Qwist Joseph
Ceramics In Relationship to Masculinity: how clay can reshape the manly man
January 28, 2023
Summary:
Summary of the Group Discussion by E. Comstock
Readings:
Power and Equity: Sexism in Ceramics led by Ayumi Horie and Sunshine Cobb
Antlers Do What No Other Bones Can by Katherine J. Wu
What Is Masculinity In Art, And Do We Have To Care? by Torey Akers
Royal Academy Panel Discussion: Gendered Materials with Ann Christopher, Coco Crampton and Mark Dunhill (Dunhill and O’Brien), moderated by Helena Reckitt.
The Descent of Man by Grayson Perry
The Will To Change by Bell Hooks
Discussion Guide:
Ceramics in Relationship to Masculinity: how clay can reshape the manly man
About the topic
Clay is a contradictory medium. In the raw state, it’s soft and sensitive. Once fired, the material is strong and rock hard. But this permanence is merely a facade, masking its underlying fragility. These two states of clay mirror our stereotypical gender binary. As this harmful system continues to erode, does clay’s ability to be both flexible and static make it particularly helpful in this conversation? Are these contradictory qualities earth’s lessons to us about our missteps?
It wasn't until I lost all the hair on my body from an autoimmune disease that I was forced to confront my masculinity. Clay helped me to explore my gender, revealing how it had affected me and others in my life. Once I started talking about it, I felt like I had stepped out from behind a veil. As I continue to develop this work, I’m challenged and inspired by so many other incredible artists also investigating gender. There are too many to list, and yet I’m frustrated by the lack of engagement from men, particularly white, cis, straight, able-bodied men. Why do men like me so often feel exempt from talking about identity in relation to their work? Is there more to it than a fear of losing power? Who is our silence hurting? How do we look at masculinity through an intersectional lens?
This discussion will center around the ways in which masculinity has shaped the field of ceramics. We will collectively question why the majority of our classrooms are made up of women, including the A-B Projects State of Ceramics space, while men still dominate the gallery scene and other positions of power. How can we reflect on the lessons of our material and use it to shift the field? Can clay support us as we slake down our culture's rigid gender framework and what can we form from the reclaim?
— Qwist Joseph
About the lead artist
Qwist Joseph is a visiting artist and instructor at the University of Arkansas. His work investigates the insidious qualities of masculinity. Through the lens of being a hairless person, he hopes to reframe what manhood can look like for himself and others. After years working alongside his dad at the family bronze foundry, Qwist received a BFA from Colorado State University and an MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has completed residencies at the Archie Bray Foundation, the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, and the University of Denver. In 2019, Qwist received an emerging artist award from the National Council on Education in Ceramics Art. He has shown nationally and internationally, including Peters Projects in Santa Fe, The Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale in South Korea, and the Officine Saffi exhibition in Milan, Italy. He has taught at Chaffey College, the University of Redlands, the University of Denver, and Pitzer College.