The Potters Cast

htt Sarah Kaye has always been drawn to the tactile world of 3D creation. Fond memories of her mum's homemade play-dough and her insistence on clay projects in art class foreshadowed her future path. Sarah studied Product Design at Parsons School of Design and dug deeply into her minor in Ceramic for Industrial Production under the guidance of Marek Cecula. However, recognizing the practicalities of life after graduation, Sarah ventured into advertising as a Strategic Planner, where she discovered unexpected parallels of the design process and understanding consumer behavior - thinking about product use and the consumer's experince of them. In Seattle, Sarah was accepted to the two year Pottery Northwest residency program, the last group of residents to be guided by the delight that is Wally Bivens. Starbucks recruited Sarah for a project while still in the program there, as did a local espresso machine manufacturer. Twelves years later, SKaye Ceramics is based in Seattle's Georgetown and Sarah has close ties to the coffee community who have been the patron saints of her small business. http://ThePottersCast.com/1023

Heather Knight opened Element Clay Studio in Asheville, NC in 2007, after running a retail studio in Asheville's popular River Arts District, Heather moved her growing family to Savannah, Georgia.Though the business has grown greatly over the years, the backbone of the studio has remained the same. Heather is committed to remaining a craft based business, and all of the porcelain dishes, tiles, vases, and decorative objects are 100% handmade and don't use any means of mass production. Adhering to these values allows Element Clay Studio to continue to produce only the finest, heirloom quality work. Heather's work has been featured in many art & design publications, including Interior Design, Elle Decoration, Rue Magazine and American Craft. She works with designers across the globe to place custom art installations, and provides custom tableware for celebrity chefs like Eric Ripert, Jose Andres and Gordon Ramsey. http://ThePottersCast.com/1021

This is Trevor Youngberg's second episode on The Potters Cast. Trevor is a high school ceramics teacher and practicing wood-fire potter. Guided by a mindset that is focused on growth, discovery and creativity; Trevor finds that practicing wood-firing enriches every facet of his life. http://ThePottersCast.com/1021

Rachel Vitko discovered ceramics early on in Highschool where she was introduced to wheel throwing and surface decoration, combining her two loves of illustration and clay. For college Rachel went to MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design) to further her illustration and explore graphic design. Rachel now pulls from those skills when creating her whimsical but functional pieces. Rachel currently resides in her home studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://ThePottersCast.com/1020

As an avid gardener, flora and fauna serve as the main source of inspiration for Ellen Duvall's explorations in surface design. Beneath a layer of vibrant color, Ellen illustrated functional ware also weaves in personal narrative, finding parallels between the natural world and the human experience. Following a long career as an art educator in public schools, Ellen now works as a full-time ceramic artist in her home studio located outside Austin, Texas. http://ThePottersCast.com/1019

Toprak Sencer is a ceramist living in the Aegean region of Turkey, specializing in primitive ceramic methods. Toprak is recognized as a pottery artist by the Turkish Ministry of Culture. Toprak aims to popularize the primitive methods of pottery. http://ThePottersCast.com/1018

Jessie Shaw is a New York based potter specializing in functional kitchen items. Jessie's forms tend to be simple with glaze adding the interest to the piece. Jessie learned pottery when She was in middle school. Jessie took a break when she went into college and now is back at it, full force. http://ThePottersCast.com/1017

Matthew Raw's work uses clay to explore community, language, and social history. With a particular focus on ceramic tiles, Matthew often involve social making, and attempts to strike a balance between the historical and future. Matthew has shown and installed work across the United Kingdom, in the United States, and throughout Europe. Matthew's practice exists between galleries, museums, the public realm, interior design, residencies, and education establishments. http://ThePottersCast.com/1016

Russell Kingston's work is deeply rooted in the North Devon Slipware and country pottery traditions and I hope to make Contemporary Slipware that has a good anchor in tradition, Marrying old techniques with newer ones, the goal of Russel is to be moving forwards while always looking backwards. http://ThePottersCast.com/1015

Jenna Collins is a potter making a difference. Having lived a life that included a long struggle with drugs, Jenna eventually turned her life around. Jenna eventually used her story and clay as a way of helping others get their lives out of the same struggle. http://ThePottersCast.com/1014

