543: Derek Reeverts on symbolic figure sculpture
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Release Date: 03/25/2025
558: Aysha Peltz on stretching the boundaries of porcelain
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Aysha Peltz stretches and darts porcelain into volumetric forms, which she then enhances with glazes that pool and break off high points. In today’s interview we talk about pushing porcelain to its limits, learning to self-edit, and the symbiotic relationship between her studio practice and teaching at Bennington College, VT. We also discuss her role in cocurating The Old Church Pottery Show, happening December 5th-7th, in Demarest, NJ. I’m happy to be serving as juror for the . The exhibition highlights functional and sculptural ceramic artwork being created throughout the US and...
info_outline
557: Josh Copus on creative entrepreneurship
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Josh Copus’s career started in ceramics with a focus on functional pottery made with wild North Carolina clays and wood firing. In recent years his creativity has evolved into many forms of entrepreneurship, including hotel and restaurant ownership and founding an artist collective. In our interview we talk about his roots in Floyd, VA and how studio ceramics helped him understand the principles of business. We also discuss the impact of Hurricane Helene, which devastated Marshall, NC, Copus’s home town and hub of his business. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following...
info_outline
556: David MacDonald on the Pan-African aesthetics in his work
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
This week we have a special two-part interview with renowned artist and educator David MacDonald. His large functional vessels are carved with intricate patterns that highlight and celebrate African heritage. For part two of my interview with David we talk about finding an entry into African aesthetics, the formal aspects of his repeating patterns, and how the use of functional objects in daily rituals can imbue them with spirituality. MacDonald is a Professor Emeritus of Ceramics at Syracuse University where he taught from 1971 to 2008. Today’s episode is brought to you by the...
info_outline
555: David MacDonald on the influence of the Civil Rights Movement
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
This week we have a special two-part interview with renowned artist and educator David MacDonald. His large functional vessels are carved with intricate patterns that highlight and celebrate African heritage. In part one of our interview David talks about discovering ceramics at Hampton University in the 1960’s, the influence of Joseph Gilliard, and his early-career art that reflected the social change of the Civil Rights Movement. MacDonald is a Professor Emeritus of Ceramics at Syracuse University where he taught from 1971 to 2008. Today’s episode is brought to you by the...
info_outline
554: Susan Dewsnap on using wax resist in surface design
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Susan Dewsnap uses resists to paint seemingly endless curves that move and undulate around her forms. In our interview we talk about digesting visual influences, her exploration of line weight in painting, and the ceramic scene around Maine, where she is a faculty member at Bates College. We also discuss the upcoming exhibition of the E. John Bullard Collection at the , which opens October 24th. . Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: Monkey Stuff The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art Cornell Studio Supply
info_outline
553: Rose Katz on her path from studio pottery to industry
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Rose Katz trained as a studio potter before working in industrial ceramics for a decade. In our interview we talk about problem solving for large scale production, how factories deal with switching materials when mines close, and cofounding Ceramic Materials Workshop along with her husband Matt. Rose is also a cohost of For Flux Sake, with Matt and Kathy King, which just started its fifth season. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: Monkey Stuff The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art Cornell Studio Supply
info_outline
552: Ruth Easterbrook on developing glaze color relationships
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Ruth Easterbrook’s functional forms are decorated with layers of inlayed glazes that melt into floral patterns. In our interview we talk about her recently finished residency at The Clay Studio, understanding her capacity as a maker, and using repetition to refine the color relationships in her patterns. Thank you to The Clay Studio for letting Ruth and I record this interview at the studio in August of this year. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: Monkey Stuff The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art Cornell Studio Supply
info_outline
551: Julie Wiggins on improvisation and structured play
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Julie Wiggins carves crisp floral drawings into her forms creating patterns that are inlayed with cobalt pigment. We start our interview comparing musical improvisation to structured play in the studio, along with her love of the band Phish, whom she has seen over 250 times since the mid-1990s. We also discuss traveling for international residencies and the role she took on after Hurricane Helene distributing aid and supplies to her mountain community. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: Monkey Stuff The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art ...
info_outline
550: Gillan Doty on adjusting to new materials
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Gillan Doty is an atmospheric potter based in Asheville, NC. Doty lost his studio to catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Helene and is part of the vibrant arts community that is rebuilding in the area. In our interview we talk about how recent residencies at the Archie Bray Foundation and The Clay Studio shifted his aesthetic as he worked with new kilns and materials. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art Cornell Studio Supply Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program
info_outline
550: Gillan Doty on adjusting to new materials
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Gillan Doty is an atmospheric potter based in Asheville, NC. Doty lost his studio to catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Helene and is part of the vibrant arts community that is rebuilding in the area. In our interview we talk about how recent residencies at the Archie Bray Foundation and The Clay Studio shifted his aesthetic as he worked with new kilns and materials. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art Cornell Studio Supply Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program
info_outlineDerek Reeverts is a figure sculptor based in Gainesville, FL, where he is the teaching lab specialist at the University of Florida. In our interview we talk about his use of symbols and tools to depict the midwestern work ethic, teaching students to build and use energy efficient kilns, and the changes the Florida education system has gone through in recent years. www.derekreeverts.com.
Derek is a member of the NCECA Green Task Force, which will be taking part in the project space at this year’s conference. Check out Matt Fiske, Hamish Jackson, and others for a wild clay experience that includes learning how to ethically harvest and process wild clay using materials from Utah. If you will be at the conference this week in Salt Lake City come to one of the live tapings that will be happening throughout the day on March 27th and 28th. Find out more on the NCECA app or www.nceca.net.
I’m happy to be taking part in this year’s Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail, where I will be a guest of Lucy Fagella April 26th and 27th in Greenfield, MA. I’ll also be in the first annual Princeton Pottery Festival, happening at the Princeton Day School May 3rd and 4th. Both events feature an excellent selection of both emerging and established artists. Hope to see you there.
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