Meet JORIE BERMAN | Artist, Teacher, and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with JORIE BERMAN and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JORIE, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I used to push myself really hard. I have a tendency to overwork and if I have a deadline I can get hyperfocused on accomplishing a task. Sometimes I’d forget to eat until I was starving or light-headed. I would stay up too late finishing up work or loading a kiln trying to get the most possible work done before a show. Exercise and taking care of my body often came last.

In 2021, a fluke accident changed the way I approach my life and career. I sprained my hip and herniated a disc which rendered me useless in pretty much every way. I was bedridden for weeks, then could only walk short distances with a cane for a couple of months. Forget sitting, leaning, lifting anything- making art was out of the question. Our culture is very focused on productivity and for most of us our self-worth is tied to how much we can accomplish or contribute. I had to find a way to feel ok with myself even if I wasn’t being productive. Since I couldn’t do much else, I had a lot of time to think and meditate on what it is to exist as a physical body. (Don’t get me wrong, I binge watched a lot of TV, too.) I realized that once I recovered I was going to have to prioritize taking care of my body and my health overall if I wanted to be able to enjoy my life.

When you are in physical pain (or emotional/mental pain for that matter), all the accomplishments in the world can’t alleviate it. So now, I take breaks when I need them. I walk every day, take dance classes, and continue to do my physical therapy exercises. I drink lots of water. I go to bed on time. I journal and/or meditate almost every day. I try to be present in everything that I do. Maintaining a sense of balance has become key for me. I’m getting better at recognizing when things are starting to get out of whack and self-correcting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Getting to where I am today has been a journey. It has been challenging at every step.

After graduating with an MFA from RISD in 2005, I waited tables and taught as an adjunct instructor for about 7 years. I was teaching at three colleges, one of which was an hour and a half commute each way. I loved teaching, but not knowing whether I’d have classes the following semester and living without health insurance was really stressful.

I kept up my studio practice, but I was wearing myself thin with the adjunct lifestyle. A desk job came up at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at UGA, so I applied for and got that. The pay was terrible, but I had health insurance! This was before Obama Care, so I was super excited not to have to worry about a potential health crisis ruining me. I worked my way up to a better job in the art school and I continued making my work, although I came face to face with the reality that working an 8-5 job leaves little time and energy for creative pursuits. I continued making my work, but progress was very slow. I stayed with it though. Most of the people I went to college with had given up on art by now or moved on to other things. I guess I was just stubborn. I figured if I’m still making art, I’m still in the game. I may not have accolades or a resume full of solo shows, but I’m still showing up.

In 2020, I finally started my own online shop, Biscuit Ceramics, where I sell my pottery and sculpture. Running a business has its own set of never-ending challenges, but I am happy to say that I get to spend the majority of my time in the studio. I’m usually working on several different things at once, but something that connects my bodies of work is an exploration of texture and surface.

I love working with clay because it has memory. It records the maker’s touch as well as how it was fired. I’m really excited these days about pit-firing, which is a low-tech firing method used by many indigenous cultures. Traditionally, a pit is dug into the ground, but I built my “pit” above ground.

After each vessel is hand formed, it is coated in a fine particle slip called terra sigillata and burnished to a silky smooth. An initial bisque firing hardens the clay into ceramic and readies it to be pit-fired.

A layer of sawdust is spread into the pit and then the ware is placed on top of that along with organic materials (banana peels, seaweed, salt, etc.) that produce mysterious effects– some things work better than others, and experimenting is key! Wood is stacked on top of the pots and serves as the fuel for the fire. After the wood burns away, the pit is covered to smolder overnight. Because the pots are still porous, the surfaces absorb the smoke and various elements present in the atmosphere. This is how the unique, magical surfaces are painted onto the pots.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Tampa now. Whenever people come to visit, the itinerary seems to revolve around eating and drinking. I like to take people to the Tampa River Walk for the views and into Ybor City, which is a historic neighborhood known for its cigar factories and roosters roaming in the streets.

We have some great tacos here, so I make sure we hit up Xtreme Tacos, Rene’s Tacos, or both! Other favorite restaurants are Ella’s and Ulele. If my visitors are into craft beer, my favorite breweries to take them to are Angry Chair and Coppertail.

I also like to take people to the beach. My usual spot is Honeymoon Island State Park because they have a dog beach. My other favorite beach is Pass-a-Grille. A day in St. Pete is a must, too—the Dali Museum, the Dale Chihuly Collection, and Florida Craft Art are my favorite venues, but it’s also nice just to walk around near the water.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents have always been supportive of everything I’ve done, especially when it comes to pursuing art and starting my own business. My dad and stepmom are potters and ran their own gallery for years, so I’ve learned a great deal from them. My mom is a creative, too, and always encouraged me to do something I love.

I had some great teachers along the way, the most influential being my undergrad mentor, Andy Nasisse. Other really impactful teachers at UGA were Ted Saupe, for just being himself, and Richard (Ole´) Olsen, who encouraged me to delve into my personal history for source material and gave great advice like “don’t spill the beans!” I learned so much from the faculty and my peers in grad school at RISD. And, finally, my number one cheerleader is my husband, Drew Kramer. He encourages me every day, he recognizes my accomplishments when I can’t see them, he helps me set and tear down for shows, and he bakes cookies and hangs out with me during my open studios! I could not ask for a more supportive partner.

Website: https://biscuitceramics.com/

Instagram: @biscuitbermanceramics

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorie-berman-a0995672/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiscuitCeramics/

Image Credits
Brian James Jorie Berman