NC Art | Frank Creech Art Gallery

African Ceramics: Contemporary Vitality From Ancient Veins
On March 13th Dr. Elizabeth Perrill, Consulting Curator for African Art at the NCMA, will be presenting a 45-minute lecture on African ceramics at Johnston Community College (JCC). Dr. Perrill’s research specialization in Zulu pottery has dovetailed perfectly with the focus on African ceramics spearheaded by William Gregory at JCC, and the NCMA is proud to facilitate this visiting lecture.
Drawing inspiration from the NCMA permanent exhibition, Dr. Perrill will begin her lecture with a comparison of one of the most ancient works in the African collection, the Nok culture terracotta dating from 600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E., with the contemporary ceramic work of Magdalene Odundo. These two artworks, both currently on display in the NCMA African gallery, are both hand-built, earthenware ceramics. Catering to the ceramic arts studio specialization of the JCC audience, Dr. Perrill will discuss the differences between the techniques used by each artist and then expand from this jumping off point into a broader survey of the various types of ceramic techniques and training that are currently thriving in her own country of specialization, South Africa. Dr. Perrill will conclude by introducing the work of several contemporary African ceramists.

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Art Works.