Ceramic artist Andrew Tarrant is an accomplished practitioner of sprigged decoration. Andrew’s work is a contemporary view of classical pottery forms influenced by historical and mythological themes and a modern humor. Born in the United Kingdom, and moving to Canada at a young age Andrew’s early memories of England promoted the evolution of his artistic career.
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Andrew McCullough | Episode 1042
Andrew McCullough is a studio potter based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. After taking some time away from pottery to further his education–and work in New Brunswick politics–he appeared as a competitor on The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down’s first season. He is now opening a community pottery studio in downtown Fredericton to make pottery more accessible in his area.
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For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
The people on the show The Great Canadian Pottery Throwdown seemed very kind and without nastiness. What the show really kind?
The show was just as kind as what you would imagine from watching it. All the relationships that we had were super genuine and we truly wanted every person to do as best as they could.
Did you feel prepared?
I definitely felt rusty going into the show. I was one of the only people in the cast who wasn’t doing it close to full-time before hand. However I was confident of my ability on the wheel so I said if I can shine there I’ll be happy.
Were you given an opportunity to practice the things that are being presented for you to do that day?
Yeah, we had some of the challenges given to us in advance, so we could plan and prepare at home. While we were in Vancouver we also had one time a week where we could go to a place called Mud Lab studio in Vancouver to practice whatever we wanted in preparation for the show.
When the show aired how did that impact your life?
The biggest impact the show had for me was giving me a chance to step back into the pottery world on my own terms. Like I said, I had been out of the world and now with myself being reintroduced to Canada nationally I can take the opportunity to do what ever I want which is to open a community pottery studio.
Do you feel like your business is going to be stronger as a result of being on the show?
I absolutely feel that being on the show will help my business and the studio that we are creating here. Getting that sort of national attention can only be helpful. Now what matters is what we do with that little bit of extra platform.
What is one thing that you would do differently if you were on the show again?
That’s a really good question. My answer is not going to be what happened on the show but I would have wanted to spend even more time with my fellow contestants outside of filming. We spent all of our free time together I wish the times I stayed home in the hotel room I would have actually stayed out with them because they are all amazing people.
Book
A Potter’s Book by Bernard Leach
Contact
Instagram: @nuceramics
Help Get The Great Canadian Pottery Throwdown renewed: change.org/savepottery
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Andrew Cooke | Episode 1097
Until age 40 Andrew Cooke was a car body repair technician until he was forced out of his career due to being diagnosed with arthritis. Andrew then went back to art as therapy and, after a foundation in fine and applied art, Andrew completed his degree in 2013 in University of Ulster in Belfast.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
When you approach a new piece you want to make what kind of inspirational sources are you drawing from?
I do go online and search or else I try to take something from our culture. Tiki is such a mix of different ideas and cultures type of thing so I really go with that type of thing. It’s hard to explain.
How does being the only Tiki maker in town impact your relationship with the community?
It’s funny because I was heavily involved in the local craft scene and all and it was probably Covid that really knocked everything back so I actually don’t see an awful lot of them now. Funny enough I had seen one the other day and she asked if I was still making Tiki mugs, because they do know I make Tiki mugs, which is nice.
What motivates you to continue to be a maker?
I think it’s in my genes, it really is. I am that type of person. I am just a hands on guy and I just love the satisfaction of making something and looking at it and doing it the best that I could possibly do. It’s a challenge, every day it’s a challenge.
How do you feel that your work impacts the world when people reach out and bring one of your pieces into their lives?
It probably gives me as much satisfaction as it gives them. I just shipped a piece to Australia and I can’t believe that somebody on the other side of the world took the time and energy to reach out and buy one of my pieces. It just blows me away. It absolutely blows me away.
Where do you see your work being in your life in say five years?
I would like to do more of my sculptural work, which I really enjoy, but I want to take time to do what I want to make if you know what I mean. I am not a big commercial maker by any means.
How has your education helped you as an artist and a maker?
It probably actually gave me more self confidence than anything. I am very much my own man would you call it. I do things my way. I find it very hard to follow instructions so it really just gave me the confidence. If I had not been to University I could not have reached out to you. I would not have had the confidence to do it. So I think that was the main thing I got out of it.
Book
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Contact
Instagram: @kookietiki
