The post WTF Mugs! appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

Mugs are gone, for now. But they’ll be back soon. Thanks for checking.

The post WTF mugs! appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

The post WTF Mugs appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

At 80, Paulus Berensohn possesses more energy and gravity than most of us in our prime. He has been an important part of the Penland community for 40 years and he has been, and is, a dancer, poet, artist, and sage. We talked on his porch in Penland back in August. I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to do so. There’s not a whole lot that I can say here that he hasn’t said better. Enjoy this one, folks. It’s a good one.

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The post Poetry is Currency | Paulus Berensohn | ep.#61 appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

Gail Kendall is an Emeritus Professor of Art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. From 1987 until 2011 Gail built (along with Pete Pinnell and Eddie Dominguez) one of the strongest ceramic programs in the country. Her tenacious faith in the power of education, sharing ideas, and the necessity of craft has inspired and influenced hundreds of students throughout the years. Gail is one of my favorite people and I am very happy to have this conversation for all of you. Enjoy!

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The post Lineage, Legacy, and Influence | Gail Kendall| ep.#60 appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

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The post Step One: Commit Grand Theft Auto, Step Two: Work for Dior | Jeffrey Hatfield | ep.#59 appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

Kate Bingaman-Burt is an industry onto herself. A graduate of the Univeristy of Nebraska-Lincoln, KBB now teaches graphic design at Portland State University, has published three books, and has clients that include Chipotle, Hallmark, IDEO, and the Girl Scouts of America. She’s been closely involved in Handmade Nation, teaches workshops, and organizes events (Design Week Portland). We talk about learning and teaching graphic design, what cool is, and how to work with seemingly soulless corporate goliaths (my words, not hers). Enjoy!

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The post More (design), More (drawing), More (consumption)!!! | Kate Bingaman-Burt | ep.#58 appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

In the final interview from my time down in the Bay Area back in June I bring to you a conversation with the eminent Richard Shaw. A pioneer of the West Coast/Funk movement, Richard recently retired from teaching at UC Berkeley. We talk about how he developed his trompe-l’oeil work, working as a young man with future ceramic greats, and his recent time spent in Korea.

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More Information about Richard

The post Writing the Rules (West Coast Funk) | Richard Shaw | ep.#57 appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

Christa Assad is one of the most visible American ceramic artists working today. She’s been working and living in Berkeley, CA for the past several years as a studio potter, and in between has lead countless workshops, been featured in a Carhartt apparel advertisement, and crowned the 2012 Ceramic Artist of the Year by Ceramics Monthly. In early 2014 she broke her back after jumping out of window to escape a house fire. We talk about getting derailed, starting back up, and how thinking changes after major life events.

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The post Jumping Out of a Burning Building and Living with the Fallout | Christa Assad | ep.#56 appeared first on Brian R. Jones.

Forrest Lesch-Middelton is a potter and tile maker who lives and works in Northern California. I knew Forrest way back as an undergraduate student at Alfred University. He was one of the big seniors. He’s continued on, making a clear mark as both a potter and businessman. We talk about his foray into tile, nerdy clay stuff like reduction cooling, and what a “real job” actually means.

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The post Flatness, Roundness, Business, Pots | Forrest Lesch-Middelton | ep.#55 appeared first on Brian R. Jones.