This week we are continuing a series featuring artists I chose for the 16th Annual Workhouse Clay International. I was honored to jury the show this year and wanted to highlight two emerging artists Jillian Mae Seversky and Josh Goering. In our interview we discuss their approach to sculpture and pottery, and how they refine ideas though a body of work. Stream this episode from your browser.

To coincide with the exhibition, I’ll be teaching a two-day hands-on workshop at the Workhouse Arts Center April 11th and 12th. There will also be a live taping of the podcast and reception April 11th that is free to the public. If you are in the greater DC area I’d love to see you there.

Have you checked out the Tales from the Vault podcast feed? Become a supporter on Patreon to gain access to dozens of episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. To make your donation go to patreon.com/redclayrambler.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

This week we start a series featuring artists chosen for the 16th Annual Workhouse Clay International. I was honored to jury the show this year and wanted to highlight a selection of the artists that submitted exceptional work to the exhibition. Today I talk with Chelsea McMaster and Stephen Earp. In our interview we discuss the technical and conceptual aspects of their studio practices and the role of the artist in cultural evolution. Stream this episode from your browser.

To coincide with the exhibition, I’ll be teaching a two-day hands-on workshop at the Workhouse Arts Center April 11th and 12th. There will also be a live taping of the podcast and reception April 11th that is free to the public.

Have you checked out the Tales from the Vault podcast feed? Become a supporter on Patreon to gain access to dozens of episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. To make your donation go to patreon.com/redclayrambler.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

Sam Briegel layers slip cast, printed, and painted fabric patterns on elegant porcelain forms. In our interview we talk about the vessel as a metaphor for the body, the challenges of working with halloysite clays, and how her decorative process has become more refined over time. Sam will be presenting new work as part of this year’s Princeton Pottery Festival happening May 2nd and 3rd 2026. www.samanthabriegel.com

Have you checked out the Tales from the Vault podcast feed? Become a supporter on Patreon to gain access to dozens of episodes that are no longer available on major podcast apps. To make your donation go to patreon.com/redclayrambler.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

This week on the podcast we return to our series More than a Maker, which focuses on the intersection of mental health and creativity. Today’s guest Mike Griffin is based in Naples, NY where he has dual careers as a golf pro and ceramic artist. In our interview we talk about his hand building process, the ways creativity counter balances ADHD, and dealing with self-doubt in the studio. Mike is also the host of Between Two Ewers, a video podcast where he interviews ceramic artists while they make work together. Stream this episode from your browser.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

After starting her career as a wholesale potter Erin Lambers moved back to her home town and bought a ceramic supply store. In our interview we talk about her philosophy of blending education and sales, the practical aspects of running a store with 6,000 products, and how to set up a business for the long haul. Lambers has run Cornell Studio Supply for the last fifteen years, and the store celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. Stream this episode from your browser. www.cornellstudiosupply.com

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

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. www.lisanaples.com Stream this episode from your browser.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

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. www.bethlo.com  juliagalloway.com They will be co-teaching a workshop next month at the Morean Workshop Space in St. Petersburg, FL. moreanworkshopspace.org Stream this episode from your browser.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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. twooneceramics.com Stream this episode in your browser.

I’m happy to be serving as juror for the 16th Annual Workhouse Clay International Exhibition. The exhibition highlights functional and sculptural ceramic artwork being created throughout the US and abroad. To be considered submit your entry by January 11th.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

Wayne Higby and Benjamin Evans co-curated the retrospective History: A Legacy in Motion, Alfred Ceramic Art 1900 – 2025, 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 stewardship of a vast ceramic collection. (Photos: Ben Evans and Carole Volpe) ceramicsmuseum.alfred.edu Stream this episode in your browser.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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 co-curating The Old Church Pottery Show, happening December 5th-7th, in Demarest, NJ. www.ayshapeltz.com Stream this episode from your browser.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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. www.joshcopus.com Stream this episode from your browser.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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. Stream this episode from your browser. www.davidmacdonaldpottery.com

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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. Stream this episode from your browser. www.davidmacdonaldpottery.com

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

 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 Bates Museum of Art, which opens October 24th. Stream this episode in your browser. www.susandewsnap.com.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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. www.forfluxsakepodcast.com Stream this episode in your browser.

In industry Rose worked on tile that was used in many applications, including for the facade of Mercy Hospital in Cincinatti, OH . The salt and pepper shakers and mugs are from Rose’s time as a studio potter.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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 (pictured below), understanding her capacity as a maker, and using repetition to refine the color relationships in her patterns. www.rutheasterbrook.com Thank you to The Clay Studio for letting Ruth and I record this interview at the studio in August of this year. Stream this episode in your browser.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

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. www.juliewigginspottery.com Stream this episode from your browser.

Left: Working with the National Guard to air lift generators to remote locations. Right: Aid distribution center set up at her home in Penland, NC.

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Monkey Stuff www.monkeystuff.com

The Rosenfield Collection of Functional Ceramic Art www.Rosenfieldcollection.com

Cornell Studio Supply www.cornellstudiosupply.com

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

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. www.gillandoty.com Stream this episode in your browser.

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

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

Nancy Servis is a curator, historian, and writer who has spent decades shining light on California and the clay artists that work there. In our interview we talk about the value of regional galleries in educating the public, artists she thinks need more attention in California history, and her experience curating this year’s 80th Scripps College Ceramic National. www.servisarts.com. Stream this episode in your browser.

I have a few spots left in my surface design workshop at Snow Farm August 14 - 17. If you are interested in building layers through mark making and pattern, join me for a weekend of experimentation and learning. To register visit www.snowfarm.org.

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

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org

Kyle Triplett pairs hundreds of ceramic elements with digital projections and light works that highlight the human relationship with land and place. In our interview we talk about making site specific work, his interest in blending physical and visual space, and the Morean Ceramic Research Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Triplett is the Morean Distinguished Professor in Ceramics at Western Michigan University and the director of the center. www.kyletriplett.com Stream this episode from your browser.

I have a few spots left in my surface design workshop at Snow Farm August 14 - 17. If you are interested in building layers through mark making and pattern, join me for a weekend of experimentation and learning. To register visit www.snowfarm.org.

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

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program www.snowfarm.org