Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a discussion with multimedia artist Roberto Lugo. His current body of ceramic vessels uses portraiture, graffiti inspired patterns, and hip hop aesthetics to investigate notions of personal identity and belonging. He currently has an exhibition at the Wexler Gallery titled Defacing Adversity: The life and times of Roberto Lugo. The show listing perfectly describes the intent of Roberto’s work. “By combining graffiti, hip hop, history, pop culture and porcelain, Lugo is bringing new conversations to the table of contemporary art.” For more information on the exhibition visit www.wexlergallery.com.

Potter, painter, rapper, husband, father, and educator are just a few of the hats Roberto wears in the course of his daily life. He currently lives with his family in Marlboro, VT where he teaches at Marlboro College. In the interview we talk about race, white privilege and guilt in the ceramics world, and transitioning to life in rural Vermont. For more information about Roberto please visit www.robertolugostudio.com.

This episode of Tales of the Red Clay Rambler is sponsored by FLM Studio in Petaluma, CA. This multipurpose studio offers workshops for Bay Area ceramic artists while also serving as the studio for Forrest Lesch Middelton. On June 4th and 5th I will be teaching a two day hands-on workshop titled from Flat to Functional. Join me for this exciting weekend to learn more about using foam molds to create hand built tableware. To register for this event visit www.flmceramics.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a discussion between guest host Holly Hanessian and British artist Michael Eden. During his MPhil research at the Royal College of Art Eden set out to merge digital technology with the craft skills he used during his previous experience as a potter.The resulting objects and research sit at the intersection of craft, design and art. In his recent work he reimagines culturally familiar objects, before using digital manufacturing to produce them.

Guest host Holly Hanessian is an artist and Professor of Ceramics at Florida State University. Her most recent work Touch in Real Time explores the intimate nature of physical contact and its significance in the digital age. In the interview Holly and Michael talk about the basics of 3D printing, how hand skill and technology inform each other, and how new technologies fit into academia. To see examples of Michael’s work please visit www.michael-eden.com. To see examples of Holly's work please visit www.hollyhanessian.com.

This episode of Tales of the Red Clay Rambler is sponsored by Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN -- Enriching lives through art since 1945 by providing life-changing, inspiring, and invigorating opportunities for people of all skill levels. Experience the summer in the Smoky Mountains immersed in Arrowmont's multi-discipline craft workshops. Investigate bisque molds and patterns with Brian R. Jones, explore seductive surfaces in ceramics with Erin Furimsky, or join Kenneth Baskin for two-weeks focusing on slab construction for sculptural objects. Take this opportunity to “experience the unexpected”, and join this unique educational environment. Learn more about Arrowmont scholarship opportunities and their summer workshop series at Arrowmont.org.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a panel discussion with Jen Allen, Deb Schwartzkopf, and Steve Godfrey. The trio’s ceramic roots go back to Alaska, where Jen and Deb were students of Steve’s at the University of Alaska Anchorage in the early 2000’s. In the interview we talk about how the student teacher relationship evolves, harnessing the inner critic, and the emergence of the “online pot”. For more information on Steve please visit www.uaa.alaska.edu. For more information on Deb please visit www.debspottery.com. For more information on Jen please visit www.jenniferallenceramics.com. Jen and Deb are members of Objective Clay. You can find out more information about their organization at www.objectiveclay.com.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Sierra Nevada College. Come be inspired by the gorgeous, natural setting of Lake Tahoe, while studying with nationally known artists in a variety of art mediums. This summer continues a tradition of excellence in art education that has been going strong for 32 years. This year’s line up includes Adam Field, Ronan Kyle Peterson, John Toki, Nancy Servis, and many more. I’m also excited to announce that I will be teaching a hands on workshop on Perfect Pouring Pots July 23rd and 24th. To see SNC Tahoe’s full summer schedule please visit www.sierranevada.edu and search for summer workshops.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Joel Magen. His recent passing was a huge shock to the clay community in Northern California. One of the few potters in the area to offer an apprenticeship, Joel helped educate dozens of potters at his Dark Horse Pottery in Davenport, CA. In our 2014 interview we talked about Marguerite Wildenhain's influence on California studio pottery, how ceramics fit into the back-to-the-land movement of the 1960's, and the evolution of Dark Horse Pottery. To see more examples of Joel's work please visit www.darkhorsepottery.com. 

