WENDY GERS Phd

WENDY GERS PhD

Contemporary Art Curator

2 decades of curatorial experience on 3 continents

 35 Westfields Avenue, London, SW13 0AT  +44 7404176092 www.wendygers.org/ Academia.edu/WendyGers

SKILLS MOST PROUD OF

Leadership of academically innovative & A life of social engagement that has improved socially engaged curatorial projects in Israel, the conditions of women & minority artists China, South Africa, Taiwan, France etc. World Leading South African, 2014, City Press Research & publication of scholarly & accessible books, catalogues, & articles etc. CURATORIAL Excellent digital skills: Admin & management: MS suite (Word, Excel, 2018 Curator, Venice Biennale 2019 Collateral PowerPoint), Trello, Slack Exhibition for Dept. Culture, Youth & Media, Social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Belgium. Instagram, Pinterest 2017 Curator, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, China. Strategic planning & monitoring of projects 2016 Post-colonialism? Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel. Outstanding communication & client services 2014 Curator: Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Yingge kills: building rapport & loyalty Ceramics Museum, Taipei. 2013 Curator: Museomix, Musée des Arts International curatorial authority, over 60 Décoratifs (MAD), Paris lectures & key note addresses in 17 countries 2011 Associate Curator: Paysages d'ici, PASS, Frameries, Belgium. 2010 Associate Curator: Football et Immigration, EDUCATION CNHI, Paris, France. 2001 - Volunteer, Museo Comarcal de Manresa, 2018 PhD, University of Sunderland, England 2002 Barcelona, Spain. 2000 MA in Art History, University of Natal, 1996 - Curator: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Pietermaritzburg (UNP), South Africa. Cum Laude. 2000 Museum, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 1993 Advanced University Diploma in Information Studies, UNP. Distinctions in 3 courses. ACADEMIA 1993 BA in History of Art & Classical Civilisation, UNP. 2011 - present Research Associate, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. LANGUAGES 2014 - 2017 Academic Director, ENSA, Limoges, France English ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ 2006 - 2015 Lecturer, ESAD Valenciennes, France. 2004 – 2006 Lecturer, Ecole d'Art de Douai, France. French ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ 2003 - 2004 Lecturer, Chamber of Commerce & Spanish ☺ ☺ ☺ Industry, Cambrai, France.

Afrikaans ☺ ☺ ☺

FULL CV

Curatorial Experience…………………………………..……………………………………………………………..p. 03 Over two decades of curatorial experience in Europe, Asia & Africa

Academic Experience…………………………………..……………………………………………………………..p. 06 Over a decade of teaching in higher education

Grants & Prizes………..…………………………………..……………………………………………………………..p. 08 Accolades for professional achievements in Africa, Asia & Europe.

Research: Peer-reviewed Books & Catalogues……………………………………………………………..p. 09 Author of 6 books & catalogues

Research: Peer-reviewed Book Chapters & Journal Articles………………………………………….p. 09 Over 15 scholarly texts about contemporary art & design

Research: Exhibition & Book Reviews, Translations & Editing etc.…………………………………p. 11 Over 15 scholarly reviews, and translations from French

Research: Public-facing scholarship………………………………………………..…………………………….p. 12 Over 15 public-facing texts

Conferences, Guest Lectures & Round Tables……………………………………………………………….p. 14 Over 60 presentations in 17 countries

Biography: Interviews…………………………………………………………………………………………………..p. 20 Personal interviews in European, American, African & Asian publications

Biography: Select Exhibition & Book Reviews……………………………………………………………....p. 21 Exhibition & Book Reviews in European, American, African & Asian publications

Consulting, Voluntary & Extra-professional collaborations……………………………………………p. 22 Numerous collaborations with NGOs & higher education institutions

Board Positions………………………………………………………………………………………………………………p. 24

Memberships…………………………………………………………………………....……………………………………p. 24

Personal Interests…………………………………………………..………………………………....……………..……p. 25

Curatorial Experience

PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 08/2018 - 11/2018 Votive Studies, Concurrent Exhibition, Venice Biennale 2019, Exhibition for Department of Culture, Youth & Media, Belgium.

