The Arrowmont Podcast: Recent Episodes
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
The Arrowmont Podcast spotlights artists and craftspeople in Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts’ creative community. Connect with artists from home or on your drive to work. Delve into conversations with potters, quilters, printmakers, jewelers, installation artists, woodturners, and more in this new, bi-weekly podcast series. Arrowmont program director Nick DeFord talks with a new guest each episode. Conversations range across creative techniques and media, diving into each artist's professional practice and the role that craft schools like Arrowmont play in fostering community and artistic growth. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a nationally recognized center for contemporary arts and crafts education in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee; supporting learning opportunities for individuals of all skill levels and ages in an immersive, supportive environment. More than 150 national workshops are offered annually, in addition to a full complement of community classes, children’s classes and ArtReach classes, which provide a day of art to over 1,200 local school children annually. In addition, Arrowmont is host to numerous gallery exhibitions, symposia and conferences. Visit www.arrowmont.org for more information.
It’s the final episode of both our series introducing our 2021-2022 Arrowmont Artists-in-Residence but also our very first season of the Arrowmont Podcast. In this episode, we spend time with sculptor Kyle Cottier. Kyle holds a BFA from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, 2015 and attended the New York Studio Residency Program in Brooklyn, 2014. His interdisciplinary practice blends traditional textile and woodworking techniques spanning sculpture, installation, photography, painting, illustration, writing and performance. Kyle creates work informed by the convergence of the natural and made world, exploring the synthesis of personal and social transformations. Before coming to Arrowmont, Kyle worked in New York’s Hudson Valley, and you can see more of his work here https://www.kylecottier.com/.
I’ll also note that the book I discuss with Kyle is The Third Policeman by Irish author Flann O’Brien, and is a mind-swirling book that I recommend for any artist.
In the continuing series of conversations with Arrowmont’s current Artists-in-Residence, this week we talk to Elizabeth Belz. Elizabeth is a blacksmith, educator and metal artist who utilizes steel to capture people’s attention. Elizabeth has worked in metal since 2016 and took a non-traditional educational path that was an accumulation of short workshops, a craft internship, a two-year blacksmithing apprenticeship at the Metal Museum in Memphis, - https://www.metalmuseum.org/ - artist residencies and a Creative Catalyst Fellowship at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC - https://www.folkschool.org/. You can see more of Elizabeth’s work here - https://www.elizabethbelz.com/work - and more about the Arrowmont AIR’s here: https://www.arrowmont.org/announcing-2021-2022-air/. We also, of course, talk about Penland School of Craft, North House Folk School, Pine Needles Residency, and Austin Forging Competition (links down below). Join us next time for our last podcast of Season One, in conversation with our final Artist-in-Residence, Kyle Cottier.
https://penland.org/
https://northhouse.org/
https://www.smm.org/scwrs/programs/artist
https://www.smm.org/scwrs/programs/artist
This week, in our series of meeting our 2021-2022 Artists-in-Residence, we have a conversation with Lena Schmid. Lena Schmid‘s paintings explore how time functions as a physical force, especially how its’ poetics and physics relate to the confounding experience of chronic pain. She holds an MFA from Hunter College and a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and she has been an artist in residence at The Wassaic Project - https://www.wassaicproject.org/ - and The TIDES Institute in Maine - https://www.tidesinstitute.org/. We talk a lot about genres and labels in art, but also equally about time and space.
You can see more of Lena’s work here - https://schmidlena.com/home.html
Learn more about the Arrowmont AIR’s here: https://www.arrowmont.org/announcing-2021-2022-air/.
Also, the book series Lena mentions is “The Three-Body Problem” by Liu Cixin.
We continue our conversations with our brand new Artists-in-Residence here at Arrowmont, by talking to Naomi David Russo on this episode of the Arrowmont Podcast. Naomi and Program Director Nick DeFord talk about the creative process as a woodworker and sculptor, from sketching to finished design, and how sometimes having a day job can be extremely beneficial for artists.
You can see more of Naomi’s work on her website here - https://www.naomidavidrusso.com/
See more about the Arrowmont AIR’s here: https://www.arrowmont.org/announcing-2021-2022-air/
This is the first of a series of podcasts where we introduce you to, and have a conversation with, our 2021-2022 Arrowmont Artists-in-Residence. First up is Horacio Casillas, ceramics artist, who discusses the importance of faith and community in his work as well as his experiences in ceramics education and residencies.
See more of Horacio’s work at his website here - https://www.horaciocasillas.com/
Learn more about the Arrowmont Artist-in-Residence here: https://www.arrowmont.org/announcing-2021-2022-air/.
Jason Bige Burnett is a well-known ceramics artist in the clay world, but today, Jason and I talk about his recent creative exploration of textiles and textile design. Jason discusses his media transition from ceramics to fibers, and how it has always been a part of his aesthetic and workflow. After being a resident at the Archie Bray Foundation, Jason has recently moved to North Carolina to work at Penland School of Craft. Stay up to date on Jason’s ceramics and fiber work by following his Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jasonbburnett/. Also, below are several of the artists mentioned in the podcast:
Tom Spleth - http://www.spleth.com/
Tom Bartel - https://tombartel.net/
Maggie Jaszczak (née, Finlayson) - http://www.maggiejaszczak.com/
Jeweler, enamelist, metalsmith, and Arrowmont instructor Mi-Sook Hur is our guest of episode ten of the Arrowmont Podcast. Mi-Sook and I talk about her upcoming Fall 2021 workshop at Arrowmont, but also about how we, as artists, find inspiration from our own family and childhood. You can learn more about Mi-Sook’s work at her website- https://www.misookhur.com/ - but also read about her Arrowmont workshop here at https://www.arrowmont.org/workshops/matching-enamel-jewelry-with-your-outfit-mi-sook-hur/.
