Why’d They Put That In A Museum
Show Notes
Artist: Dave, later recorded as David Drake (American, c. 1801 – 1870s)
Item: storage jar
Details: 1858. Stony Bluff Manufactory, Old Edgefield, South Carolina. Alkaline-glazed stoneware, 55.7 cm high, 68.6 cm diameter, approx. 25 gal. capacity. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/747045?pkgids=789
Storage Jar by Dave the Potter
In this episode of ‘Why They Put That in a Museum,’ hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees explore the history and cultural significance of a stoneware storage jar crafted by Dave the Potter, an enslaved artisan who lived in South Carolina in the 1850’s. They delve into the details of the jar’s construction, its historical context, and discuss Dave’s unique inscription. Join Beth and Sarah as they uncover the interplay between aesthetics, history, and the reasons behind why such an object deserves a place in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:54 Today’s Topic: Dave the Potter
02:07 Description of the Pottery
04:03 The Inscription and Its Significance
05:48 Dave the Potter: The Man Behind the Art
08:24 The Journey of the Jar
08:47 Cultural and Historical Context
11:41 Why Is This in a Museum?
18:04 Aesthetic and Emotional Impact
20:50 Conclusion and Farewell
Contact Us
Say helloAbout the Podcasters
Sarah Lees
Sarah is a museum curator and researcher who has worked in organizations both large and small, and who remembers her first assignment for an art history class – to look into Rembrandt’s eyes and describe what she saw there. She believes everyone can find those kinds of connections to some form of creative expression, whether it’s a painting, a grandmother’s quilt, or a perfectly formed pen-stroke in a manuscript.
Beth Bacon
In addition to being an avid museum-goer, Beth Bacon is an author for young readers. Her books empower today’s kids to learn about themselves and the world through reading. She is also a teacher and branding consultant and a volunteer at the Missouri History Museum. Beth holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, an MA in Communication Arts from NYU, and a BA in Literature from Harvard University.
Music Credit
The music you hear in the intro and outro was composed by Edward Whelan. We appreciate his contribution to our podcast.
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