Responsibilities o Strategic planning & resources management. Leading the Department of Culture, Youth & Media, Belgium in strategic planning for all aspects of the Exhibition including hiring staff, scheduling, transport, partnerships, contracts, opening and closing events, press, advertising, marketing, publication, etc. Achievements o Fundraising and budget management, 150K £.

PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 09/2015 - 04/2017, Exhibition 12/09/2016 - 03/12/2017 Cont{r}act Earth, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, China 3rd most important National Museum in China. LINK Responsibilities o Policy & planning. Leading the Henan Museum in strategic planning for all aspects of the Biennale including hiring staff, scheduling, transport, institutional partnerships, contracts, programmes, international conference, cultural tour, press, advertising, marketing, education, publications, etc. o Budget & resources management. Collegial monitoring of budget: 850K £. o Personnel. Determining requisite staff (number & professional profiles). Collegial supervision (with the Exhibitions Director) of 25 staff (17 museum + 8 external contractors). Hiring temp. staff. o Resources & facilities development. Managing 50 artists. Design of layout for the exhibition (11,500 sq ft). o Ambassadorial. Television interviews & other promotional activities. Achievements o Outreach to local communities & partners. Driving planning sessions with the Education Department to develop programs for life-long learning. o Personnel development. Mentoring & training both the curatorial & administrative teams. o Diversity & Diplomacy. Age, gender, geographical (local, regional & international), race, & other diversity targets were developed & met. o Best practices. With Curatorial Assistants & Senior Management, developed policies for dealing with sensitive issues including censorship & copyright. o Record visitor numbers, 25% increase in visitors, 335 000 total visitors. 3 o Legacy. Production of English & Chinese scholarly catalogues (185p). o Accolades. The Biennial is acknowledged by leading Chinese art world authorities, including Xu Bing (Artist & Director, CAFA Beijing) & Guangzhou Zhou (IAC China Representative) to be the best contemporary ceramics Biennale in China, to date.

PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 08/2015 – 02/2017, Exhibition 25/11/2016 – 21/01/2017 Post-colonialism? Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel. LINK Leading Israeli contemporary art center. Responsibilities o Policy & planning. Project conception, strategic planning and scheduling. o Project management. Management of 19 artists, collegial coordination of cultural and research tour, 2 international colloquia, demonstrations, seminars, digital catalogue, documentary film, website etc. o Budget & resource management. Budget: approx. 150 K £. o Diversity & Diplomacy. Age, gender, geographical, race, and other targets were developed and met. o Best practices. With Senior Management, developed policies for dealing with sensitive issues including identity politics, ‘breaking the silence’ and ‘speaking out’. Achievements o Accolades: Listed one of 10 best exhibitions in Israel during 2017 by Portfolio Magazine. o Increased public visibility, record visitor numbers and press attention. o Socially engaged: Making a bold political statement against occupation in an increasingly conservative political context. o Diplomacy: This is the first time that 6 leading Israeli Art Academies have participated in a common project. Partners were unanimous about the positive outcomes of the collaboration.

PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 08/2013 - 05/2014, Exhibition 09/05/2014 - 12/10/2014 Terra Nova Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei. LINK Responsibilities o Policy & planning. Project conception, strategic planning & scheduling. o Project management. Management of 65 participating artists. Coordination of international transport, exhibition design, Biennale installation, cultural tour, 2-day international conference with parallel demonstrations, catalogue, documentary film, website etc. o Personnel development. Training of Taiwanese Co-curator. Achievements o Record visitor numbers. 20% increase on previous Biennale, 660 000 total visitors. 4 o Diversity & Diplomacy. Age, gender, geographical, race, & other diversity targets were developed & met.

CURATOR & RESEARCHER

11/2013 Museomix, Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD), Paris. LINK Achievements Conception, design, fabrication and installation of interactive digital intervention in the permanent collection within 3 days.

ASSOCIATE CURATOR 2010 & 2011 Paysages d'ici, PASS, Frameries, Belgium. Responsibilities o Conception, design, & delivery of an exhibition on landscapes of the Hainaut region. Achievements o This project was intended to be a temporary exhibition, but has been indefinitely extended, & is still showing, due to its excellence.

ASSOCIATE CURATOR 2009 & 2010 Football et Immigration, Cité Nationale de l'Histoire de l'Immigration, Paris. Responsibilities o Conception, design & delivery of an exhibition on French football & migration. Achievements o Rich & dynamic collaboration between a large number of different organisations, including nursery, primary & high schools, NGOs & higher education institutions.

