2022
LECTURE: Het Princessehof – Duurzaame keramiek, Veranderend designbeleid in de Nederlandse musea, Stichting Designgeschiedenis Nederland, Depot Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, 12 May.
OPENING SPEECH: We_are_vessels, het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam, 1 May.
PANEL MODERATOR: Environmental Engagement: Clay + Solastalgia Panel - Irma Vega Bijou (USA), Joy Key (USA), Amy Snider (Canada) & Rachael Jones (USA), NCECA Conference, Fertile Ground, 16 March.
LECTURE: Sustainable Ceramics: An Exploration of Some Conceptual and Professional Factors, Sunderland University Art & Design Research Seminar series, 16 February.
LECTURE SERIES: Sustainability in Ceramics, London Potters (UK), 19th & 26th January. LINK
OPENING SPEECH: We_are_vessels at het Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam, 1 May 2022, with Bas Hendrikx & Nico Thöne
2021
CONVERSATION: Curators Jennifer Zwilling and Dr Wendy Gers share a 'Lunch and Learn: conversations with artists and friends'. We chat about curating, community, coaching and especially about environmental considerations associated with raw materials. The weekly event is hosted by the Clay Studio Philadelphia, and this session was held on 10 June 2021.
LECTURE: Are you interested in developing a green practice? Do you want to reduce your environmental impact and produce more sustainable pottery and ceramics? Clay Doctor session, Ceramics Congress, 27th May.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The Future of Art and Art Research: (Re)Crafting Sustainable Practices into Contemporary Ceramic Art and Design. International Conference; Theories and Practices of Art and Design: Sociocultural, Economic and Political Contexts, 21 April, HSE Art & Design School, Moscow, Russia.
PODCAST GUEST: Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. Discussion on Curatorial Activism with Ben Carter, 25 March LINK
HOST & MODERATOR: MUD MATTERS - artists Anna-Maria Wallace (Founder: Made OF Australia) & Joëlle Swanet (Belgium) discuss innovation and environmental practices.
HOST & MODERATOR: MUD MATTERS - Artists Dr Fiona Fell (Australia) & Jonathan Mess (USA) in conversation with Dr Wendy Gers.
HOST & MODERATOR: Karla Garcia - Raw Clay & More, NCECA Conference.
HOST & MODERATOR: MUD MATTERS - Casey Whittier (USA) & Belinda Blignaut (South Africa) explore environmental issues in their ceramics practices from very different perspectives. These talented artists share their work, life philosophies and teaching experiences.
HOST & MODERATOR: Ceramics Coach - Learn More About Us - Meet and Greet Zach Kormer (USA) & Myrto Zirini (Greece), NCECA Conference.
LECTURE: Green Ceramics: Exploring Environmental Practices. 17 March 2021, NCECA Conference.
HOST & MODERATOR: MUD MATTERS - Acclaimed Korean Curator, Hyeyoung Cho in dialogue with Dr Wendy Gers.
In this webinar, Hyeyoung presents an overview of contemporary Korean ceramics and we discuss the international contemporary ceramics scene, pricing, galleries, our views of the post-pandemic arts landscape and market trends.
HOST & MODERATOR: MUD MATTERS - Between East & West: Artist Sin-ying Ho in dialogue with Dr Wendy Gers.
HOST & MODERATOR: MUD MATTERS - Dr Wendy Gers in conversation with Carassa Carman about developing a sustainable art practice.
GUEST LECTURE: Curating Ceramics – Advancing the Field?, Southern Ceramics, UK, 20 Dec. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Overview of my Curatorial Practice & Current Research into Green & Sustainable Ceramics, City University of New York (CUNY), 17 Nov. LINK
CERAMICS FOR CHARITY ONLINE CONGRESS - CONVENOR & INTERVIEWER WITH JOSH COLLINSON & Vipoo Srivilasa: Curated series of interviews with interviews Andile Dyalvane (South Africa), Bisila Noha (UK), Joëlle Swanet (Belgium), Jonathan Hopp (Israel / USA), Karla Garcia (USA), Ken Yutdanai (Thailand), Manal Morcos (Palestine), Neha Kudchakar (India), Pablo Ponce (Argentina) and Sharbani Das Gupta (India / USA).
2019
GERSHWIN LECTURE: From Curating to Cryating and back again: Socially-engaged curating and Affective Labour. King's College University, London, 20 March.
GUEST LECTURE: Crafting curatorial theory & practice beyond the White Cube, Plymouth College of Art, England, 12 March.
2018
VIDEO CONVERSATION: Artaxis National Clay Week Conversations, Ceramics & Industry, Anthony Stellaccio interviews Wendy Gers, 9 October 9th. LINK
LECTURE: Fast forward: ceramics, new technologies and the future, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, 7 September, Sponsored by the Alliance Française, Ahmedabad.
