The papers of educator Judith Schwartz measure 3.4 linear feet and date from 1977 to 2021, with the bulk of the material dating from 1992 to 2007. The bulk of the collection relates to Schwartz's book, Confrontational Ceramics, and files for the related exhibition Confrontational Clay: The Artist as Social Critic (2000-2002). Also found are professional files that document Schwartz's work on boards and committees, an Oribe workshop, and a Howard Kottler book project, and an exhibition file for Forms and TransFormations: Current Expressions in Ceramics, from Art to Industry (1997).
Scope and Contents:
The papers of educator Judith Schwartz measure 3.4 linear feet and date from 1977 to 2021, with the bulk of the material dating from 1992 to 2007. The bulk of the collection relates to Schwartz's book, Confrontational Ceramics, and includes a preliminary layout draft, checklists, printed materials, permission forms, artist correspondence, born-digital records, a sound recording, and files for the related exhibition Confrontational Clay: The Artist as Social Critic (2000-2002). Also found are professional files including a video recording that document Schwartz's work on boards and committees, an Oribe workshop, and a Howard Kottler book project, and an exhibition file for Forms and TransFormations: Current Expressions in Ceramics, from Art to Industry (1997).
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 2 series.
Series 1: -- Confrontational Ceramics -- Book Project Files, 1977-2008 (2.8 linear feet; Boxes 1-3)
Series 2: Professional Files, 1992-2021 (0.6 linear feet; Boxes 3-4)
Biographical / Historical:
Judith Schwartz is an art historian and an educator at New York University where she has been professor emeritus since 2017 specializing in sculpture and craft media.
Schwartz studied ceramics at Ohio State University from 1960 to 1962. She went on to receive a B. A. in studio art from Queens College in 1964 and an M. A. from New York University in 1969. While working towards her doctorate, received in 1983, Schwartz completed her dissertation titled, "Contemporary American Ceramic Sculpture: Satire in Selected Works of Robert Arneson, David Gilhooly and Howard Kottler." Over the course of her career, Schwartz has devoted much of her research to craft artists that inject social commentary into their work. As a result, she developed the exhibition Confrontational Clay (2000-2002), along with the book Confrontational Ceramics published in 2008, showcasing works by these artists.
Before beginning her career at New York University in 1970, Schwartz held positions with Sculpture in the Environment (SITE), Lenox China Company, World Organization Ceramic Education Foundation, Korea Ceramic Foundation, and the International Academy of Ceramics. She is a member of the National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts, American Craft Council, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, and other organizations. Schwartz is also the recipient of numerous grants and awards including Educator of the Year Award from the Renwick Alliance in 2012, a grant to produce the exhibition Art Deco Porcelain: The Noritake Years, a "Contribution to the Field of Ceramic Education" award from the Everson Museum of Art in 1993, and various other honors.
Related Materials:
Also found in the Archives of American Art are the Howard Kottler papers, 1907-2006.
Provenance:
The Judith Schwartz papers were donated in 2022 by Judith Schwartz.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Educators -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Art historians -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
