This audio was summarized by Gerry Williams and published under Grace Hampton's name in Volume 10, Number 2, June 1982. The title of her entry was “Black Crafts,” a section of the series “Mississippi Trace,” which highlights several ceramists living and working in Mississippi.
31 Dec 2025
Archival Audio – Douglass Rankin and Will Ruggles of Rock Creek Pottery in Bakersville, NC
In this episode of Studio Potter – The Podcast, listeners travel to Bakersville, North Carolina, to visit Rock Creek Pottery and hear the voices of Douglass Rankin and Will Ruggles. Rooted in the rich clay traditions of western North Carolina, Rock Creek Pottery is both a living archive of regional knowledge, experimentation, and mentorship.
Rankin and Ruggles reflect on their individual paths into clay and how they evolved as a partnership with a shared practice shaped by place, labor, and a long-term commitment to craft. The conversation explores wood firing, material sourcing, and the rhythms of making that come from working in a close relationship with the land. We share this episode in remembrance of Douglass Rankin, who passed away after the recording in 2022. Her generosity, depth of knowledge, and dedication to the field continue to resonate through her work, her teaching, and the many lives she touched.
30 Nov 2025
An Interview with Richard Notkin
For this episode and contemporary audio, I sat down, remotely, with Richard Notkin on November 13, 2025, for an extended conversation about his life in clay and the principles that have fueled his practice.
Notkin, who has spent nearly sixty years making work that confronts war, challenges the failures of human leadership, and probes humanity’s fragile relationship with the environment, speaks with the clarity of someone who has never separated his artistry from his ethics. With characteristic frankness, he traces the events that shaped his worldview – from Cold War tensions, to the Vietnam era, to today’s global instability. What follows is a masterclass about art as conscience and craftsmanship as conviction. This interview captures an artist looking backward, forward, and unflinchingly at the present.
1 Nov 2025
Studio Potter Archival Audio – The Archie bray Foundation 50th Anniversary
In this special episode recorded during the Archie Bray Foundation’s 50th anniversary, panelists and trailblazers of American ceramics, including Ken Ferguson, Rudy Autio, and Peter Voulkos, reflect on the foundation’s origins and evolution. The conversation explores the challenges of its early years, the vision and influence of Archie Bray and colleagues, and pivotal moments such as visits from international legends like Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada. Moving between personal stories and historical insights, the panel illustrates how a dream and a community’s dedication transformed the Foundation into a renowned center for ceramic arts, shaping generations of artists and preserving a vibrant creative legacy.
Cover Art: Robert Harrison, Potters Shrine, at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana. Photo Credit: Robert Harrison.
1 Feb 2025
Archival Audio - Stanley Wilson, LA County California.
As one of the five Black Los Angeles artists featured in Studio Potter (Vol. 9, No. 2, 1981), Stanley Wilson's insights and experiences continue to resonate, inspiring new generations of makers and scholars. His dedication to ceramics, mentorship, and advocacy has built a lasting legacy – one that bridges the past, present, and future.
1 Nov 2024
Studio Potter Archival Audio – Neolia Cole, North Carolina Potters
These are the voices of Gerry Williams, the founding editor of Studio Potter, interviewing North Carolina potter Neolia Cole. One of the most enduring and prolific of North Carolina’s potting dynasties is the Cole family, whose members have been potting in central North Carolina—Randolph, Moore, Lee, and Montgomery Counties—for more than two hundred years.
This audio was summarized into a short article featuring Neol in Studio Potters North Caroline Potters issue from December 1997. This issue focused on the vibrant pottery traditions of the region, and Studio Potter has remastered these voices from the past. Over the next few months, we’ll dive into our archives to share audio stories from potters in states impacted by Hurricane Helene.
8 Oct 2024
Studio Potter Archival Audio - Melvin Lee Owens, North Carolina Potters
This audio was summarized into a short article featuring Melvin Lee Ownes and his studio in Studio Potters North Caroline Potters issue from December 1997. This issue focused on the vibrant pottery traditions of the region, and Studio Potter has remastered these voices from the past. Over the next few months, we’ll be diving into our archives to share audio stories from potters in states impacted by Hurricane Helene, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
As a potter who has personally felt the devastating effects of natural disasters, I can attest to the value of nonprofit organizations like The Craft Emergency Relief Fund in supporting artists during times of crisis. Now more than ever, this nonprofit will need us to champion their cause through mutual aid and financial support.