WORKSHOP: Cultural exchange with France & mobility for Indian academics. In Collaboration with Romain Camus, Director, Institut français, Rajasthan, at the Indian Institute for Craft and Design, Jaipur, 5 September.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Indian Ceramics Triennale, at the Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, 2 September. Sponsored by the Institut français. LINK
CONFERENCE PRESENTER, Bihor couture & contemporizing indigenous crafts through style & luxury, at the Folk and Tribal Art Traditions: Revival and Sustenance Conference, Rajasthan Lalit Kala Akademi, Jaipur, 30 August. Sponsored by the Institut français.
CONFERENCE LECTURE: Digital dilemmas: subjugation or liberation - ceramics education in the 21st century, International Conference of the 60th ‘Concorso Internazionale della Ceramica d'Arte Contemporanea - Premio Faenza’ , Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza, Italy. 28 June. LINK
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Beyond Ubuntu: Radical Curating and Research in Ceramics. Restating Clay: making, learning, communicating & collecting contemporary studio ceramics, Centre for Ceramic Art (CoCA), York Art Gallery, York, UK, 19 & 20 March. LINK
2017
PANEL ORGANISER & SPEAKER: Clay matters, Hasselt, Belgium, PXL-MAD, 16-18 November.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: 30th anniversary celebrations of the Künstlerhaus in Neumünster, Germany. 23 September.
GUEST LECTURE: Céramiques contemporaines en France et ailleurs. Ecole d'art de Beauvais, France. 10 July.
Céramiques contemporaines en France et ailleurs. Ecole d'art de Beauvais, France. 10 July, with Hervé Le Nost (3rd from left) and Patrick Loughran (5th from left).
2016
OPENING SPEAKER, ARTIST’S FORUM CONFERENCE CONVENOR, MODERATOR & SPEAKER: Cont{r}act Earth, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, China. 9, 10 & 11 Dec.
BOOK LAUNCH, GUEST LECTURE & GALLERY TOUR: Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 04 Aug.
BOOK LAUNCH: University of Pretoria, 19 Aug.
BOOK LAUNCH: University of Johannesburg, South Africa, 22 Aug.
ROUND TABLE: #pArticipateRadio with Bruce Dennill (host), Wilhelm Disbergen, (scenographer) and Tarryn-Lee Hudson (actress), Johannesburg, 22 Aug. LINK
LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Topographies of the Obsolete, Thank Tank 2. KIHB University, Bergen, Norway, 26 August. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Mud Matters. ENSA Limoges, France, 4 May. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: La Céramique comme expérience. Visions. Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 17 April. LINK
PANEL CONVENOR & PRESENTER: Ceramics & Sustainability. Virtual Clay lecture series. 92nd Str Y, New York. Video conference with Wayne Higby (International Academy of Ceramics), Kevin Murray (World Craft Council – Asia Pacific) & Joshua Green (NCECA), 6 April. LINK
LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Handwork + Digital Tools, Panel with Holly Hanessian [moderator], Del Harrow, Andy Brayman & Wendy Gers, 17 March 2016, 2:15-3:45pm, Grand Ballroom 2501 C, Kansas City Convention Center, 301 West 13th Street, Kansas City, Missoui, USA
LECTURE & ROUND TABLE MODERATOR: Globalization and Sustainability - The Future of Ceramics? Debate with leaders of three key international ceramics and craft organizations – Josh Green (NCECA), Kevin Murray (World Crafts Council, Asia Pacific Region) and Wayne Higby (IAC), Hosted by the 92nd Street Y, New York, 6 April 2016, 7 pm, Eastern Standard Time. LINK
2015
GUEST LECTURE: Eclipsed: digital technologies in contemporary ceramics. Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 04 Aug.
PANEL CONVENOR, LECTURE & ROUND TABLE MODERATOR: Curatorial models and protocols in international ceramics biennales: ‘Ubuntu’ co-creation, collaboration and dialogue as the hallmark of the 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Stepping Up: Australian Ceramics Triennial, Canberra, Australia, 10 July. LINK
LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Les Échanges France-Taïwan : créer, innover, expérimenter, construire ensemble. D’days, Les arts codés, Pantin, Paris, 7 June. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Une réflexion autour du nouveau matérialisme dans l’art et le design contemporains. Pavillon Bosio, École supérieure d’arts plastiques de la Ville de Monaco, 26 March. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Exhibition Politics: A personal reflection on the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Video conference, University of North Texas, USA, 6 March. LINK
LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Curating and Craft: What Happens Now? Critical Craft Forum at College Art Association Conference, New York. Moderator: Namita Gupta Wiggers (Director, Critical Craft Forum). Other panel members: Glenn Adamson (Director: Museum of Arts & Design) & Anthony Elms (Associate Curator: ICA, Philadelphia). 13 Feb. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Ceramics - Agency and New Materialism. Project Art, Cummington, Massachusetts, USA, 9 Feb.