VOLUNTEER 2001 & 2002 Museo Comarcal de Manresa, Barcelona, Spain. Responsibilities Administrative and curatorial assistance to the Director.

CURATOR 1996 - 2000 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Responsibilities o Strategic planning of exhibitions, including national and international touring exhibitions. o Liaison & integrated programming with Education & Programming Depts. o Ambassadorial o Budgeting o Fundraising Achievements o Produced award-winning catalogues & ambitious touring exhibitions that received significant public recognition.

Academic Experience

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 01/2011 - present Visual Identities in Art & Design Research Centre (VIAD), Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. LINK VIAD is a leading research facility specialised in identity construction. Responsibilities Publication of peer-reviewed books, chapters & articles in accredited journals. Achievements Leading Research Associate in 2016 with a substantial list of peer-reviewed publications.

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE 10/2017 - 12/2018 University of Sunderland, England. LINK o Title: Ubuntu manifest: Decolonising curatorial & research practice in ceramics. o PhD awarded 12/2018 pending minor corrections.

ACADEMIC DIRECTOR 09/2014 - 10/2017 Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Art, Limoges, France.

Responsibilities o Research. Designed & delivered the research policy of ENSA and established an interdisciplinary Research Lab for graduate and post-graduate students. o Strategic planning for all aspects of the research laboratory, including education outcomes, partnerships, staff needs (number & profiles), & a two-year schedule. o Collaborative teaching & academic supervision of MA Art & Design students, & guest artists in residence. Achievements o Program development. Organised a series of guest lectures & workshops as well as a 2- day European colloquium. o Advancement. Established partnerships with business, industry, scientific research labs, academia, & artistic institutions in the Netherlands, England, Belgium, Norway & France. o Budget management. Successful fundraising & establishment of a financially self- sustaining research lab (budget approx. 300 K £ ). o Ambassadorial. Presented CCE & ENSA at conferences in the USA, England, Norway, China, India & France. o Legacy. Production of a scholarly publication.

PROFESSOR 2006 – 2015 Ecole Supérieure d'Art et du Design de Valenciennes, France. Responsibilities o Curriculum development & teaching. Professor of art & design history, theory & critical studies. Taught undergraduate courses & graduate seminars in English. MFA thesis supervision & exhibition advisor. o Erasmus Pedagogic Coordinator. Developed Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus partnerships. Assisted in-coming and out-going Erasmus exchange students with administration, accommodation, credit transfers etc. Achievements o Innovative curricula. Developed innovative, collaborative, interdisciplinary art & design teaching & research projects involving video, photography, performance, culinary design, poetry & literature. o Advancement. Established local partnerships & programs with arts including La Phenix, scene nationale de Valenciennes and Saison Video, Lille. o Established Erasmus bilateral agreements with University of the Creative Arts, Falmouth; La Cambre, Brussels; Kuopio Academy of Design, Finland; Escola d'art I Superior de Disseny Ondara, Spain & joined Cumulus Design network.

ESL LECTURER 2004 – 2006 Ecole d'Art de Douai, France. Responsibilities o Curriculum development & teaching. English for Academic Purposes. Achievements o Extension. Organised and led an annual 1-week study tour of London for 15 students.

ESL LECTURER

2003 - 2004 Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Cambrai Responsibilities o Curriculum development & teaching. Museology, Musée Matisse, Le Cateau en Cambrésis. Achievements o Accolade. Promotion of a learner within Museum due to professional advancement.

Grants & Prizes

bat le beurre 2018 AWARD: Sponsorship of a lecture tour of India, Institut français.

2018 ACCOLADE: Maia Mater, start-up incubator, Nantes, June, July.

2017 ACCOLADE: Post-colonialism? Exhibition named one of the 10 most important exhibitions in Israel by Portfolio Magazine.

2015 WINNER: International Curatorial Competition for the First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, China.

2015 ACCOLADE: Included in Marquis Who’s Who in the World, International Biography.

2015 AWARD: Travel Grant to participate in the 50th NCECA Conference, Kansas City, USA.

2014 ACCOLADE: Nominated one of ‘100 World-Class South Africans’, by City Press in the category Newsmakers & Shapeshifters. 25 Sept.

