Grounded in Clay: The Spirit of Pueblo Pottery
For centuries, Pueblo pottery has served not only as a utilitarian art form but also as a powerfully intangible element that sits at the very heart of Pueblo cultures. Recognizing the diverse viewpoints and multiple stories held within and on the walls of these vessels, Grounded in Clay highlights just some of the thousands, if not millions, of stories that are contained within and spill forth from these vessels.1
99 Clay Vessels: The Muslim Women Storytelling Project
Alison Kysia, an artist & educator, experienced years of anti-Muslim bigotry in the workplace. She gave her sadness and anger to the clay to create a series of 99 sculptural pots that represent the 99 names of God in Islam, known as Asma Al-Husna (The Beautiful Names). Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye, a Muslim woman psychotherapist & healer, crafted a unique online retreat of spiritual connection, reflection, and contemplation. Every woman in the project then created a piece of artwork to share a snapshot of her experience in the retreat. 2
Black Craftspeople Digital Archive
The Black Craftspeople Digital Archive (BCDA) seeks to showcase Black craftsmanship while bringing to light the stories of Black craftspeople. Founded in 2019, the BCDA brings together scholars, students, museums and archives professionals and the public to collaborate and spread the story of Black craftspeople. 3
Preservers, Innovators, and Rescuers of Culture in Chiapas by Aram Han Sifuentes.
Preservers, Innovators, and Rescuers of Culture in Chiapas features eleven textiles by acclaimed Indigenous artesanas (artists) from Chiapas, Mexico commissioned by US-based fiber artists and activist Aram Han Sifuentes. As part of their 2022 Craft Research Fund Artist Fellowship, Han Sifuentes traveled to Chiapas to understand the function of garments and textiles within the social and cultural context of the area and to learn the traditional practice of backstrap weaving. Through the works on view, combined with a series of interviews Han Sifuentes conducted during her research, visitors learn about the artisanas and their role as preservers, rescuers, and innovators of culture and as protectors of Mayan ancestral knowledge.4
The Center for Craft is a national nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to resourcing, catalyzing, and amplifying how and why craft matters.5
The Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal is a collaboration between the Spokan Tribe of Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe, and the Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation at Washington State University.
The Portal implements the collaborative curation method designed and sustained through the CDSC. Using Mukurtu CMS as the platform for the Portal allows tribes to determine culturally appropriate access to their cultural heritage and knowledge. The materials in the Portal have been selected, vetted, and curated by tribal representatives from each tribe. The material in the portal represents the histories, languages, cultural belongings, and contemporary lives of the participating tribes. Many digital heritage items have one or more records associated with them, as well as added traditional knowledge and cultural narratives provided by tribal community members that enhance and enrich understanding to many diverse audiences.6
- Excerpt from the Grounded in Clay “About” section in their website. ↩︎
- Excerpt from the 99 Clay Vessels “About” section in their website. ↩︎
- Excerpt from the BCDA “About” section in their website. ↩︎
- Excerpt from the exhibit description on the Center for Craft website. ↩︎
- Excerpt from the Center for Craft “About” section in their website. ↩︎
- Excerpt from The Plateau People’s Web Portal “About” section in their website. ↩︎