PODCAST · arts
Clay and Kin
by Njeri A Buncamper
Clay & Kin — A father-daughter duo diving into the world of ceramics, art, and everything in between. With over 40 years of teaching experience, Dad brings the wisdom; I bring the curiosity. Together, we mold, glaze, and fire up conversations that celebrate craft and connection. Dad is Ceramic artist Richard Buncamper, he holds a BFA from Howard University and an MFA from Alfred University. For over thirty years he taught both graduate students and undergraduates at Kean University before retiring in 2007. Richard has exhibited widely. Reach us @ [email protected] we love feedback!
Episodes
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Chasing Patterns: Our Curious Dive into Marbled Clay
The Marble Technique in Ceramics In this episode of Clay & Kin, we dive into the mesmerizing world of marble technique in ceramics — a process that blends artistry, chemistry, and a little bit of magic. Together, we explore how colored clays intertwine to create fluid, organic patterns, and what...
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A Lifetime in Clay: Dad’s 80‑Year Story
In this special birthday episode of Clay & Kin, Dad celebrates his 80 years of life, art, and community. Together, we explore what eight decades in ceramics have taught him — about creativity, patience, teaching, and the deep relationships formed through clay. Dad reflects on the moments that...
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The Garden Teaches You Everything
In this episode, Dad — master gardener, ceramic artist, and longtime educator — explore how tending a garden shapes the way he approaches clay, creativity, and community. From the quiet rituals of working the soil to the long arc of nurturing plants through seasons,Dad reflects on the deep...
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Into the Blue: Dad’s Diving Life
This week, we slow down and sink into a conversation about Dad’s diving practice—how being underwater has shaped his sense of self, his teaching, and his connection to the natural world. We talk about beauty, technique, and the small rituals that make diving feel sacred. It’s an episode about...
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The USA Clay Project at 250: A Community Masterpiece
In this episode, Dad and talk about the opening and reception of the USA Clay Project’s 250th Anniversary exhibition. We break down what made the final collaborative piece so powerful—from the craftsmanship to the collective vision behind it. Our conversation looks ahead to how community-based…
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Exploring Matcha & Clay with Dad
In this episode, Dad and I explore the quiet, intentional world of matcha ceremonial tea vessels — from the chawan’s form and weight to the way glaze, texture, and lineage shape the experience of preparing tea. We talk about what makes a matcha bowl successful, how tradition informs contemporary...
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Layered Marks: Dad and I Explore Screen Printing on Clay
In this episode, Dad and I dive into the layered, tactile world of screen printing on clay—a process that blends precision, experimentation, and a little bit of magic. We talk through how the technique works, why it’s become such a compelling way to add imagery and texture to ceramic surfaces…
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Hands in Clay, Hearts in New York: A Knicks Win Conversation
In this episode, Dad and I take a joyful detour from clay to the court, breaking down the Knicks’ big win and what it means to longtime fans like him. We talk legacy, loyalty, and why certain victories just hit different when you share them with family. It’s sports, storytelling, and a little New...
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When the Bell Stops, But the Calling Doesn’t
In this episode of Clay & Kin, Dad and I explore what happens when a lifelong teacher steps out of the classroom but never stops teaching. We talk about identity, purpose, creativity, and the quiet ways teaching continues long after retirement. From the studio to everyday life, this conversation...
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Saving the Studio: Fighting for Ceramics and the Arts
This week, Dad and I take on a growing crisis in higher education: the removal of ceramics, studio arts, and humanities programs from colleges and universities across the country. We talk about what’s driving these cuts, what’s at stake when creative disciplines are treated as expendable, and why...
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What Dad Carried Home from NSECA
Fresh from the 2026 NSECA Conference in Detroit, Dad and I talk about what stayed with him long after the sessions ended. The ideas, artists, and conversations that left an imprint—from community building to the evolving role of ceramics in education. It’s a gentle, thoughtful exchange about how...
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Seeing with care: best practices for visiting a gallery or museum
In this episode of Clay & Kin, Dad and I sit down to talk about something every art lover—and every curious visitor—should know: the best practices for experiencing museums and galleries with intention, respect, and genuine presence.
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Thrown in the Fire : Art in Political Times
In This episode Dad and I explore the long, intertwined relationship between art and public life—how creativity becomes a language for expressing identity, challenging norms, and imagining new possibilities.
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From the Artist’s View: How to Experience Art More Deeply
In this episode of Clay & Kin, we explore what it really means to experience art—not just look at it. Dad and I talk about the best practices for visiting museums and galleries, from slowing down and being present to engaging with the space, the staff, and the stories behind the work.
