The Kiln Sitters

Nov 11 2024 40 ep. 60 mins 33
The Kiln Sitters Podcast artwork

Marianne Chénard, Carole Epp and Brendan Tang sit down with artists and makers of all ages from across Canada to shed light on the contemporary ceramic scene. You may have thought Canada was all polar bears and maple syrup, but we’re serving up a heaping dose of artists you should really know about. From the coast to the prairies, the big cities and small communities; we’re here to find out what makes the Canadian ceramic scene so vibrant, diverse, cutting edge and relevant. Join our hosts as they bring you enlightening interviews that will share how Canadian ceramics is internationally recognized for its unique contribution to the field.

  Arts
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Live from NCECA - The Modern Potter

Nov 11 2024 57 mins  
We are back and happy to bring you a live recording that happened at the 2023 NCECA conference in Richmond, VA. Today’s episode features a conversation with Carole Epp, Naomi Clement, Diana Adams, and Sarah Pike about their approach to making a living as a potter in the digital age. Each of these four trailblazing artists has figured out how to make a living as a full-time potter

Live from the New Clay Conference

May 07 2024 69 mins  
We are back from our hiatus to bring you a live recording that happened at the 2023 New Clay Conference in Ottawa, ON. Carole and Marianne talk with presenters Martina Lantin, Zoe Pinnell, Marina Lespérance Lopez, and our co-host Ben Carter (Tales of a Red Clay Rambler). We discuss the high-risk high-reward nature of ceramics, finding work/life balance as a parent, and the vibran

Rise and Grind with Natalie Waddell

Oct 03 2023 52 mins  
To wrap up season 2, Brendan Tang talks with Toronto based artist Natalie Waddell. They make functional work and describe themselves as a maker of things. In the interview they talk about working across mediums and developing their signature darted and folded forms. Today’s Kaolin Crushes are Elissa Barber, Goyer Bonneau, and Natania Nurenburg. Today’s episode is brought to

Cilia Sawadogo on her journey from animation to clay

Sep 06 2023 62 mins  
This week on the Kiln Sitters Marianne sits down with Cilia Sawadogo, a renowned animation and film artist who is taking on the medium of ceramics. Cilia shares her path to learning the complexity of clay through her collaborations with several ceramic artists and residencies. She also discusses her participation in the local ceramic community, as well as the influence of popular c

Chad Berg on creative growth on the prairies

Aug 29 2023 63 mins  
Our host Carole Epp didn’t travel far for today’s episode where she sits down with Chad Berg of Saskatoon Clayworks. The two chat about the health of the local ceramic community, its steady growth even during Covid, and the space that Chad has provided for makers to hone their craft. Saskatchewan has a long vibrant history of ceramics deserving of international recognition; fro

The Kiln Sitters answer your questions about education

Aug 08 2023 61 mins  
Today we open up The Kiln Sitters mail bag for a special episode on education. The gang talk about being an international student, studio options after leaving school, and strategies for paying for your education. A big thank you to the listeners who submitted their questions. If you have questions or comments shoot us an email us at [email protected]. Today’s episode is b

Heidi Mckenzie on her multi-media approach to making

Jul 26 2023 59 mins  
On this episode Brendan sits down with Heidi McKenzie, a Toronto-based mixed media artist. In their conversation they talk about Mckenzie’s ceramic practice, the inclusion of photography, augmented reality, and Modernism. They also talked about Mckenzie’s scholarly and EDI work in the ceramic community. McKenzie has an active exhibition schedule, including RECLAIMED: Indo-Cari

Wai-Yant Li on playfulness, resilience, and long-lasting significance

Jul 12 2023 70 mins  
On today’s episode Marianne talks with Wai-Yant Li, a professional ceramist living in Montreal QC, about many aspects of being a full-time ceramic artist, including the realities of participating in large craft sales and how to sustain a potter business over time. Wai-Yant shares their path to being a potter, their investment in their community, and ways in which they create incl

Artist makes plans and then life happens with Toni Losey

Jun 28 2023 56 mins  
On this week’s episode Brendan sits down with Toni Losey, a ceramic artist based on the east coast of Canada. They chat about the not so straight forward path to being an artist, as well as creating space for one’s practice. Before the interview, the Kiln Sitters themselves talk about their own “sliding door” moments in their lives. Today’s Kaolin Crushes are: Maria Moldo

Julie Mackinnon on creating opportunity, community, and beauty on Salt Spring Island

Jun 16 2023 54 mins  
This week on the Kiln Sitters, Carole sits down with Julie Mackinnon to discuss the incredible work she does as a master maker for over 20 years, and also how she has transformed the lives of so many in her community through the Hey Julie School of Clay. From humble beginnings bringing clay to the locals on Salt Spring Island, to fundraising and building the school/studio of her dr