Brian R. Jonescast

This episode was originally released in 2013.  Michael Strand is an artist interested in setting up circumstances for people to be able to tell their stories. In his own words: "One of the great joys of being an artist is the ability to dream without limitations and then acting on those dreams without the fear of failure. With this mindset I can imagine that a cup could be infused with the spirit of the late Charles Kuralt, branching out into the country to seek out stories waiting to be told, or that a cup could hold the potential of the great Desmond Tutu, and be integral in conversations of mediation. Without practical limitations on function I am free to conceptualize how an object can operate in new and innovative ways." Indeed, Michael's work finishes the puzzle of functional ceramics. He makes the connection between maker, object, and user engaging and more importantly, vital.