Tampa native William Russell joined Berkeley this year as the new ceramics teacher. He is a multi-talented individual hoping to add a lot to the school art program. It is rare that schools have a dedicated ceramics program, so Russell is excited to teach both his favorite art medium and his favorite age group, high school.

When he is not teaching behind the wheel, Russell can be found at vintage markets around the Tampa Bay Area, fixing old furniture or creating self-sustaining ecosystems. Before he became a teacher, he was an interior designer for 15 years and also hoped to be a marine biologist, so he makes time for all of his passions.

Russell believes art is important for all students. In particular, he loves pottery for a few specific reasons. “Wood breaks down, textiles break down, plastics break down. Everything breaks down eventually, except clay.” He says, “It’s also the only media that uses all elemental focus. So it’s a dance between earth, air, water and fire.”

In order to stay inspired in his own personal artistic practices when he is not teaching, Russell says, “I’m always seeking something new. I’m always trying new techniques…I’ll work on gelli printing or photography, or whatever strikes my interest.”

However, Russell’s life full of artistic endeavors has taught him something about art that can apply to many types of art and also much further beyond. “I live by the philosophy that an interesting failure is better than a boring success. That’s what I want to see. That resilience and problem solving…is the ultimate marker of personal growth and evolution.”