2013 WINNER: International Curatorial Competition for the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale.

2013 AWARD: Travel Grant to participate in Triennial Conference of the Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA). New York, 2014.

2010 AWARD: Travel Grant from Central Saint Martin’s College, University of the Arts, London to participate in CIHA Colloquium - Other Views: Art History in (South) Africa and the Global South. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

2000 PRIZE: South African Museums Association publications design award for catalogue for Zulu Headrests of the Msinga district Exhibition.

Research: Peer-Reviewed Books & Catalogues

2020 BOOK. Curating Contemporary Craft. Editor. Routledge Museum and Heritage Studies Series TBC.

2017 CATALOGUE: Cont{r}act Earth, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale. Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, China, 195 p.

2016 BOOK: Scorched Earth: 100 Years of Southern African Potteries. Jacana Media, Johannesburg, 395 p. LINK

2014 CATALOGUE: Terra Nova: critical trends / contemporary ceramics. Catalogue of the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei. LINK

2014 HANDBOOK: Terra Nova: critical trends / contemporary ceramics. Handbook of the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei. LINK

1998 CATALOGUE: South African Studio Ceramics from the 1950s. Nelson Mandela Metro. Art Museum, Port Elizabeth. LINK

1996 CATALOGUE: Walter Battiss: An African Artist? Nelson Mandela Metro. Art Museum, Port Elizabeth.

Research: Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters & Journal Articles

Forthcoming JOURNAL ARTICLE: Samuel Makoenyane – curator and Modern South African ceramics artist. De Arte.

Forthcoming JOURNAL ARTICLE: Critical herstoriographies: Reclaiming the artistic and historical significance of Ssuobba-||kèn and her maternal ancestors. Journal of Modern Craft.

2017 BOOK CHAPTER: Plunder Me Baby – Kukuli Velarde and the ceramics of Taiwan’s first nations: Virtual Ventriloquism as articulated in the 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. In: The Ceramics Reader. Bloomsbury Academic Press, London. pp. 389-396. LINK

2016 JOURNAL ESSAY: Ceramic Displays, African Voices: Introduction by Elizabeth Perrill & Wendy Gers. Interpreting Ceramics. Vol. 17. LINK

2015 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Biennale Bonanza. Ceramics Art & Perception. No. 101. pp.24-32. LINK

2014 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Le Numérique, futur de la céramique ? La Revue de la Céramique et du Verre. No. 199. pp.66-72. LINK

2014 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Zoom: Taiwan. L’optique radicalement novateur de la biennale de céramique 2014. La Revue de la Céramique et du Verre. No. 196. pp.16-17. LINK

2014 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Céramique Sud-Africaine: Dynamisme de la diversité du KwaZulu-Natal. La Revue de la Céramique et du Verre. No. 195. pp.22-32. LINK

2013 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Hiatus in Harare. Art South Africa. Vol. 13. Dec. pp.73-75. LINK

2012 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Stephen Cohen - ‘Out of the cave and into the cauldron’. Art South Africa. Vol. 10:3. pp.48-51. LINK

2011 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Re-Presentations’ of Southern San Parietal Art on Drostdy Ware Pottery from the 1950s. Image & Text. Vol. 18. pp.8-29. LINK

2011 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Robyn Orlin - ‘Performing Africa Abroad’ Art South Africa. Vol. 10:1. pp.30-31. LINK

2001 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Journey of a South African Soul. Ceramics Technical. No. 13, pp.54-57. LINK

2000 JOURNAL ARTICLE: South African studio ceramics in the collections of our heritage institutions. SAMAB. Vol. 25: 1. p. 6.

1998 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Latvian Immigrants Negotiating a South African Identity. Negotiating Identities. Proceedings of the 14th Annual Conference of the South African Association of Art Historians, 15-17 July 1998, University of South Africa, Pretoria. Pretoria: University of South Africa. pp. 28-36.

1997 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Images of gender and the 'other' on the domestic ceramics of Drostdy Ware. Proceedings of the 1997 Conference of South African Art Historians Association. Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch. pp. 40-47.

Exhibition & Book Reviews, Translations & Editing etc.

Forthcoming EXHIBITION REVIEW: Indian Ceramics Triennale. Journal of Modern Craft.

