Production Potters of the Midwest
Meredith A.E. McGriff, a folklorist from Bloomington, Indiana, received a 2018 Archie Green Fellowship for research on and interviews with "Production Potters of the Midwestern United States." The project documents the occupational folklore, training, and work-related experiences of professional production potters in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. It focuses on both their artistry and the commercial aspects of working full-time in this regional craft-based profession, with particular emphasis on those who participate in guilds or pottery tours. Using audio, video, and still images, it explores how these workers balance individual craftsmanship and artistry with the need for developing and maintaining an occupational community.