Before we dive into today’s episode, we’d like to offer a gentle listener warning. This archival audio was originally recorded on a cassette tape so that you may notice sound artifacts from the time, place, and region. Additionally, at certain unpredictable moments, you’ll hear the sound of gunshots from hunters' targets practicing in preparation for deer season. Please be aware of these elements as you listen, and we hope you enjoy this piece of Studio Potter history.
1 Sept 2024
Studio Potter Contemporary Audio – Delvin Goody
Unexpectedly Full of Art (https://studiopotter.org/unexpectedly-full-art)
By Delvin Goody
As I look ahead to life after the military, I find myself reflecting more on a career that was unexpectedly full of art. By honoring those with whom I served and their families, I was able to grow as an artist and, for the most part, keep up with art industry trends. I realized that even though I enjoyed my time as a soldier, whether good or bad, I was happiest whenever the things I was doing involved art.
1 Aug 2024
Studio Potter Contemporary Audio – Samirah Steinmeyer
The Last Mayo Potter Juany Gámez (https://studiopotter.org/last-mayo-potter-juany-g%C3%A1mez)
By SAMIRAH STEINMEYER (https://studiopotter.org/samirah-steinmeyer)
Juany is the last practicing Yoreme potter in her Mayo community, and she is committed to reviving the craft so that the tradition can persist for the benefit of future generations.
30 Jun 2024
Studio Potter Contemporary Audio – Sana Musasama (Part Two)
The Annual Ceramic Arts Lecture is a co-presentation of Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Everson Museum of Art, and the Chronicles of American Ceramics Foundation. The lecture series has been transcribed and prepared for publication by Studio Potter.
31 May 2024
Sana Musasama (part one) – SP Podcast
The Annual Ceramic Arts Lecture is a co-presentation of Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Everson Museum of Art, and the Chronicles of American Ceramics Foundation. The lecture series has been transcribed and prepared for publication by Studio Potter.
31 May 2024
Studio Potter Contemporary Audio – Sana Musasama (Part One)
The Annual Ceramic Arts Lecture is a co-presentation of Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Everson Museum of Art, and the Chronicles of American Ceramics Foundation. The lecture series has been transcribed and prepared for publication by Studio Potter.
1 May 2024
Studio Potter Contemporary Audio - Hamish Jackson
Wild Glazes from Your Backyard, by Hamish Jackson. (https://studiopotter.org/wild-glazes-your-backyard)"Local materials offer endless possibilities and variety. A couple of years ago, I set out on a quest to make a palate of four stoneware glazes from one locally sourced rock. I did not want four shades of beige, but a palate of distinctly different glazes. The parameter I set was to use at least 50% of one single source rock in each of these glazes."
19 Apr 2024
Studio Potter Archival Audio – Toshiko Takaezu, artistic practice, part 2
In the archival version of our podcast, we bring back the voices of potters from our early Print publication.
In today’s episode, Gerry Williams interviews Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011). His feature of Toshiko was published in our Vol. 21 No. 2, June 1993 issue. The interview lasted over 1 and a half hours and we have split this conversation into two parts; this first part covers Toshiko’s upbringing and early career, part two features Toshiko’s contemporary work, creative practice, and philosophy.
30 Mar 2024
Studio Potter Archival Audio – Toshiko Takaezu, early career, part 1,
In the archival version of our podcast, we bring back the voices of potters from our early Print publication.
In today’s episode, Gerry Williams interviews Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011). His feature of Toshiko was published in our Vol. 21 No. 2, June 1993 issue. The interview lasted over 1 and a half hours and we have split this conversation into two parts; this first part covers Toshiko’s upbringing and early career, part two features Toshiko’s contemporary work, creative practice, and philosophy.
19 Mar 2024
Studio Potter Contemporary Audio - Richard Zane Smith
Rootedness – The Power of Peace (https://studiopotter.org/rootedness-%E2%80%93-power-peace)
By Richard Zane Smith
"Pottery wasn't made when there were threats of war and bloodshed. When examining ancient sherds and tool marks, one can sense the kind of peace and calm that it took to make long, unwavering parallel lines, to notch the rims with careful repeating indentations, and to spend time making what was to become more than a simple container. It was a life-providing vessel used to feed the next generations."
1 Mar 2024
Studio Potter Archival Audio – Frances Senska
The following is a live interview of Frances Senska, which was summarized in "Eleven Montana Potters," published in the June 1979, Copper Reds / Leach - Vol. 8 No. 1. The interview was conducted and transcribed by Gerry Williams.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 15 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
5
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
Contact Studio Potter – The Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Studio Potter – The Podcast?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