2014 BOOK REVIEW: Elizabeth sans Perrill… African Arts. Vol. 42, No. 2. pp.93-94. LINK

2014 TRANSLATION & ADAPTATION: Lucette Barthélémy, Wild moments.(Travelogue) in: Instants sauvages / wild moments. Jean Luc & Françoise Souflet (eds), Illus. Carl Spriet. pp.94,95.

2013 GUEST REVIEWER: Tully, Ann-Marie. Actions speak louder than words in ‘The Alice Sequence’: A series of exhibitions by Wilma Cruise De Arte. 48(88) pp.7- 20.

2013 EXHIBITION REVIEW: Paris… Art South Africa. 12 (1). pp.44-45. My Joburg, La maison rouge, Paris. LINK

2013 EXHIBITION REVIEW: Ceramic Art London: pour tout les goȗts des amateurs de céramique. La Revue de la Céramique et du Verre. No. 151. Juillet-août. pp.76-77. LINK

2010 EXHIBITION REVIEW: Geo-Graphics. Art South Africa. 9 (3). pp. 66-67. Geo- Graphics, Bozar, Brussels. LINK

1999 CO-EDITOR OF CATALOGUE: Newman, C. Zulu Headrests of the Msinga district. Exhibition Catalogue. King George VI Art Gallery. (20p).

Research: Public facing scholarship

In press CATALOGUE ESSAY: Emilie Pedron: Ritual vessels – dialogues with time, space, material and subjectivity. EP; Chawan. WG Artbooks.

In press JOURNAL ARTICLE: Digital In-flexions – Ceramics by François Brument & Sonia Laugier. Studio Potter.

2018 CATALOGUE ESSAY: Parsing the Earth: Reflections upon the First Indian Ceramics Triennale. Catalogue of the Indian Ceramics Triennale. Jaipur: JKK. p.114.

2018 FEATURE PROFILE: Wendy Gers in conversation with Modisa Tim Motsomi regarding the Post-colonialism? Exhibition at the Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Centre, Israel. Ceramics Southern Africa. March. pp.9-12.

2015 CATALOGUE ESSAY: In Black, White and Brown. Blanco. Esteka: Santiago, Chile. LINK

2013 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Taipei. Art South Africa. Vol. 12. Issue 1. pp.40-43. LINK

2012 JOURNAL ARTICLE: In Memoriam, Juliet Armstrong - Porcelain and izinkamba. Art South Africa. Vol. 11:2. pp.88-89. LINK

2012 JOURNAL ARTICLE: Opening the Treasure Chest. (Survey of contemporary SA Ceramics.) Art South Africa. Vol. 10:4. pp.54-59. LINK

2012 CATALOGUE ESSAY: The Strength of SA Ceramics. Exhibition Catalogue of the Southern Guild Design Foundation Awards held at the Everard Read Gallery. 3 Aug-9 Sept. Wilderness: Southern Guild. pp.88-91. LINK

2000 JOURNAL ARTICLE: South African pottery studios: Zaalberg Pottery. Reflections of Yesteryear. Vol. 2:1.

2000 JOURNAL ARTICLE: South African pottery studios: Hamburger’s Pottery. Reflections of Yesteryear. Vol. 1:12.

1999 JOURNAL ARTICLE: South African pottery studios: The Ceramic Studio and Linnware. Reflections of Yesteryear. Vol. 1:5.

1998 JOURNAL ARTICLE: South African pottery studios: Crescent Potteries. Reflections of Yesteryear. Vol. 1:3.

1998 JOURNAL ARTICLE: African South African pottery studios: The Kalahari Ware Studio. Reflections of Yesteryear. Vol. 1:2.

1998 JOURNAL ARTICLE: South African pottery studios: Grahamstown Pottery, Drostdy Ware. Reflections of Yesteryear. Vol. 1:1.

1998 CATALOGUE ESSAY: The Kalahari Studio. Stephan Welz and Co. In Association with Sotheby's Decorative and Fine Arts [Catalogue for Auction to be held in] Cape Town, 20 October 1998. [Cape Town]: [Stephan Welz and Co. In Association with Sotheby’s.] pp. 25.

