Faculty and students from the School of Art + Art History and representatives of the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art hosted internationally acclaimed ceramicist Magdalene Odundo in April during her three-day visit to the University of Florida.
UF honored Odundo, professor of ceramics at the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey, UK, with an honorary doctorate on Friday, April 25, 2014. The following day Odundo and her sister, Helen Wanda, toured the UF Ceramics facility, conducted studio visits with UF Ceramics MFA candidates, visited Professor Nan Smith’s off-campus studio and enjoyed dinner with Ceramics faculty and graduates. On Sunday Odundo toured the Harn Museum prior to giving a gallery talk near two of her ceramic vessels that are part of the Harn’s contemporary collection.
“Magdalene’s talk included highlights about her education, ideas and the development of her artwork,” says Professor Smith. “She spoke about her initial interest and training as a graphic designer and how she found ceramics and loved the art form. She was trained in England, educated by Michael Cardew and by working in villages with master potters in Africa.”
Several special guests attended the gallery talk, including Dean Lucinda Lavelli; SA+AH Professors Robin Poynor, Victoria Rovine and Nan Smith; UF Ceramics graduate students; Eric Segal, Harn educational director; and Susan Cooksey, curator of the African Collection at the Harn.
On Sunday evening Odundo was hosted by Professor Linda Arbuckle at her home for a final celebratory dinner. Special thanks to Professor Anna Calluori Holcombe who arranged Odundo’s visit and activities.
