367: Juan Barroso on using pointillism to tell immigration stories

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Juan Barroso. His ceramic forms are decorated with finely painted pointillist images of family members and objects that link to childhood memories and immigrant narratives. In our interview we talk about taking the “handyman” approach to art making, how pointillism stands as a metaphor for labor, and how art is a conduit for expressing emotion. To see examples of Juan’s work visit www.juanbarrosoart.com.

To listen to this episode click here.

The level of detail in this Juan Barroso vase is amazing. He made this to pay homage to his mother and the labor of sewing. Follow him on Instagram at @juan_barroso_art to see his most recent work.


 The long rise of anti-Asian violence in the U.S. is a stark example of xenophobia and white supremacist violence. I hope you will join me in committing to stand against this violence by learning tips for Bystander Intervention. The organization Hollaback! has partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice to provide free bystander intervention training, as well as de-escalation training to help the public learn how to safely step in when you see violence online or in person. To sign up for a free training visit www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention.


I want to send a special than you to ClayShare for sponsoring the podcast. Through their online ceramic education platform, they offer hundreds of full-length classes, as well as thousands of instructional videos that can be streamed straight to your smart TV or compatible device. They offer a wide range of topics that are perfect for the beginner to the experienced potter. With your membership you will receive weekly live tutorial broadcasts, access to virtual workshops with well-known artists, and special discounts on ceramic supplies. If you sign up today use the offer code Rambler25 to receive a 25% discount on your first three months. To sign up today visit clayshare.com.

Ben Carter

Ben Carter is a ceramic professional based in Howell, NJ. He maintains a studio, teaches workshops and exhibits nationally. He is the creator and host of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast. www.carterpottery.com.

Previous
Previous

368: Paul Greenhalgh on how ceramics shaped civilization

Next
Next

366: Wendy Gers on curatorial activism