239: New Zealand Week: Cheryl Lucas on creativity as a counterpoint to cultural trauma

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Cheryl Lucas. Throughout her ceramic career she has worked in many formats including functional pottery, sculptural installation and architectural work. In 2011 multiple earthquakes hit her home area of Christchurch, devastating the city and creating a turning point in Cheryl’s work. She has reacted to the destruction and subsequent rebuilding of the city with multiple bodies of work that deal with the events. In our interview we talk about making art as a way to make sense of tragedy, transitioning between the technical and conceptual aspects of making, and helping to rebuild the city by making large scale chimney pots used on historic buildings. For more information on Cheryl’s work please visit her profile on the International Academy of Ceramics www.aic-iac.org/en/member/lilian-cheryl-lucas/.

To listen to this episode click here. 

This interview is part of a New Zealand series taped in April and May of 2018. I want to send a special thank you to the Ceramics Association of New Zealand for their support in making the series. To join the association, or to subscribe to their journal Ceramics New Zealand, visit www.ceramicsnz.org.

After the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes Cheryl was in high demand for her architectural ceramics. She helped to rebuild the city by making large scale chimney pots used on historic buildings. Read more about this in her 2015 Ceramics Technical article New Pots for Old.

Hey Red Clay Rambler fans, I need your help to keep this show on the air. We need 5 new patrons to reach our monthly fundraising goal. Visit www.patreon.com/redclayrambler to pledge your support and become a sustaining member. We have a batch of rewards to offer including the new Vintage Radio shirt, handmade pots, posters and much more. Visit www.patreon.com/redclayrambler to sign up today.