Ceramics Monthly Articles (Simple)

  • From the Editor: On Purpose
    The artists featured in this issue use their resources, platforms, work, research, and studio practices to address or bring attention to contemporary problems or serve their communities.
  • Techno File: China Paint Tests
    Discover how you can use everyday items like milk, gum arabic, glycerin, and 7UP as alternatives to traditional china-paint mediums.
  • Spotlight: Building Connections
    Ellen Kleckner discusses the generosity of artistic collaboration, personal evolution, and the magic of embracing the unexpected.
  • Call for Entries: March 2024
    Deadlines for exhibitions, fairs, and festivals.
  • 🎧 Vicús and Tallán Roots: Polo Ramírez
    Peruvian ceramic artist Polo Ramírez, rooted in the heritage of his Vicús and Tallán ancestors, shapes his distinctive pottery through a deep connection to the earth and traditional methods passed down through generations.
  • 🎧 Ryuji Iwasaki: Make Yourself at Home
    Ryuji Iwasaki’s distinctive pottery is influenced by his home near Osaka, Japan, designed by architect Norio Yoshinaga, where natural elements create a harmonious connection between his living space and artistic practice.
  • 🎧 Our Creative Community
    Founded by Sarah Wells Rolland, The Village Potters Clay Center in Asheville’s River Arts District is a thriving creative collective with dedicated potters who prioritize community and a “people before pots” mentality.
  • 🎧 “Clay Holds Water, Water Holds Memory”
    This NCECA 2023 concurrent exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati celebrated the wisdom and work of Black women and non-binary individuals in the field of ceramics and was curated by Adero Willard.
  • Tips and Tools: Reseating Elements
    Delve into a safe and practical step-by-step guide for fixing sagging kiln elements using basic tools commonly found in clay studios.
  • Recipes: Low-Fire Surfaces
    Tom and Maggie Jaszczak share some of their favorite home studio slips and glazes, along with a few glazing tips, for finishing functional forms.
  • Studio Visit: Tom and Maggie Jaszczak, Shafer, Minnesota
    Tom and Maggie Jaszczak juggle full-time studio work, teaching workshops, and participating in pottery events while prioritizing a connection to family, nature, and seasonal rhythms for their overall well-being.
  • Clay Culture: Impostors
    Bryan Wilkerson reveals the impetus and mission of The Impostors Cup Show, where selected artists discreetly mimic their peers, exploring appropriation and sparking dialog about the nature of artistic influence.
  • Clay Culture: Construction and Clay
    This collaborative project provides a channel for artists to claim excavated clay, a byproduct of construction and industry, and put it to use in their work.
  • Exposure: March 2024
    Images from current and upcoming exhibitions
  • Quick Tip: Even Underglaze
    Underglaze can be used to create many different finishes, depending on the application method. To achieve a smooth, opaque result on bisqueware you must first analyze the materials.
  • From the Editor: Combined Efforts
    This issue focuses on collaborations and collectives. The artists and groups highlighted below have found success in combining efforts to realize common goals.
  • 🎧 Michelle Ettrick: A Living Line
    Through her distinctive and imperfect line, Michelle Ettrick conveys themes such as childhood memories, social equality related to hair, and empowerment, offering insight into her autobiographical story.
  • Spotlight: World-Fire Project
    In the innovative World-Fire Project, sparked by Scott Meyer, numerous wood-fire kilns fired simultaneously, using Zoom to exchange insights, techniques, and the shared human experience of ceramics.