster genre using a reduction kiln to create rich surfaces that depict the Australian landscape. In our interview we talk about how subtle differences in reduction affect luster surfaces, teaching as an act of problem solving, and why collecting other artists work has been important to his development. Greg has had over 100 solo exhibitions, so we also discuss staying motivated over a 50-year career. You can read more about Greg’s work in my book . A big thank you to him for writing about his process and for freely sharing his research. The book is now available...
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531: Sunshine Cobb on the Archie Bray Residency
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Sunshine Cobb returns to talk about her new role as resident coordinator at the Archie Bray Foundation. In the interview we talk about how shifts in a residency structure can create equity and opportunity, as well as how residents find financial stability as the cost of living is increasing post-COVID. This year’s Bray residency application deadline is December 19th. Check out for more information on how to apply. My annual holiday sale is now live with over fifty new pots. They make great gifts for your loved ones for the holidays and I’m happy to offer listeners free...
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530: Priscilla Dobler Dzul and Corinna Cowles
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Priscilla Dobler Dzul and Corinna Cowles were both residents at the Archie Bray Foundation this summer. In our interview we talk about their current bodies of work and their experience at the Bray. Corinna Cowles is based in Philadelphia, PA and Priscilla Dobler Dzul splits time between Washington state and Mexico. This year’s Bray residency application deadline is December 19th. Check out for more information on how to apply. I would like to highlight a few friends of the podcast that need help recovering from Hurricane Helene. were hit hard with flooding and are raising money...
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529: Bill Wilkey on his soda-fired geometric forms
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Bill Wilkey fires his geometric forms in a soda atmosphere that exposes and softens their textured edges. In this week’s interview we talk about his mind-blowing experience visiting Brunelesschi’s Dome, the impact his Archie Bray residency had on his career, and starting a life in Helena, MT with his family. . This interview is the first in a series featuring former Bray residents. This year’s Bray residency application deadline is December 19th. Check out for more information on how to apply. I would like to highlight a few friends of the podcast that need help recovering...
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528: Malene Barnett on Crafted Kinship
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Malene Barnett returns for an interview about her new book Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers. In our interview we talk about Black cultural memory, her process for interviewing and building an archive of Caribbean artists, and the influence of Caribbean material culture around the world. The book will be published by Artisan Books on October 29th and will be widely available where ever fine books are sold. I would like to highlight a few friends of the podcast that need help recovering from Hurricane Helene. Joy Tanner and Will Baker...
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527: Living with Student loans: Liz Noonan and Christian Bailey
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Today we have the final installment of our series about student loans with an episode featuring Liz Noonan and Christian Bailey. They share their experience dealing with fluctuating payments, managing debt as a family, and the ups and downs of loan forgiveness. Liz is a studio artist in Boxborough, MA. Christian is a artist and educator in Gulfport, MS. I’d like to highlight a few excellent resources for helping those affected by Hurricane Helene. Julie Wiggins has been spearheading relief for artists in the Penland, NC area. You can support her efforts by donating to her . It has...
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526: Living with Student Loans: Cammi Climaco and Jen Mecca
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Today we continue our series on student loans with a conversation featuring Cammi Climaco and Jen Mecca. They share their experience with long-term management of loan payments, the effect loans have on family relationships, and student loan forgiveness. Cammi is a NYC based artist and podcast host of The Ceramics Companion. Jen is an artist and educator based in Gastonia, NC. Like many of you I’ve watched horrific scenes of floods across the South Eastern U.S., including devastation in one of our richest pottery regions Western North Carolina. I want to send my well wishes to...
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525: Living with Student Loans: Betsy Mayotte on navigating the system
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
After years of talking with people about their education, I thought it was time to address student loans head on. Today I talk with Betsy Mayotte, who over the past three decades has worked with hundreds of borrowers in her role as president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors. In our interview we talk about the factors driving up the cost of education, how a student progresses through a loan cycle, loan forgiveness options, and healthy habits for financial literacy. We also talk about the upcoming September 30th deadline for the program, a new initiative to help...
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524: Celia Feldberg on drawing on clay
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Celia Feldberg decorates her pots with vibrant sgraffito drawings of animals in human situations. With a light-hearted touch she talks about relationship dynamics and highlights the small beauty in every day life. In our interview we talk about refining her drawing style on clay, depicting love in all its forms, and being a resident artist at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia. We also discuss the research she conducted for my book . She was my assistant and a valuable sounding board as I was writing the book. It was wonderful to share the success and struggle of the project with such a...
info_outlineChristi Ruffin is an avid collector of ceramics, and by that, I mean she is obsessed. I recently got to visit her home in Charlotte, NC and hold many of the pieces that make up her collection of over 3,000 pots. In our interview we talk about forming relationships with artists, insuring and documenting a ceramic collection, and how the pandemic helped accelerate her collecting habit. To see the collection you can follow Christi on Instagram at pottery.addict.
Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:
The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com
Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com
Bray Clay www.archiebrayclay.com