The Potters Cast | Pottery | Ceramics | Art | Craft

For years Annelies Callewier has invested in the small family in knowledge, experience, workshop and equipment. From Annelies' perspective, life is too short to master the whole trade. Each potter learns all the necessary things of the trade to be able to earn his or her bread and specializes in a specific work. Annelies' passion in recent years is the serial production of utility pottery.

Ryan Durbin and Becca Otis host a podcast called Wheel Talk. With 20 years of experience together and 5 years of friendship under their belts, they have candid, real and honest conversations about what it's actually is like to running a small business, whether it be a full time gig (Becca) or a sweet side hustle (Ryan).

Sara Ballek is a ceramic artist living in Asheville, North Carolina. Sara is currently a Resident Artist and instructor at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville. Sara works with a number of methods and processes to create functional pottery with a focus on color, pattern, and texture.

I see my artwork as a journey in which the process - the very visceral act of creating is as significant as the final outcome. It is labyrinthine in its development and I am often surprised by the intuitive level of its revelation. I am entranced by the visual traces of this journey and the slow development of a patina of color and texture, the subtle variation of simple forms, and the impact of timing, and of time.

In this episode I gave you, the listeners an opportunity to grab  the mic and share your mind. This is in celebration of reaching 600 episodes! I can't believe that we have hit such a crazy number. I owe all the thanks to you and to our amazing guests that we have had over the years. So from the bottom of my heart I want to say, Thank you. 

Jessica’s early years were spent in Upstate New York. The daughter of an engineer and a photographer, Jessica grew up in her father’s workshop and her mother’s darkroom. Jessica earned a BA in Studio Art at UT Austin and has worked in graphic design and ceramics for over 20 years.

Kimmy Rohrs and Aaron McSorley are the potters behind whiskey and clay - ceramics for everyday use from the high deserts in Santa Fe New Mexico and Terlingua Texas. Kimmy throws all the pots at her studio in a converted gas station near downtown Santa Fe, drives them up the mountain to their adobe home where the couple and their kiln live, Aaron then fires each piece to cone 10 temperatures in a heavy reduction firing environment.

Ceramics found Embla Sigurgeirsdottir in 2011, an adventure had begun and a new passion for life. Embla works mainly with surface texture by carving into and through her porcelain designs, creating strong patterns and dramatic effects of light and shadows. Embla's designs often come from the ability of the material itself.  Working with porcelain and drawn to its white and translucent nature, Embla plays with the boundaries it gives her, always trying to push it a little further each time.

Denise McDonald originally trained as a Landscape Architect, obtaining a Degree in Landscape Architecture in 1991. Denise quickly realized that wasn’t for her and switched to a career path in ceramics by doing a TAFE Diploma of Ceramics in 1996-97. Denise worked in production potteries over the next few years to learn the skills and traditions of her trade from the roots up, most notably, she did the Dartington Pottery Traineeship in England in 1998-1999. Denise began her business DM Pottery in 2010.

Working out of her home studio in Virginia, Marianne Tolosa creates almost exclusively mugs inspired by the garden. There is an inherent intimacy to objects that have been made by hand, and Marianne's work is created with the hope of bringing quiet beauty, meditation, and joy into a person’s coffee or tea ritual.

Born in Pennsylvania but raised in Nebraska, Danielle Whigham received her B.A. in studio art from Northwestern College in 2007. While in college, Danielle was able to take advanced classes in ceramics, painting, and printmaking. Over the past two years, Danielle has been starting up a small ceramic studio in her home while also making the transition from full-time mom to studio potter. Danielle has been able to sell her work at several markets across the state and start an online store.

Lindsay Klix is the ceramic artist who runs Off Your Rocker Pottery. Lindsay has been working in clay for 21 years and specializes in dinnerware, including full dish sets. Lindsay's work has been featured in the American Farmhouse Style Magazine, in the number one selling cookbook No Crumbs Left, and more.

For the last nine years, Elena Vasilantonaki has been making with clay, inspired by her need to express herself, to achieve communication, and to present her view of the human nature to others. Elena taught at a local school for a few years until she stopped to become a full time mother. In 2018 Elena completes a one year seminar on ceramics technology at Iridanos pottery school  by acclaimed potter Menandros Papadopoulos. She has been working out of her studio ever since.

Chiara Della Santina was born and raised in Tuscany but spent many years living abroad. Chiara moved back to Orbetello (her hometown) 5 years ago. For many years Chiara worked as a language teacher. About 2 years ago Chiara decided to shake up her life and become a full-time potter. So far it’s been the best decision Chiara ever made in her entire life!

Stephanie H. Shih explores concepts of home—not just as a physical place, but also as cultural, generational, and emotional spaces we inhabit—through the lens of Asian-American identity. Eighteen pieces from her current body of work will be exhibited at the American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona, CA) in 2020. Stephanie lives in Brooklyn.