Museums at W&L: Winter 2023 Programs and Exhibitions Two new ceramics exhibits, which spotlight women artists, open to the public Feb. 1.

By Emily Innes
January 18, 2023

“Mother Clay: The Pottery of Three Pueblo Women” – New Exhibition on view @ Reeves Museum of Ceramics | Feb. 1-April 29

Presenting new artwork by Jody Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo), Judy Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo) and Kathleen Wall (Jemez Pueblo), “Mother Clay: The Pottery of Three Pueblo Women” offers an intimate look at the work of Pueblo potters from New Mexico, presenting Pueblo pottery in the context of place, time and culture. Each featured artist is a renowned potter recognized for their distinctive and high-quality work.

Beyond their accolades, they are also culture bearers. As contemporary Native women artists, they defy expectations and stereotypes. By placing Pueblo art in the here and now, they create a cultural connection spanning from their ancestors to their descendants. Learn how “Mother Clay” is revealed through three women in this captivating exhibit.

This exhibit is free and open to the public, with a reception and artist panel scheduled for Feb. 1, 5-7 p.m. All three artists and the exhibition’s guest curator, Tony Chavarria, will be at the event to answer questions about their work.

“Born of Fire: Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists” – Exhibition on View @ Watson Galleries | Feb. 1-April 29

Women have traditionally only played a minor role in Japan’s long history of ceramics. “Born of Fire: Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists” features a selection of works created by emerging and internationally established Japanese women ceramic artists. Pioneering new forms and technical and aesthetic innovations in the medium, these remarkable artists are breaking barriers and forging new ways of creating and thinking about ceramics that reflect changes in contemporary Japanese art and society. The works express the influence of nature, innovations in ceramic-making techniques and a diverse array of practices.

These ceramics offer a contemporary and artistic counterpart to W&L’s traditional and functional Senshin’an Tea Room and its tea wares. Encountering the works in this exhibition allows us to expand our understanding of Japanese art and culture through a medium that straddles the old and the new. As the Museums at W&L continues to broaden its interpretation of ceramic history, we invite you to reflect on ceramics as a global art form and clay as a medium that spans continents.

This exhibit is free and open to the public, with a reception and curator talk scheduled for March 8, 5-7 p.m.

“Born of Fire: Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists” is organized by The Crow Museum of Asian Art of the University of Texas at Dallas.

Artists: Fukumoto Fuku, Tokuda Yasokichi IV, Katsumata Chieko, Matsuda Yuriko, Koike Shōko, Kishi Eiko, Mori Aya, Hayashi Kaku, Futamura Yoshimi, Tanaka Tomomi, Inaba Chikako, Fujikasa Satoko, Yamamoto Junko, Takatsu Mio and Kitamura Junko.

MOTHER CLAY EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING

“Mother Clay” Artist Panel Discussion @ Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library | Feb. 1, 5-6 p.m.

The Museums at W&L invite you to meet and celebrate Jody Naranjo, Judy Tafoya and Kathleen Wall, whose work will be featured in “Mother Clay: The Pottery of Three Pueblo Women.” The evening will begin with an artist panel discussion led by Tony Chavarria, the exhibition’s guest curator. The materials, methods and motifs of “Mother Clay” reflect the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Pueblo cultures and ceramic traditions.

“Mother Clay” Opening Reception @ Reeves Museum of Ceramics | Feb. 1, 6:15-7 p.m.

Join the Museums at W&L for the opening reception for “Mother Clay: The Pottery of Three Pueblo Women” following the exhibition’s artist panel discussion. The event is free and open to the public. Food and drink will be provided; identification required for consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Demonstrating Native Allyship Luncheon with Alumnus Joel Bernstein, Ph.D. @ Watson Galleries | Feb. 2, Noon-1 p.m.

Join the Museums at W&L for a special lunch and discussion with Joel Bernstein ’57, Ph.D., who is a retired professor of Native American art. During this talk, he will share insights from more than 50 years of work and friendship with members of Native American communities.

RSVP at calendly.com/mwlu/native-allyship.

“Mother Clay” Exhibit Tours with Guest Curator, Tony Chavarria @ Reeves Museum of Ceramics | Feb. 2, 1:30-3 p.m.

