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,
object