The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down
The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down is an eight-episode series that celebrates the ingenuity of some of Canada’s best amateur potters. The series showcases 10 potters as they reveal the personal stories, approaches and aesthetics in each hour-long episode. In the trailer for the show, Canadian actor (and potter) Seth Rogen describes the show as “the most extraordinary ceramics competition show this country has ever seen.”
With their unique sense of humour, passion and skill, the potters participate in two challenges, where they are rated by expert judges, Brendan Tang and Natalie Waddell. The series was shot in what once was the ceramic studio at the former Emily Carr School of Art & Design on Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, and hosted by the Jennifer Robertson. The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down also features Vancouver’s own famous passionate potter Seth Rogen as a featured guest judge.
You can watch The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down on CBC Gem.
Studio had a short Q&A with the show’s expert judges, Brendan Tang and Natalie Waddell, about being on the show, their experience in ceramics and making practices.
Studio: How did you get involved in the show?
Brendan: It all started with an email describing the show idea. Of course I was a little suspicious, maybe more cautiously optimistic that this was a “real thing.” Heck, even after filming I still have a hard time believing it's a real thing.
Natalie: I was contacted by a casting director working with a production company in the early stages of developing the show. I actually suspected the email might have been a scam or joke, but was encouraged to reply to it by a friend — I am so glad they did! As they shared their idea for a Canadian version of the very popular U.K. show, I was more and more excited about the possibility of being a part of it.
Studio: What in your own career prepared you for this experience?
Brendan: I would say that my teaching background at Emily Carr University helped with working with the potters and thinking on my feet. My art background helped ground my confidence in what I was saying, and my game mastering (role playing games) background helped with giving the potters just enough information, without helping too much.
Natalie: My ability and comfort in talking about and critiquing ceramics, developed by a combination of great instructors when I was a student, being part of a thriving and creative ceramic arts community here in Toronto. And most of all, the skills I honed as an instructor to analyze technical skills and creative style and intent have helped me in my role as a judge. Ultimately, I am super critical in my own practice, and always looking at ceramic art through the lens of what works and what needs to improve or evolve.
Studio: What parallels do you see between making and performing?
Brendan: Hmm, that is a good question. I am not sure there are. I mean, I am still new to performing, unlike making. What I will say is that ceramic processes are so captivating and lend themselves well to the performing arts without being intentional.
Natalie: As I am most certainly not an expert on performing, this is a hard one. As a maker, I love the process of creating, whatever the medium. Being a part of this show was a crash course on the creation that happens within the Canadian TV industry and it was eye opening! So many people and moving parts that come together in complicated choreography. The producers of the show really wanted us to be comfortable and to be ourselves, talking in our own voices and sharing honest opinions and observations so nothing really felt like a performance.
Studio: What was the highlight of the experience for you?
Brendan: The biggest highlight was getting to work on the show overall. I am so used to working in the studio on my own, and having my partner oversee the day-to-day admin. Now I get to work with so many people working together to make a thing happen.
Natalie: The highlight of my experience was meeting the fabulous people working both in front of and behind the cameras. In a close second place was getting to experience and explore a bit of Canada I had never been to before, Vancouver is a beautiful city and B.C. (the little bit that I saw) was gorgeous.
Studio: The first episode focuses on the potters' homes — what did you learn about Canada that you found especially intriguing?
Brendan: I find it fascinating how an object can transcend its purpose, and in turn represent so much more than its intended function. With this first challenge, I got to see this first hand. I also love the diversity of stories the potters presented. Canada is so much more than Mounties, maple syrup and moose.
Natalie: Getting to know the artists through their ceramic representation of their hometown was a great place to start. Our country is so sprawling and vast that it was a pleasant surprise to see how much ties us together though the shared medium of clay.
Studio: Any words of advice for aspiring ceramicists?
Brendan: Practice, practice, practice, and be kind to yourself. This is tricky but rewarding material to work in. Oh, and lift with your legs.
Natalie: Stay curious, have fun and be kindly critical looking at your work. Most importantly, be honest and express your own interests and esthetics. Spend as much time in the studio as you can making & thinking about why you are making and what you want it to say or do. Aside from all of that, fall in love with the process and the medium.