The Museums at W&L invite you to a series of tours of “Mother Clay: The Pottery of Three Pueblo Women” led by Tony Chavarria, the exhibition’s guest curator. Chavarria currently serves as curator of ethnology at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and was the co-curator of the traveling exhibit “Grounded in Clay: The Spirit of Pueblo Pottery.”

RSVP at calendly.com/mwlu/motherclay-tours.

Monacan Pottery Traditions with Victoria Ferguson @ Reeves Museum of Ceramics | Mar. 10-11, TBA

BORN OF FIRE EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING

“Born of Fire” Curator Talk with Jacqueline Chao @ Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library | March 8, 5-6 p.m.

The Museums at W&L invite you to celebrate women ceramicists exhibited in “Born of Fire: Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists,” organized by the Crow Museum of Asian Art of the University of Texas at Dallas. The evening will begin with a lecture by Jacqueline Chao, Ph.D., curator and scholar of Asian art. “Born of Fire” features 14 remarkable artists who are breaking barriers and forging new ways of creating and thinking about ceramics that reflect changes occurring in contemporary Japanese art and society.

“Born of Fire” Gallery Reception @ Watson Galleries | March 8, 6:15-7 p.m.

Following the “Born of Fire” curator talk, join the Museums at W&L for a gallery reception for the exhibition. The event is free and open to the public. Food and drink will be provided; identification required for consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Women’s Day Tea @ Watson Galleries | March 4, 10-11:15 a.m.

All are invited to the W&L Chanoyu Tea Society’s Special Tea for Women and Girls on March 4. In conjunction with Women’s History Month, we will be serving sweets and matcha tea to honor the accomplishments of women from around the world. Eleven women-crafted tea bowls from the Hal and Barbra Higginbotham Collection will be featured.

Free tickets may be reserved at calendly.com/mwlu/womensdaytea2023.

There will be two, 30-minute seatings at 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Seats are limited to 20 per seating, so be sure to cancel your reservation if your plans change. Each participant must make a reservation under their name. For more information, contact Janet Ikeda at ikedaj@wlu.edu.

You can follow tea activities at https://my.wlu.edu/japanese-tearoom or on social media (Facebook: @Chanoyu Tea Society of Washington & Lee University; Instagram: @WLUtearoom).

Lunch and Learn @ Watson Galleries | March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

The Museums will be hosting “Lunch and Learn,” a series of short, informal lectures held in the Watson Galleries each Monday in March and the first Monday in April. The Museums will provide a light lunch and refreshments. Seating is limited, so sign up soon. Dates and lecture descriptions are listed below:

• March 6: “Women’s History and the Environment through an Artist’s Eyes,” presented by Emma Steinkraus, assistant professor of art. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/artists-eyes.
• March 13: “Women Are People Too? The Slippery Slope of Expanding Personhood in the U.S.,” presented by Carliss Chatman, associate professor of law. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/women-are-people.
• March 20: “Friendship, Love, and Revolutionary Politics: Claudia Jones and Abhimanyu Manchanda,” presented by Lubabah Chowdhury, assistant professor of English. Join the Museums at W&L for an interactive talk with Chowdhury focusing on Black feminist communist activist Claudia Jones and her romantic relationship with fellow activist Abhimanyu Manchanda. In a world filled with relationship advice and “dos” and “don’ts,” what insight into how we treat and care for one another could activists provide? Register at calendly.com/mwlu/love-and-revolution.
• March 27: “Gender Battles: Spiritual Power and Land rights in Southern Chile,” presented by Romina Green, assistant professor of history. In the Mapuche culture of Southern Chile, the role of the “machi” (shaman/healer) is traditionally held by women. Join the Museums at W&L for a special presentation by Green on the spiritual battles between “machis” and Capuchin priests that took place between 1897 and 1922 concerning land rights, community control and the future of Mapuche children. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/gender-battles.
• April 3: “Arab Women’s Art and Activism for Social Justice,” presented by Jumana Al-Ahmad, visiting assistant professor of Arabic. In conjunction with an installation of artwork by Sama Alshaibi, Mary Tuma, Dena Al-Adeeb and Youmna Chlala, this talk will take place in Leyburn Library. Register at calendly.com/mwlu/arab-women.