Craftivism and White Feminism
A lecture by M.C. Baumstark, held at The Front, New Orleans, March 31st 2019. This lecture will trace craftivism's 21st century emergence within third wave feminist ideology, and will contemplate the future of the movement in light of the Trump presidency, #metoo, #BlackLivesMatter, and other political catalysts. M.C. Baumstark questions the accessibility and intersectionality of craft and craftivism while positing new strategies for artists (white women in particular) to make their practice more ethical and progressive. Mary Callahan Baumstark Mary Callahan Baumstark is a teacher, writer, maker, and art-ministrator with her MA in Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Art Histories from OCAD University. She is the Executive Director of the Lewistown Art Center, the Resident Historian for the Socially Engaged Craft Collective, and an independent writer, critic, and curator. Born and raised in the mountains of Montana, Baumstark received her B.F.A. with an emphasis in Ceramics in 2013 from the University of Montana. Before continuing to graduate school, she spent a year as an intern and assistant at the Clay Studio of Missoula. Mary's master thesis, "Ceramic Craftivism: Activism and Resistance in Contemporary Clay," was the first piece of writing dedicated to redefining craftivism to include multiple craft media. In 2016, after completing her Master’s Degree, Mary moved back to Montana. Since then, she has served as an adjunct faculty member in Art History at the University of Montana Western, and become the Executive Director of the Lewistown Art Center. In addition to monthly exhibitions and special collaborations, Mary’s projects include the first book dedicated to Socially Engaged Craft, “Social Objects,” essays for Studio Magazine and Ostracon Journal, and two anthology chapters on craft’s political efficacy to be released in 2019. Follow M.C. Baumstark: bonedrybodies.weebly.com @maryminimally