Peter Eastwood is an artist who studied Ceramics at NSCAD University from 1992 - 1997. Peter found his passion for ceramics under the tutelage of Walter Ostrom and Neil Forrest. After graduating, Peter worked in Continuing Education at NSCAD while starting his own Web and Graphic Design company, Eastwood Design. In 2007, Peter left his job at NSCAD and starting working for himself exclusively. By the summer 2016, Peter starting longing for a more creative outlet in his life and made the decision to invest in his creative passion - ceramics. Ceramics is a life-giving and joy-filling pursuit that gives life. http://ThePottersCast.com/1013

Jack Orgill, originally from Salt Lace City, Utah, is currently living in Logan, Utah. Logan received his associates degree from Tacoma Community College. Jack is currently in his final semester of his BFA degree with an emphasis in ceramics. His passion is collecting clay from the wild and using it for his ceramics. http://ThePottersCast,com/1012

Ruth Easterbrook, studio artist and instructor, creates pottery with complex glazed surfaces. After her BFA at Syracuse University (2007), Ruth gained experience as a production potter, studio assistant, intern, and resident artist. In 2019, Ruth earned an MFA from Alfred University. Currently, Ruth is an Artist in Residence at The Clay Studio Philadelphia. Ruth has received accolades, including NCECA Emerging Artist 2020 and Ceramics. Ruth's work graces private and museum collections across the USA and internationally. http://ThePottersCast.com/1011

Bill Schwenzer, a BS Mechanical Engineering graduate, transforms clay into art as a full-time potter. Bill's pieces, a fusion of technical expertise and creative intuition, tell stories of balance and beauty. With work in galleries and private collections, Bill's ceramics showcase a unique blend of engineering precision and artistic expression. http://ThePottersCast.com/1010

Dustin Johnston was born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada where he graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a visual arts diploma and eventually moved into Emily Carr Institute where he completed his BFA and graduated with a major in Ceramics and Painting in 2007. From there Dustin's journey took him through many jobs and summers working as a tree planter. Eventually Dustin's started his own construction company with a focus on tile installation and up until last year had been operating his own company for nearly 15 years. While working full time running the construction business Dustin still managed to paint and draw and make art whenever he had time. Most recently Dustin has swung back toward his passion for making art and opened an art studio and boutique shop in Peterborough Ontario with his wife where Dustin makes functional wares and ceramic art full time. Dustin is excited to continue on this journey of artistic exploration and see where it takes him. http://ThePottersCast.com/1009

Stephanie Takagi is a Japanese Canadian Potter in Lake Country, BC with her husband of 15 years and their two daughters. Stephanie's pottery is inspired by her Japanese heritage and the beautiful BC Landscape. Stephanie sculptural pieces are frequently inspired by the current political environment and global issues. http://ThePottersCast.com/1008

Darren Emenau is a Canadian artist whose work is rooted in contemporary art. Over his twenty five year career, Darren has explored surface treatments, forms, abstraction and installation. Darren’s work has been recognized through awards, grants and exhibitions both nationally and internationally. http://ThePottersCast.com/1007

Jessica Panicola holds a BFA in Studio Art, an MAT in Art Education, and an MFA in Design for Social Innovation. Jessica previously worked as an international Art Educator for grades K-12 in South Korea, Morocco, and Bolivia and she completed an artist residency in Turkey. What excites Jessica most about clay is where it intersects with Design and Innovation, and the new, exciting possibilities that emerge in this space. http://ThePottersCast.com/1006

Ryan MacLean is a hobby potter based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Ryan focuses primarily on functional ceramics, utilizing both wheel-thrown and hand building techniques, all the while experimenting with different shapes and glazes to help him learn. Ryan started pottery in a community studio in early 2022, and now has his own kiln and wheel at home which allows him to continue to explore the possibilities of this artform. http://ThePottersCast.com/1005

Becky "Zee" Ziemer uses clay and found objects to make whimsical creatures, or “critters”, of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Becky's goal is to celebrate the deep love that she has for pop culture, storytelling, and humor. http://ThePottersCast.com/1004