Conferences, Guest Lectures & Round Tables

2019 GUEST LECTURE: From Curating to Cryating and back again: Socially-engaged curating and Affective Labour.King's College London, 20 March.

2019 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

2018 LECTURE: Fast forward: ceramics, new technologies and the future, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, 7 September, Sponsored by the Alliance Française, Ahmedabad.

2018 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.

2018 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Indian Ceramics Triennale, at the Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, 2 September. Sponsored by the Institut français. LINK

2018 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, Inde.

2018 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. 28,29 June. LINK

2018 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Restating Clay, Centre for Ceramic Art (CoCA), York Art Gallery, York, UK, 19 & 20 March. LINK

2017 CONFERENCE PANEL ORGANISER & SPEAKER: Clay matters, Hasselt, Belgium, PXL-MAD, 16-18 November. LINK

2017 KEYNOTE SPEAKER, International Ceramics Symposium & 30th anniversary celebrations of the Künstlerhaus Neumünster, Germany. 23 September. LINK

2017 CONFERENCE PRESENTER, Ecole d'art de Beauvais, France. 10 July.

2016 CONFERENCE CONVENOR, Moderator & SPEAKER: Artists’ Forum, Cont{r}act Earth, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, China. 10 & 11 Dec.

2016 GUEST LECTURES / BOOK LAUNCHES: The Road Less Travelled – Presentation of Scorched Earth. Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, University of Pretoria & the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, 04, 19, 22 Aug. LINK

2016 ROUND TABLE: #pArticipateRadio with Bruce Dennill (host), Wilhelm Disbergen, (scenographer) and Tarryn-Lee Hudson (actress), Johannesburg, 22 Aug. LINK

2016 LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Topographies of the Obsolete, Thank Tank 2. KIHB University, Bergen, Norway, 26 August. LINK

2016 GUEST LECTURE: Mud Matters. ENSA Limoges, France, 4 May. LINK

2016 GUEST LECTURE: La Céramique comme expérience. Visions. Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 17 April. p.16. LINK

2016 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

2016 GUEST LECTURE: International ceramics biennale and the politics of representing local artists. ‘Ceramics in America, Pottery in North Carolina’ Lecture Series. University of North Carolina, Greensboro, USA, 22 March. LINK 1, LINK 2

2016 LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Handwork + Digital Tools. Panel Moderator, Holly Hanessian. Participants Andy Brayman, Del Harrow & Wendy Gers. NCECA 60th Conference - Makers, Mentors and Milestones, Kansas City, USA, 17 March. LINK

2015 LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Topographies of the Obsolete, Think Tank 1. Old Minton Library, Stoke-on-Trent, England, 9 October 2015. LINK

2015 GUEST LECTURE: Eclipsed: digital technologies in contemporary ceramics. Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 04 Aug. LINK

2015 PANEL CONVENOR & PRESENTER: Curatorial models and protocols in international ceramics biennales: ‘Ubuntu’ co-creation, collaboration and dialogue as the hallmark of the 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Panel Title: Reformulating Ceramics Biennales in East Asia and Beyond: The Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Stepping Up: Australian Ceramics Triennial, Canberra, Australia, 10 July. LINK

2015 LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Les Échanges France-Taïwan: créer, innover, expérimenter, construire ensemble. D’days, Les arts codés, Pantin, Paris, 7 June. LINK

2015 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

2015 GUEST LECTURE: Exhibition Politics: A personal reflection on the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Video conference, University of North Texas, USA, 6 March. LINK

2015 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

2015 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.

2014 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

2014 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

2014 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

2014 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

2014 GUEST LECTURE: Tomorrow? A preliminary reflection on the multiple futures of ceramics in Italy & Europe. Conférence ‘Architettura e Ceramica’, Rome, Italy, 11 July. LINK

2014 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

2014 GUEST LECTURE: A critical Reflection of East Asian Ceramics Biennales. Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia. University of Tokyo, Japan, 15 May. LINK

2014 GUEST LECTURE: Contemporary South African Ceramics – hybrid traditions. Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku / Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan, 15 May.

2014 GUEST LECTURE: Digital Materialities in Contemporary International Ceramics. Ceramics and Materials Seminar. Seoul Women’s University, South Korea, 13 May.

