Continuing Education

Clay is an increasingly common material in contemporary art. Formerly relegated to the world of crafts, many prominent artists have begun to embrace the medium, while a new generation work with ceramics at the core of their practice. In this course we will trace one line of influence energizing contemporary ceramic work: the Japanese idea of mingei. We'll look at mingei's complex and international story: from its roots in the Romantic rejection of mass production in 19th-century England and its coinage in early 20th-century Japan to its influence on mid-20th-century artists around the globe to its interesting resurgence in Theaster Gates's recent exploration "Afro-Mingei."
NOTE: This course is held on campus at SVA.