Listen "THE BLACK POTTER + AN UGLY JUG NAMED SLAVE | Outsider Artist | Jim McDowell"
Episode Synopsis
Jim McDowell, aka "The Black Potter," is a gallery-level, outsider artist in Weaverville, North Carolina working in the ceramic tradition of face jugs inspired by his enslaved African ancestors. In this passionate & electric episode we learn about what pottery was like in colonial & slave times: the spiritual side of African & voodoo pottery; utilitarian vessels on the plantation; digging clay & building kilns; face jugs [aka ugly jugs]; & a renowned, literate slave potter named David Drake. Jim then tells a horripilating story about the making of an emotionally torturous jug he titled, "Slave." This opens powerful conversations about getting one's demons out & the artist's role, channeling ancestors & building generational wealth. For a visual check out a gallery of Jim's powerful face jugs & watch him on History Detectives. For more information check out his website. Support Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: [email protected]
More episodes of the podcast Our Numinous Nature
THE ANTIQUARIAN ANGLER; FLY FISHING FROM THE MEDIEVAL TO EARLY MODERN | Sportsman | Harrison Idol
16/10/2025
AVEBURY: STONE CIRCLES, BURIAL MOUNDS & PSYCHEDELIC VISIONS | Mythologist | Oliver Lavery
19/06/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.