Conversations with Legends

Throughout 2017, Watershed recognized the innovations and contributions of three master artists to the field of ceramics — Wayne Higby, Jack Troy, and Paula Winokur — by honoring them as Legends. Watershed chose to highlight the work and careers of these artists because of their innovative studio work and also their lifetime commitment to serving as educators and mentors to others working in clay. Over the course of the year, Peabody Award-winning radio producer and TED speaker Julie Burstein visited each of the artists in their studios, gaining intimate insights into their histories, methodologies, and philosophies. Burstein’s conversations with the Legends resulted in three podcasts, each featuring one of the artists. Click on their names below to listen to the podcasts and see accompanying imagery of the artists’ studios, work, and homes.

Wayne Higby

Wayne Higby’s unique vision of the American landscape manifests in his work that ranges from vessel forms and tile to sculpture and architectural installation. He is a professor and the Robert C. Turner Chair of Ceramic Art at the New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University. He is also Director and Chief Curator of the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum at Alfred University.

During this podcast, radio producer Julie Burstein visits Wayne at the Alfred Museum and at his studio in upstate New York. The two discuss his work as a curator, teacher, and artist.

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Jack Troy

Jack Troy is best known for his wheel-thrown, wood-fired functional stoneware, along with his poetry and essays on ceramics. His career has taken him to thirteen countries, and his work is in many private and public collections world-wide. He taught at Juniata College in Pennsylvnia for 39 years before retiring in 2006.

During this podcast, Jack welcomes radio producer Julie Burstein to his studio where he shares observations about his work, the land and the studio environment in which he creates, and wisdom from his life.

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Paula Winokur

Paula Winokur’s work is deeply influenced by information she gathered from sites in the natural environment. During trips to Iceland and Greenland she observed calving glaciers and massive icebergs. The experience led to a body of work examining climate change. Winokur was a professor of art at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA. Her work has been exhibited widely and is in numerous national and international collections.

In this podcast, Paula discusses her work and its relationship to the natural world. Jennifer Zwilling, curator at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, and Nancy Selvin, artist and friend of Winokur, also discuss Winokur’s work and contributions to the ceramics field.

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