CRUST - Ceramics reimagined using sustainable technique

The malleability of clay is both physical and conceptual, offering a connection to the natural world while responding to a desire for tactility and meaning in our digital age. Clay is formed over centuries from the weathering and erosion of rocks through slow but continuous processes and the production of ceramics was historically located near clay deposits. Today however, ceramic materials are industrially produced by global mining operations which standardize materials, ship long distances and enact a heavy environmental toll. Associate Professor Linda Swanson and MFA Students in Ceramics and Sculpture Teresa Dorey, Daniel Gillberg and Loriane Thibodeau are four artists working with ceramics while centering sustainability as a core concern conceptually and technically in their practice. The panel will present recent projects and initiatives that highlight material and firing innovations involving local, recycled and renewable resources.