545: Dallas Wooten on creating fluid surfaces
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Release Date: 04/24/2025
562: Lisa Naples on embracing change in Grounded in Gold
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
After many years as a functional potter Lisa Naples has embraced figurative and nonobjective sculpture. In our interview we discuss how she anthropomorphizes animals to show shifting relationships and identities, as well as the use of gold as a way to embody the divine in her recent exhibition Grounded in Gold. The exhibition was on display this fall at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: Monkey Stuff The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program
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561: Beth Lo and Julia Galloway on their approach to narrative
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Beth Lo and Julia Galloway are artists and educators that have helped shape ceramic education at the University of Montana. In our interview we talk about their approach to narrative, moving between bodies of work, and the value of taking on long term projects. They will be co-teaching a workshop next month at the Morean Workshop Space in St. Petersburg, FL. Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: Monkey Stuff The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art Cornell Studio Supply
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560: David Eichelberger on working with intention
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
David Eichelberger’s career has included time as a studio potter, professor, designer, and community educator. Today we focus on his personal studio practice hand-building serving platters and his role as designer for Two/One Ceramics alongside his wife, artist Elisa Di Feo. In our interview we discuss how working with bisque ring molds allows him to bring a new level of attention to his forms, as well as the collaborative aspects of design. In addition to his studio practice Eichelberger is the director of the Marlboro Studio School offering craft instruction in Marlboro, VT. ...
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559: Wayne Higby and Benjamin Evans on Alfred ceramic history
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler: A pottery and ceramic art podcast
Wayne Higby and Benjamin Evans co-curated the retrospective , which showcases twenty-six artists that have taught ceramics at Alfred University. In our interview we talk about Charles Binns and the early days of Alfred ceramics, as well as the contributions the school and its faculty have made to the development of studio ceramics in America. Higby taught ceramics at Alfred for more than five decades and was the Director and Principal Curator of the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum that was completed in 2016. Evans now directs the museum, which fulfills its mission through rotating exhibitions and...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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
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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_outlineDallas Wooten makes functional ware decorated with water etched and painted surfaces that melt and blend beautifully during his cone six firings. In our interview we talk about developing techniques to create fluid surfaces, and finding work life balance while running an art center. We also talk about the Princeton Pottery Festival, which Dallas has been instrumental in starting. www.wootenclayworks.com
I’m happy to be taking part in the inaugural Princeton Pottery Festival happening May 3 and 4 at the Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ. I’ll also have new work at this year’s Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail, where I will be a guest of Lucy Fagella April 26th and 27th in Greenfield, MA.
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