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Analog Hands, Digital Horizons
In this episode,Dad and I have a thoughtful conversation about the surprising and beautiful tension between digital media and clay. We explore how ancient, tactile practices meet modern tools, how technology can expand rather than replace tradition, and what it means to carry creative lineage…
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On the Road to Detroit: Preparing for NSECA 2026
In this special father–daughter episode, I sit down with dad, Richard Buncamper ceramics teacher, mentor, and artist of more than forty years—to talk about the upcoming 2026 NSECA Conference in Detroit. Together, we explore what NSECA has meant to him across decades of teaching, how the…
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Clay Reimagined: Altering Art After It’s Yours
What happens when a ceramic piece leaves the studio and enters someone’s home—does its story end, or just begin? In this episode of Clay & Kin, Dad and I, dive into the fascinating (and sometimes controversial) practice of altering ceramics after purchase.
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Clay remembers what hands forget
In this episode, Dad and I explore the afterlife of ceramics—how art endures, how legacy is carried, and how stories live on through the vessels we leave behind.
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Finding Your Voice: Becoming Your Own Unique Artist
In this heartfelt and illuminating conversation, dad and I explore what it truly means to become your own unique artist. From early influences to creative breakthroughs. We talk about resisting trends, embracing doubt, and honoring legacy while forging new ground. Whether you're just starting out...
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Layers of Meaning: Surface Development in Ceramics
In this richly textured conversation, Dad and I discuss the art and intention behind surface development in ceramics. From glaze chemistry to storytelling through texture, we unpack how surface becomes a language of its own. Whether you're a seasoned potter or simply curious about the alchemy of...
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Where Earth Meets Fire and Forge
What happens when clay meets metal? We’re talking fire, form, and the fusion of two powerful materials. Tune in as we explore legacy, technique, and the art of transformation.
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Porcelain: Not Just for Teacups
In this episode of Clay & Kin, Dad and I explore the delicate dance between fragility and strength, the historical weight of porcelain traditions, and the quiet lessons clay teaches about control, surrender, and transformation. Whether you’re a seasoned potter or simply curious about the soul of...
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Beyond the Wheel: Exploring Alternative Ceramic Techniques
In this episode, we step away from the pottery wheel to explore the diverse and dynamic world of hand-built ceramics. From slab building and coiling to sculptural forms and slip casting. Whether you're a seasoned potter or just clay-curious, this episode will expand your view of what’s possible…
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From Clay to Grain: A Potter’s Take on Woodturning
In this special episode of Clay & Kin, Dad a ceramics teacher and lifelong maker and I explore the art of woodturning through a ceramicist’s lens. What happens when clay meets grain, and the wheel meets the lathe?
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Through the Lens of Fire : Photographing your ceramic work
In this visually rich episode of Clay & Kin, we explore the intersection of photography and ceramics—two mediums that shape light, form, and memory.Dad reflects on how photography can elevate ceramic artistry, from documenting texture and glaze to preserving legacy and process. Whether you're...
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From Wheel to Table: A Legacy in Every Dish
In this flavorful episode of Clay & Kin, Dad and I explore the intersection of ceramics and the restaurant business—where handmade plates meet culinary artistry. From the weight of a bowl to the story behind a glaze, we dive into how form and function shape the dining experience. Whether you're a...
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Formed by Fire : High School of Art and Design
What happens when a teenager meets a potter’s wheel for the first time? In this episode, we trace the messy, magical beginnings of Dad's ceramic artist journey at High School for Art and Design in New York City. Expect stories of studio beginnings, unforgettable teachers, and the moment clay…
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Funding the Fire: How Ceramic Artists Can Secure Grants
In this episode of Clay & Kin, we dig into the world of grants—those elusive, game-changing resources that can help ceramic artists turn vision into reality. Whether you're building a community kiln, launching a new body of work, or simply trying to carve out more time for the wheel, funding matters
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Clay and The Human Form
In this episode, we dive into the captivating intersection of clay and human form. Whether you’re a sculptor or artist this conversation will inspire new ways of seeing clay and art. Tune in to learn the creative philosophy that unites sculpting and Human Form.
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Clay and Performance Art: Keep on Working!
In this episode, we dive into the captivating intersection of clay and performance art. Join us as we explore the unique challenges and rewards of integrating ceramics into live performances and continuing to create art during economic challenges. Dad a renowned ceramicist, shares his journey…
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Ceramics Across Industries
From spacecraft heat shields to haute couture runways, ceramics are shaping more than just pottery wheels. Clay and Kin dives into the hidden lives of clay—exploring how this ancient material is driving innovation in tech, architecture, fashion, medicine, and beyond. Each episode brings together...