2014 CONFERENCE CONVENOR, SESSION CHAIR, & SPEAKER: Terra Nova. International Conference of the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, 3 May. LINK

2014 GUEST LECTURE: Terra Nova: overview of critical concepts explored in the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Taylor Art School, Tyler University, Philadelphia, USA, 28 March. LINK

2014 GUEST LECTURE: Emerging Talents in Contemporary South African Ceramics. The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, USA, 27 March.

2014 GUEST LECTURE: Curatorial ethics and protocols in the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. School of Visual Art, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA, 25 March. LINK

2014 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: Ceramics & the 3d Printing Revolution in South Africa. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg, 29 July.

2013 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.

2012 GUEST LECTURE: Southern African Potteries: 1900-1970. City Campus, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 27 July.

2012 GUEST LECTURE: Southern African Ceramics – yesterday, today and tomorrow. Iziko SA Cultural History Museum, Castle of Good Hope, 14 July.

2012 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.

2012 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

2011 GUEST LECTURE: The South African Ceramics Industry 1655-1950: The Colonial Cringe - A Postcolonial Perspective. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg, 22 July.

2011 GUEST LECTURE: Robyn Orlin: the European Decade. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg, 21 July.

2011 GUEST LECTURE: Steven Cohen – An analysis of recurrent themes and recent French works. FADA Research Seminar Series, University of Johannesburg, 20 July.

2011 LECTURE: Cuckoos in the nest. An analysis of aspects of Modernism within Southern African art, production and souvenir pottery. CIHA Colloquium - Other Views: Art History in (South) Africa and the Global South. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

2010 GUEST LECTURE: Cultures contemporaines en Afrique du sud. Lycée St Luc, Cambrai.

2009 GUEST LECTURE: La poterie au temps de l'apartheid en Afrique du Sud. Médiathèque municipale, Cambrai.

2009 GUEST LECTURE: Articulations de patrimoine dans certains musées Sud- africains. Département de Développement et Protection du Patrimoine Culturel. Institut des lettres, langues et arts. Université de Valenciennes et Hainaut-Cambrésis, Cambrai.

2008 GUEST LECTURE & ROUND TABLE PARTICIPANT: Incorporation des collections ethnographiques dans les musées des Beaux-arts Sud-africains: études des deux cas – Tatham Art Gallery et Voortrekker Museum, Pietermaritzburg. Colloque 'Decollecting', FRAC, Dunkerque.

2007 GUEST LECTURE: Perceptions du patrimoine Sud-africain. Département de Développement et Protection du Patrimoine Culturel. Institut des lettres, langues et arts. Université de Valenciennes et Hainaut-Cambrésis, Cambrai.

2000 LECTURE: The millennium exhibition of the King George VI Art Gallery: Bags and Baggage: What are you taking with you into the next Millennium? South African Museums Association. National Conference, Robben Island.

1999 LECTURE: Curatorial Re-Visions: Accessing our South African Art Collections: A case study of the exhibition Modernism: An Ironic Farewell. South African Association of Art Historians. National Conference, Pietermaritzburg, (with J. Fabbri).

Biography: Interviews

2017 LANTIN, Martina. A conversation with Wendy Gers. Studio Potter. Vol. 45, No. 2, Summer / Fall, pp.16-23. LINK

2017 NORTJE, Rika. An interview with Wendy Gers. Ceramics Southern Africa. Vol 7, p.27. LINK

2017 ANDRÉANI, Carole. Wendy Gers: A la poursuite du sens. La Revue de la Céramique et du Verre. No. 214. Mai-Juin. pp.62-63. LINK

2016 LE NOST, Hérve. Entretien avec Wendy Gers. Joseffine. No. 10. pp.109-116.

2014 SHAO, Ting-Ju. International Vision: An interview with the Curator of the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Wendy Gers. Taiwan Crafts. Vol 54. No. 9. pp.80-85. LINK

2014 SHAO, Ting-Ju. Taiwan Ceramics Biennale 2014: Interview with the Curator of the Biennale, Wendy Gers. New Ceramics. 1 (14), Nov - Dec. pp.50-54. LINK

2014 TANG, Gia. Focus on the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale & Interview with the Curator, Wendy Gers. Magazine P. Hong Kong. No. 6. September. pp.68-71. LINK

2104 DU, Wentian. Portrait – Wendy Gers. Ceramic Art. (Taiwan) Vol. 81, Jan. pp.88- 93. LINK

2013 CHANG, Yu-Peng. When Ceramics and Technology Meet. An interview with curator of 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Wendy Gers. Artist Magazine. (Taiwan) Vol. 462, Nov. pp. 494-495. LINK

Biography: Select Exhibition & Book Reviews

2018 HOPP, Jonathan. Book Review - Scorched Earth: 100 Years of Southern African Potteries. African Arts. Vol 51, No. 4. p.59.