2014
KEYNOTE SPEAKER : Camille Claudel et les valeurs du CPA-Dirigeant d'Entreprise, Gala, La Piscine - Musée d'Art et d'Industrie de Roubaix André Diligent, Roubaix, France, 14 Nov.
GUEST LECTURE: Les biennales de la céramique dans un contexte asiatique et international à partir de thèmes conceptuels innovants. Journées d’études, Céramique et Création. Ecole Européenne Supérieure d’art de Bretagne, Quimper, France, 14 Oct. LINK
SYMPOSIUM KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale, Tomorrow is today: a reflection on new tools & digital materialities in contemporary ceramics, Jakarta, Indonesia, 24 Sept. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Opening Pandora’s Box Reflecting on the multiple futures of ceramics. International Conference of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), Dublin, Ireland, 10 Sept. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: The Expanded Field: Ontological Absences & Challenges for Ceramics Biennales & Museums, Ceramics in the Expanded Field Conference, University of Westminster, London, 18 July. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Tomorrow? A preliminary reflection on the multiple futures of ceramics in Italy & Europe. Conférence ‘Architettura e Ceramica’, Rome, Italy, 11 July. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: A preliminary reflection on ethical issues concerning the relationship between Western artists and designers and Chinese ceramics production centres like Jingdezhen. Topographies of the Obsolete: Exploring the Site Specific and Associated Histories of Post-Industry, Workshop # 4. Spode, Stoke on Trent, 21 June. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: A critical Reflection of East Asian Ceramics Biennales. Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia. University of Tokyo, Japan, 15 May. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Contemporary South African Ceramics – hybrid traditions. Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku / Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan, 15 May.
GUEST LECTURE: Digital Materialities in Contemporary International Ceramics. Ceramics and Materials Seminar. Seoul Women’s University, South Korea, 13 May.
CONFERENCE CONVENOR, SESSION CHAIR, & SPEAKER: Terra Nova. International Conference of the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, 3 May. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Terra Nova: overview of critical concepts explored in the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Taylor Art School, Tyler University, Philadelphia, USA, 28 March. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: Emerging Talents in Contemporary South African Ceramics. The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, USA, 27 March.
GUEST LECTURE: Curatorial ethics and protocols in the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. School of Visual Art, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA, 25 March. LINK
PANEL CO-CONVENOR & LECTURE: African Ceramics on Display: Beyond Didactics and Demonstrations. Triennial Conference of the Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA), New York, USA, 15 March. LINK
2013
GUEST LECTURE & PAEL DISCUSSION: Ceramics & the 3d Printing Revolution in South Africa: lecture and discussion with Dr Michaella Janse van Vuuren. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg (UJ). 29 July.
CONFERENCE MODERATOR: Agents of the 3D Revolution, International Conference, UJ, 23 July.
GUEST LECTURE: African identities in Modern and Contemporary South African Pottery. Workshop. Ubumba for Life Program for Adult Learners, Thembaletu, Pietermaritzburg, 16 July.
2012
GUEST LECTURE: New Directions in Contemporary International Ceramics. Kim Sacks Gallery, Johannesburg, 5 Aug.
GUEST LECTURE: Southern African Potteries: 1900-1970. City Campus, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 27 July.
GUEST LECTURE: Southern African Ceramics – yesterday, today and tomorrow. Iziko SA Cultural History Museum, Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, 14 July.
LECTURE: Value-formation mechanisms associated with English & Dutch export domestic pottery in South Africa: early c.20. World Economic History Congress, University of Stellenbosch, 9-13 July.
LECTURE: Le monde (pas si) carré. Tiles from two South African Production potteries of the 1970s: devious dialogues in difficult times. South African Association of Visual and Art Historians. National Conference, UNISA, Pretoria, 3-5 June.
2011
LECTURE: Between fine arts and anthropology. Reinventing the South African art museum & transforming the legacy of Apartheid – from whitewashed gallery to the inclusive rainbow nation. Seminar: The Hybrid Museum – The Museum as Dialogue Institution. Organised by the Centre Franco-Norvégien en Sciences Sociales et Humaines, Paris and held at Musée du Quai Branly, 25 Oct. LINK
GUEST LECTURE: The SA Ceramics Industry 1655-1950: The Colonial Cringe - A Postcolonial Perspective. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg, 22 July.
GUEST LECTURE: Robyn Orlin: the European Decade. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg, 21 July.
GUEST LECTURE: Steven Cohen – An analysis of recurrent themes and recent French works. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg, 20 July.
LECTURE: Cuckoos in the nest. An analysis of aspects of Modernism within Southern African art, production and souvenir pottery. Colloquium - Other Views: Art History in (South) Africa and the Global South. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.