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Tiny Hands Big Clay Dreams
In this episode we explore the magic of clay through a child’s eyes. This podcast is all about introducing kids to the world of ceramics—from squishy first touches to playful creations that spark imagination and joy. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or just clay-curious, join us for heartwarming...
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Pottery Picks & Shopping Smarts
Not all clay is created equal. This episode is your guide to buying ceramics that pop, last, and tell a story. We dish on top places to shop, what separates the stunning from the subpar, and how to trust your gut (and eyes) as a buyer.
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From Kiln to Kin a Legacy of clay passed from one hand to the next
From kilns to kinships, this podcast dives into the evolving world of clay artistry—where tradition meets transformation. We explore how clay becomes more than craft: it becomes legacy. Join us as we unravel ancestral techniques, modern innovations, and the hands that continue to shape identity,...
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Homework starts now- Life with Flowers - Frances Palmer Pottery
This episode invites you into the artistry of Frances Palmer—potter, gardener, maker of meaningful beauty. It's a call to observe, to create, to reflect. Your assignment: find your own rhythm. Sketch a vase. Snap a flower. Journal the bloom. Homework starts now.
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Crafting Creativity: Workshops, Magazines & Growth in Ceramics
Join us as we chat with Richard, a seasoned ceramicist, about how seminars, workshops, and magazines can help artists refine their craft and grow in the ceramics world. Whether you're just starting or mastering the wheel, this episode is packed with insights to inspire your creative journey!
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Kiln It Safely: Insurance & Rights for Ceramic Artists
In this episode, we dive into the essential legal and insurance protections every ceramicist should know. From copyright considerations to securing your work against damage or liability, we’ll explore how artists can safeguard their craft, business, and creative legacy. Whether you're a seasoned...
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The Kiln That Binds Us: Strength in Craft & Collaboration
In this episode, we explore how community transforms the ceramic arts. Clay isn't just shaped by hands—it’s shaped by connection, mentorship, and shared creativity. From local pottery groups to global networks, ceramicists thrive when they come together. We’ll hear inspiring stories of artists…
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Clay Canvas Mastering Texture & Decoration
Dive into the artistry of ceramics with expert techniques, creative inspiration, and in-depth discussions on texture and decoration. Whether you're a seasoned potter or just starting, this podcast explores innovative ways to elevate your clay creations.
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Clay Play Your First Steps In Ceramics
Unlock the joy of working with clay! Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking for guidance, Clay and Kin is your go-to for getting started in ceramics. Join us as we dive into techniques, tools, and the creative process—everything you need to shape your pottery journey. Let's get our hands...
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Fragile Freight The art of Shipping Ceramics
Shipping ceramics might seem straightforward, but ensuring fragile pottery reaches its destination intact requires strategy, care, and expertise. In this episode, we’re diving into the best practices for packaging, choosing the right carriers, and avoiding common pitfalls that can lead to...
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Molding Creativity the Rhythm of clay
In this episode of Clay and Kin, we explore the profound impact of music on our creative process. From the meditative hum of background melodies to the energetic beats that spark inspiration, music shapes the way we mold, sculpt, and express ourselves. We discuss how different genres influence...
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Dad, what is ceramics
Welcome to Clay and Kin, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of ceramics!I'm Njeri, your host, we'll be exploring the beautiful and diverse artform of ceramics, from pottery techniques and ceramic artists to the vibrant community that brings this ancient craft to life. Whether...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Clay & Kin — A father-daughter duo diving into the world of ceramics, art, and everything in between. With over 40 years of teaching experience, Dad brings the wisdom; I bring the curiosity. Together, we mold, glaze, and fire up conversations that celebrate craft and connection. Dad is Ceramic artist Richard Buncamper, he holds a BFA from Howard University and an MFA from Alfred University. For over thirty years he taught both graduate students and undergraduates at Kean University before retiring in 2007. Richard has exhibited widely. Reach us @ [email protected] we love feedback!
HOSTED BY
Njeri A Buncamper
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Clay and Kin have?
Clay and Kin currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Clay and Kin about?
Clay & Kin — A father-daughter duo diving into the world of ceramics, art, and everything in between. With over 40 years of teaching experience, Dad brings the wisdom; I bring the curiosity. Together, we mold, glaze, and fire up conversations that celebrate craft and connection. Dad is Ceramic...
How often does Clay and Kin release new episodes?
Clay and Kin has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Clay and Kin?
You can listen to Clay and Kin on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Clay and Kin?
Clay and Kin is created and hosted by Njeri A Buncamper.
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