I talk with woodturner and 2021 Arrowmont Instructor Matt Monaco on this podcast. Matt discusses his transition from jazz drummer to woodturning, and how he became a professional woodturner over time. Matt is on a very short list of younger woodturners, who early on in his stages of development, apprenticed with and assisted masters of the craft - turners like Richard Raffin - https://www.richardraffan.com/ - and Mike Mahoney - https://bowlmakerinc.com/ . Matt spent the actual time necessary to legitimately train in woodturning doing both trade work in furniture and artistic fields of production, and has translated this skill into being a fulltime working professional in the craft. Noted in the podcast, I also wanted to link the ceramic work of Shikha Joshi - https://potterybyshikha.com/. And, of course, check out Matt’s website at https://www.monacobowls.com/.
Sabiha Mujtaba joins me on the podcast today - Sabiha is a sculptor, woodcarver, and furniture designer based in Georgia. We talk mostly about an artist’s relationship with their technique and media, but also how artists learn their craft through art education centers and workshops. We also discuss the unique relationship between the artist and client when an artist works in commissions. Sabiha will be teaching at Arrowmont this June, but also teaches at Highland Woodworking in Atlanta - https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/. See more of Sabiha’s work at her website http://www.chrysaliswoodworks.com/
For our second episode that features a conversation with two artists, I invited Ashton Ludden and Brandon Donahue to join me. Brandon and Ashton have many things in common: they both graduated from the University of Tennessee, both have served as 2-D coordinators for Arrowmont’s Pentaculum event, and both have completed murals on Arrowmont’s campus. We spend much of our conversation talking about the practice of mural painting, but also talk about how much Arrowmont brings people together. Below are some links to topics mentioned in the cast: - The Brainerd Youth and Family Development Mural Project: https://publicartchattanooga.com/brainerd-yfd-mural/ - Luaren Hom, lettering artist: https://www.homsweethom.com/ - Ashton’s Website: http://ashtonludden.com/ - Brandon’s Website: https://brandonjaquezdonahue.com/home.html
In our first episode with not just one, but two guests, I talk with ceramist Jen Allen and metals artist and jeweler Maia Leppo. Jen and Maia have collaborated as artists and educators, having co-taught a ceramics jewelry workshop at Arrowmont. We talk about that collaboration, but also how important life and creative transitions can be. Visit both Jen and Maia’s websites at https://www.jenniferallenceramics.com/ and http://www.maialeppo.com/ respectively.
We welcome textile designer and printmaker Jen Hewett to the podcast on this episode.
Based in California, Jen is not only an incredible surface designer, but also an educator and writer. She will be teaching at Arrowmont in 2022, and her first book Print, Pattern Sew: Block-Printing Basics + Simple Sewing Projects is available from your favorite bookseller, while her next book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection, is scheduled for publication this year.
See more of Jen’s work, and other podcasts that she has been on, on her website: https://jenhewett.com/.
One small errata: in the introduction, I give a spoiler warning for the documentary “My Octopus Friend”, but it’s actually titled My Octopus Teacher, and Jen and I do spoil the ending, so be forewarned.
Samantha Fields joins us on the podcast to talk about her particular painting practice using airbrushing, but also teaching during a pandemic, and making artwork during crisis. The conversation took place on June 4, 2020, in which the country was grappling with the continued COVID-19 pandemic, but also the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the Black Lives Matter protests in response to that tragedy and systemic racism. You can see more of Sam’s work on her website at http://www.samanthafields.net/, and learn more about the gallery spaces we talk about at The California Museum of Photography (https://artsblock.ucr.edu/) and LSH Colab (https://www.lshcolab.com/). And finally, check out Sam’s Self-Isolation Pandemic Artist Residency Program at https://www.siparp.com/.
Episode 03 - Max Seinfeld In this episode, we’re joined by Max Seinfeld, Director of the Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts in Maplecrest, New York. The conversation with Max took place on June 4, 2020.
We talk about Arrowmont’s Pentaculum program, of which Max is a coordinator, as well as Max’s creative work in both ceramics and drawing and painting. We also talk about our lives as arts administrators and new homeowners. You can read more about Sugar Maples here: https://www.catskillmtn.org/our-programs/arts-education/sugar-maples/index.html. And definitely check out Max’s exquisite work on his website - https://www.maxseinfeld.com/ - and his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/maxseinfeld/.
Episode 02 - Paul Andrew Wandless
Our conversation on this episode with ceramist and Arrowmont instructor, Paul Andrew Wandless. It’s a double length episode, which allows us to discuss at length Paul’s creative practice in narrative ceramics. Paul also gives us a look at his own history as a ceramic artist, and the various avenues and choices that present themselves to young artists, including becoming an arts writer. You can learn more about Paul’s work and writing at his website here: https://www.studio3artcompany.com/. This interview originally took place on June 4, 2020.
Episode 01 - Julia Gartrell
Welcome to the very first Arrowmont Podcast! This inaugural episode is a conversation that I have with artist and art educator Julia Gartrell on May 18, 2020. We spoke during the middle of the first countrywide lockdown and quarantine, so Julia and I discussed a lot about making during a pandemic, but also about her project Radical Repair Workshop. The Radical Repair Workshop takes a close look at mending, which is a practice even more important when we’re spending so much time at home. You can learn about the workshop at https://radicalrepairworkshop.com/ and Julia’s work http://juliagartrell.com/. Also, an edit: Julia’s residency that she spoke of was at the Rubenstein Arts Center (not the Power Plant Gallery), which you can read more about here: https://artscenter.duke.edu/visiting-artists/julia-gartrell/