3rd Annual Kaabo Award for Black Ceramicists
On Saturday, May 27, 2023 the pottery sale to fund our 3rd Annual Kaabo Award for Black Ceramicists goes live. This award was created to pay it forward to our community after the Black business boom of 2020, following the death of George Floyd. Since then, through our annual pottery sale fundraisers, we've awarded over $10,000 to support Black ceramicists who demonstrate a love for the craft and a dedication to the field.
This year, we received additional funding from the Jean and Heyward Pelham Foundation which was made possible by our fiscal sponsor Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. With this generous donation along with our pottery fundraiser, we hope to double our previous year's giving capacity.
Application deadline Friday, June 23, 2023
2022 Award Recipients
Announcing the 2nd Annual Kaabo Award for Black Ceramicist recipients!
Nickeyia Johnson, a recent LSU ceramics graduate, is being awarded $2,250 based on demonstrated need, strength of work, stated community oriented goals as well as her activity and involvement in the collective.
Stephanie Thames is being awarded $2,000 to cover six months of studio access and materials toward her goals of community outreach and a solo exhibition.
Sally Binard is being awarded $500 toward firing fees in the creation of larger pieces for a body of work about women of the Haitian Revolution.
The review team unanimously decided to grant a continuing award to last year’s junior awardee Makyah Thomas-Malone in the amount of $250 which will cover material fees for her high school senior year ceramics class.
Kaabo means welcome in Yoruba.
Kaabo Clay Collective connects African diasporic ceramicists worldwide and supports its members with resources, and opportunities generated through the group itself.
Each member is empowered to initiate a project, event, scholarship or any other activity. The only stipulation is that the idea must involve or benefit other Kaabo members. Membership also entails the sharing of resources with other Kaabo members. In short, we are a taking care of each other to build upon our ceramic skills and a joyful community of Black ceramic artists; for us by us.
Get involved by joining the forum.
Access is free and open to all Black-identifying ceramicists by joining the site. This is the place where we connect, exchange ideas, ask for advice and share opportunities. Keep up with the forum on your phone by downloading the Spaces mobile app.
Vessels for the Human Spirit
"Vessels for the Human Spirit" tells the story of the life and work of beloved ceramicist David MacDonald, a retired Syracuse University professor and master potter whose art career was born out of the tumultuous socio-political climate of the 1960s. Reflecting MacDonald's humility as an artist and human being, the documentary is not just about his own life but serves as a starting point in uncovering the vast but under-researched history of African American ceramics.
Umoja Advice Roundtable
On Saturday, November 5, 2022, we had our first advice roundtable discussion via Google Meet video call. Everyone in attendance was encouraged to share their experiences and knowledge. We discussed pricing, experiences at predominantly white events, wholesaling, working with galleries, business advice for sculptors vs. potters and more.
Florida ceramicist, educator and researcher David F. Mack is a contributor to this exhibition, currently at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is the author of the congressional reparations bill, "The Stolen Bones Act of 1619," which seeks to resolve the theft of artifacts created by slave labor. Visit the link below, scroll down to the audio guide and click on #564 to hear his comments. Please join David in lobbying your local, state and federal political leadership to support and endorse this new legislation. The full text of the act has been posted by Mr. Mack in our forum.
Unraveling Podcast
with 2021 Kaabo Awardee Gerald Brown
Building off Gerald's studio and curatorial practice, Unraveling podcast is a platform to think through the complexities of art, while using readily available resources to unpack complicated ideas related to life. With the help of friends and special guests, each episode will use ceramics, music, books, pop culture and any other source material as springboards to explore topics about identity, culture, fears and ambitions. This show is for everyone, a freshman BFA student, a local high school teacher or your grandma! Let's unravel these ideas together.
Listen to Season 1 on
Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify!
Contact Us
A better future is possible. Contact us to learn more about our mission and work, or to become involved yourself.