Ceramics 99 Clay Vessels: The Muslim Women Storytelling Project

In this DukeCreate hands-on workshop, co-hosted by the Muslim Student Association and Center for Muslim Life, multimedia artist and grassroots educator Alison Kysia shares a socially engaged art project she created called 99 Clay Vessels: The Muslim Women Storytelling Project. After a prolonged experience of anti-Muslim bigotry, she created a series of 99 pinch pots that represent the 99 names of God in Islam, symbolizing the diversity of all encapsulated in the One.

Alison will describe how and why she created the 99 pots, including some discussion of the firing technique she used to capture the fire marks on the clay. We will discuss the healing resources inherent in Islamic traditions (like the 99 names) and how the project amplifies perspectives that challenge two decades of power abuses against Muslims at home and abroad. We will also reflect on how the 99 Clay Vessels inspire us to think about our passion and purpose in life, and who we want to be as vessels in the world.

Throughout the workshop, participants will make similar clay pinch pots, which Alison will use to build a larger memorial for the project. Participants can take their pinch pots with them after the workshop and/or donate some of them for the memorial.