362: Masa Sasaki on making a living as a potter

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an
interview with Masa Sasaki. His functional pots are decorated
with vibrant color schemes emphasizing motifs of deer, one-eyed
aliens and punctuation marks, forming a cryptic biography for the
viewer to decode. In the interview we talk about the meaning
behind his symbols, how previous professions helped build skills
for his ceramic career and developing a market for his work. To
see examples of his pots, visit www.masasasakiceramics.com.


 


On today’s Amaco Community Corkboard we have the Southern
Crossings Pottery Festival. SXPF is a volunteer run non-profit
with a focus on celebrating handmade pottery and the makers
who nourish our lives and those around us. They have transitioned
their festival to happen virtually this year March 5-7. This
year’s lineup includes a great group of artists from across the
US, who you can talk to at Meet the Artist zoom events that are
happening this week Feb 25, 26 & 27. The festival is also
hosting a benefit raffle for Blessings in a Backpack working to
feed children in the greater Louisville area. To join in these
virtual events, visit www.SXPF.org.


 


I want to give a shout out to KC Clay Guild for sponsoring this
episode of the podcast. KC Clay Guild has been supporting ceramic
artists and providing a space to explore clay in Kansas City,
Missouri since 1988. The guild is accepting applications for
their Artist in Residence Program until April 15th. This program
is open to anyone who is looking to jump start their ceramics
career. The guild has been upgrading their already well-equipped
studio and will be adding a new Blaauw Gas kiln in 2021. Benefits
include a private studio space, free firing, opportunities to
teach, and an annual stipend. Check out www.kcclayguild.org/AIR
to learn more.