I realise now that episode 1 of season 1 also started with the institution of ‘school’ in some ways , but oh well, at least I’m consistent! Ep 1 is talking about craft schools, mainly, but also what it means to have a craft education. What’s it for? What has it missed out? What does it promise?
In the US, many of craft schools were made possible through the GI Bill, a state fund from the mid 40s that supported initiatives and education for returning veterans. Seems kind of unlikely in our current climate, but much of this government money was funnelled into craft and art education. A well known beneficiary might be Black Mountain College. Other schools like Penland School of Craft, and Worcester Craft Center began life as schools for European colonial-settler women to learn and perpetuate handcrafts to make a living.
Both of these origins struck me as interesting, as, whilst we’re obviously acknowledging the whiteness and colonialism that is inherent to this narrative, the schools were arguably set up with a social directive. The looming beast of capitalism means that the utopian promise of craft suggested by the likes of William Morris, Bernard Leach, or – in this episode – MC Richards, doesn’t really operate that way, but I loved this idea. That if we look at the underpinnings of what craft education can offer us, and how it’s operated in society, it offers us a way of being in the world that centres: people, environment, community, and not: profit, extraction and indoctrination into a failed state.
Anyone interested….?
Contributors:
Michelle Millar Fisher https://michellemillarfisher.com/
Tom O'Malley, director Worcester Craft Centre https://worcestercraftcenter.org/
Sara Clugage https://dilettantearmy.com/
Fabio Fernandez, director Greenwich House Pottery https://www.greenwichhouse.org/pottery/
Clay Commons was written and produced by Eva Masterman, editing supported by Travis Roush. This podcast was supported by Newcastle University, and the Northern Bridge AHRC Consortium. Artwork created by Kelly Jade
Audio credits:
- "Ambience, Children Playing, Distant, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org
- "Ambience, Seaside Waves, Close, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org