Craftivist Clay: Resistance and Activism in Contemporary Ceramics

Abstract Craftivist Clay: Resistance and Activism in Contemporary Ceramics Mary Callahan Baumstark Master of Arts in Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Histories OCAD University April 2016 Since the late twentieth century, the social engagement of craft emerged as a primary concern for both makers and activists. While “craftivism” was quickly defined by the work of a few, this thesis expands previous considerations of craftivism as both theoretical construct and making method. Considering the emergence of craftivism as method, this paper examines the work of ceramic craftivists, analyzing their practices and produced works within a context of increased political urgency, using ceramics as a microcosmic exploration for craftivism in a given craft media. This thesis will analyze the efficacy of this method in contemporary ceramics, seeking to clarify both the import and impact of craftivism in a world overwhelmed by both activist causes and material goods. This thesis questions and complicates the history of craftivist theory, its role in contemporary ceramic practice, and its efficacy as a whole, exploring the extent to which craft can create social change. Keywords: craftivism, craft, ceramic, maker, activism, method, feminism, clay, activist, objec