Living Heritage Podcast Ep114 Setting Newfoundland Language in Stone

Erin Callahan St. John is a full-time professional artist working in clay. She initially learned her craft from Isabella St. John of Blue Moon Pottery – her aunt, and potter of 45 years. Later, Erin attended the Textiles Studies program at The College of the North Atlantic as well as the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, where she majored in Ceramics with a minor in Art History.

During the 15 years she has been working with clay, Erin has apprenticed, graduated and received funding to create one of a kind pieces and developed production lines. Today she is an active member in the local art and craft community, and from her studio in the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation, makes work based on the wildlife and folklore of Newfoundland.

In this podcast, Erin talks with Wyatt Shibley about how she came to be a potter, the history of studio pottery in Newfoundland, and the process of setting Newfoundland language in stone.

This episode is part of a series of programs in partnership with the Memorial University graduate course Folk 6740 - Public Folklore, and the Craft Council of NL, to document craft traditions in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Download the mp3





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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep110 Inspiration in Clay

Wendy Shirran is an accomplished ceramic artist and certified art teacher from Bonavista, Newfoundland. Upon completing her BA in English Drama and History at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Wendy Shirran moved to Halifax Nova Scotia to attend NSCADU where she discovered her connection with clay. Since graduating with a BEd Art Specialist degree in 2003, Wendy has spent most of her time teaching the fundamentals of ceramics and creating one-of-a-kind pieces for exhibition both nationally and internationally. Drawing on the influence of her travels to India, China, Japan, and the Mediterranean, her forms and shapes reflect the lines and fluidity found in ancient architecture, art, and folklore. She is also the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Clay Studio Coordinator, after spending several years with the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council.

In this podcast episode, Wendy talks with Qian Huang about her ceramic work, how and why she became a ceramic artist, and how travelling gives her inspiration.This episode is part of a series of programs in partnership with the Memorial University graduate course Folk 6740 - Public Folklore, and the Craft Council of NL, to document craft traditions in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Download the mp3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep107 Pottery, Art and Ideas with Erin McArthur

Erin McArthur and her husband, Mike Gillan, are the owners of North Eastern Folk Art: Pottery, Art and Ideas from the Atlantic Shore. Along with porcelain work, Erin and Mike create Raku pottery. Raku is a style of pottery that began in 16th century Japan and its roots can be found in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

While traditional Raku can only be made by the family, from whom the art form received its name, Erin explains that the term is often used outside of Japan to describe a certain method of firing. Raku’s pleasing metallic finish is often what sets it apart from other styles of pottery- and Erin and Mike use “the rich cultural life, rugged coastlines and wild natural beauty” of Newfoundland and Labrador as a major inspiration for their work. In this podcast Folklore student Maeghan Chassé chats with Erin McArthur about Raku pottery and practicing this art form in Newfoundland.

This episode is part of a series of programs in partnership with the Memorial University graduate course Folk 6740 - Public Folklore, and the Craft Council of NL, to document craft traditions in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Download the mp3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.