African Ceramics at the Crossroads (?): An Interdisciplinary Conference in Honour of Michael OBrien

The Ceramics Researchers Association of Nigeria (CeRAN), in collaboration with the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Energy Centre, UNN and Project Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, Nigeria announces its 13^th annual conference and exhibition

Theme: Modernising African Ceramics Since the 1900s: Agencies, Agents and Outcomes

Venue: Energy Centre, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Date: 25-28 October, 2016

It has been severally observed that pottery in Africa ran into a variety of difficulties following the introduction of new methods of production and other social transformations associated with the colonial encounter. The Igbo of south-eastern Nigeria appear to have captured it better in one of its maxims: Onye ite abụghị onye ahịa, literarily meaning “the potter is not in business”.

Looking back to the terrain of modern African ceramics since the 1900s, this conference examines the following key questions: What have constituted the agencies of modernisation in African ceramics over the past millennium and what have been the implications? Who have been the key agents of the modernising process? What have been the innovations and challenges associated with African ceramics modernity? Ceramics researchers, potters, curators, writers and scholars of art history, art education, economics, geology, anthropology, archaeology, engineering, and related disciplines are invited to submit paper proposals addressing these or related questions, including issues surrounding the following sub-themes:

·         Contemporary traditional potters in Africa and the challenges of modernity

·         Landmarks in modern African pottery

·         Ceramics and the decolonisation of curriculum in African educational institutions: Previous issues and current directions.

·         The making of modern potters and potteries in Africa: Histories, processes and products.

·         Pottery painting in African metropolises: Creative innovation or emblems of production problems?

·         Domestication of modern ceramics tools and production technology in Africa: Challenges and breakthroughs

·         Ceramics industries in Africa: Yesterday, today and tomorrow

·         Ceramics raw materials utilization and development

·         Geology, Archaeology, Engineering and African ceramics since the 1900s

·         Ceramics and greenhouse technology

·         Ceramics education and educators in Africa since the 1900s

·         Potters, potteries and their practices in a developing economy

·         Commercialisation of African pottery in a globalised world

  

This conference is a tribute to the many agents of the struggle for a viable ceramics production on the continent, especially Michael OBrien, the British potter and influential teacher who succeeded Michael Cardew at the Abuja Pottery Training Centre in 1965 and who has relentlessly worked for the well being of many important potters and potteries in Nigeria since the 1970s. Insightful papers on the life and work of OBrien and other such pioneers are also welcome.

Due Date for paper abstracts: 31^st August 2016

Length: 200 words or less

Additional information: Institutional or other affiliations, email and phone contacts

Submissions: Send as attached email document in MS-Word to Dr. Ozioma Onuzulike (Conference Liaison) at ozioma.onuzulike@unn.edu.ng and May Ngozi Okafor (LOC Secretary) at may.okafor@unn.edu.ng.

Exhibition:

The conference will feature an exhibition of works by individuals and organizations working in the ceramics field (especially potters, potteries, ceramic artists, ceramics researchers and industries) that reflect aspects of the conference theme. Interested participants should email two or more images of proposed works in JPEG along with a list of works and brief biodata in MS Word. Due date is 31^st August 2016. Selected works should arrive latest October 24, 2016 at 12 noon.

Schedule of Events:

Arrival: October 24; Opening: October 25; Departure: October 28. (A detailed schedule of events will be emailed to participants in due course).

Please see attached document for other details.

We look forward to welcoming you at Nsukka!

Ozioma Onuzulike, MFA, Ph.D.

Conference Liaison