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by AMACO, your one-stop-shop for all your ceramic needs. To find out more visit www.AMACO.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Kari Radasch. Known for her vibrant earthenware pottery, Kari is a prolific artist that has produced multiple varied, and successful, bodies of work in the last decade. Her current focus is to convey joy through vibrant surface design. She maintains a studio practice in Westbrook, ME in addition to teaching at the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME.

In the interview we talk about transitioning through aesthetic ideas, embracing sentimentality, and using emotion as a source for inspiration in ceramics. For more information on her work please visit www.kariradasch.com.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by AMACO, your one-stop-shop for all your ceramic needs. To find out more visit www.AMACO.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Kim Kirchman. A long time potter and educator, Kim is a professor of art at St. Petersburg College. Her recent altered vessel forms are decorated with underglaze drawings of botanical patterns that reference the lush environment of the Tampa Bay area. In the interview we talk about keeping it fresh in the classroom, the origins of the Tampa Tour de Clay, and how she utilized her aesthetic training to remodel homes and plan for retirement. For more information on Kim please visit www.tampatourdeclay.com/kim-kirchman.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast is sponsored by Mountain Maid Workshops. On Saturday, April 2nd, internationally acclaimed Australian potter, Shannon Garson comes to Grass Valley, California to kick off Mountain Maid Workshops’ spring series with a one-day demonstration, sharing her process from inspiration to finished pot. Space is limited for this exciting one-time event! For information and to purchase seats, please go to mountainmaidworkshops.com. 

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with artist couple Adam and Melissa Yungbluth. Based in St. Petersburg, FL they both have an active studio practice making functional ceramic vessels. In addition to the studio, Melissa is the assistant curator of exhibitions at the Morean Center for Art and Adam manages studio operations at the Morean Center for Clay. In the interview we talk about the history of the art scene in St. Petersburg, the rise of nerd culture, and their mutual love of comedy podcasts. For more information on their work please visit www.adamyungbluth.com or melissayungbluth.tumblr.com. More information on the Morean Center for Clay can be found at www.moreancenterforclay.org.

This episode of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast is sponsored by The Carter Art Center Gallery at the MCC- Penn Valley. The Carter Center will be hosting three ceramic exhibitions that coincide with the upcoming NCECA conference in Kansas City. On location will be the Strictly Figurative Invitational featuring 15 of the nations finest figure sculptors, a solo exhibition featuring artist Bede Clark, and the University of Missiouri- Columbia Ceramics Graduate Student Exhibit. For more information please visit www.mcckc.edu/pvart.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with indie-folk band The Painted Horses. Singers Denys Kozakis and Natosha Wengreen provide vocal harmonies for the band’s airy sound, while Jon Payne and Alex Bice supply upbeat rhythms that balance out the touch of melancholy that pervades their music. In the interview we talk about collaborative song writing, deciding when to give up a day job and building off the success of their first album. In addition to the interview this episode features Much too Long from their debut album Ponderosa Pines and a special in-studio recording of In the Garden. To find out more about The Painted Horses please visit www.thepaintedhorsesmusic.com.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Troy Bungart Studios. Offering a line of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pottery tools for the potter who wants to use art to make art. For more information please visit http://www.troybungartstudios.com.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an live studio recording with Santa Cruz indie-folk band The Painted Horses. Singers Denys Kozakis and Natosha Wengreen provide the vocal harmonies for the bands airy sound, while Jon Payne and Alex Bice supply upbeat rhythms that balance out the touch of melancholy that pervades their music. The Horses play tunes from their debut album Ponderosa Pines, which can be found on iTunes, Spotify and other music services. To find out more about The Painted Horses please visit www.thepaintedhorsesmusic.com.

Track Listing: White Mule, Daisy, Much too Long, In the Garden 

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Troy Bungart Studios. Offering a line of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pottery tools for the potter who wants to use art to make art. For more information please visit http://www.troybungartstudios.com.