Brian R. Jonescast

Alex Matisse is a potter in Western North Carolina. In this first of two episodes about the idea of pivoting, he talks about moving from a traditional North Carolina pottery workshop to a market driven, sometimes mechanized form of production. This conversation was recorded in June of 2016, and we also recorded a follow-up in June of 2017 to help give listeners an idea of what challenges Alex and his team at Eastfork Pottery have had to endure.  From their website: East Fork Pottery is nestled at the end of a valley on an old tobacco field, between steep green mountains, thirty minutes northwest of Asheville, North Carolina.  Founded in 2010 by Alexander Matisse & Connie Coady, the workshop is now home to potter John Vigeland and a growing team of apprentices and staff.  The Jonescast would also like to remember Paulus Berensohn, who passed on June 15. He was a guest of the show, and you can listen to him on episode #61. Rest in Peace.   music credits: The Kinks, Schneider TM vs. Kpt. Michi.gan