2018 STELLACCCIO, Anthony. Cont{r}act Earth, Ceramics Monthly, Jan. pp.50-53.

2017 STELLACCIO, Anthony. Post-colonialism? A reflection. Ceramics Monthly, Dec. pp.49-51. LINK

2017 GLENDAY, Katherine. ‘Cont{r}act Earth’ The First (ever) Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Ceramics Southern Africa. No. 8. pp.13-17. LINK

2016 MAGRIT, Maya. Post Colonial Art: The borders and bridges of the 21st century. I-TV. 6. Dec. LINK

2016 HILLEBRAND, Melanie. Book Review - Scorched Earth: 100 Years of Southern African Potteries. De Arte. Vol. 51, Issue: 2, pp.70-72.

2016 BRYANT, Marie Claire. 2016. A Documentation of Southern African Potteries by Wendy Gers. C-Files. 16 Nov. LINK

2016 SELLSCHOP, Sue. Book Review - Scorched Earth: 100 Years of Southern African Potteries. Creative Feel. October. pp.68-72. LINK

2016 VENTER, Kobie. History of SA Potteries. Natal Witness. 28 July. LINK

2015 WATT, Ronnie. 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Ceramics Monthly. October. LINK

2015 WATT, Ronnie. The Domus: Constructing Histories and Identities in Clay. New Ceramics. No. 1. LINK

2014 DUCCI, Ximena. Terra Nova, Bienal de Cerámica de Taiwan 2014: Arte y Diseño de Vanguardia. Esteka. No. 14. Chile. pp.12-15. LINK

2010 NDIAYE, Ousmane. Expo Football et Immigration, Making Off: L’art au rebond. Respect Mag. Vol. 27, p.68.

Consulting, Voluntary & Extra-Professional Collaborations

2017-2018 Consultant and Jury member for Africa and the Middle East, for the 80th Faenza Prize, MIC, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy.

2014-2017 Research Consultant for the proposed publication, Clay Conversations. Editor, N. Shand.

2015 Research Consultant for the exhibition, Ceramix, les artistes et la céramique au XXème siècle, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastrich, Maison Rouge & the Manufacture de Sèvres, Paris.

2015 Jury Member for Prize Awards, Salon Contrastes, Roubaix, 27 March.

2014 Smithsonian Institution Committee of International Art & Design Experts to nominate participants for the Residency Fellowship Prize. Sept.

2014 Member of organizing committee for ‘Journée d’études de L’Amicale de production’ ESAD Valenciennes, Le Phénix scène nationale, and other partners. 07 Feb.

2013 Invited to be External Examiner for Masters Candidates at Durban University of Technology (Ceramics Dept) & the University of Johannesburg (Industrial Design).

2012 Research Consultant for the exhibition, Fired, the Granary at the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town. LINK

2009 & 2010 Member of organizing committee for the Parcours d’art contemporain with ESAD Valenciennes; Espace Croisé & other partners.

1992 Gender Officer, Elected Member of the Student Representative Council, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg

Achievements

Establishment of the first non-racial Gender Commission with a variety of programs including improving lighting & campus security, women’s day rally, film festival & various educational initiatives.

1989-1990 Rotary International Scholarship Exchange Student, Bundaberg, Australia.

Achievements

Ambassadorial. Delivered over 50 public addresses to a wide variety of audiences.

Diplomacy. Skilful diplomacy was essential as during late Apartheid, South Africa was considered a pariah state.

1988-1989 Volunteer, Black Sash, humanitarian & anti-apartheid NGO, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Achievements

Participated in activities that assisted victims of human rights violations & bridged communities.

Board Positions

2019 Member, Board of Directors, Studio Potter, Massachusetts, USA.

2011-2015 Member, Board of Directors, The Design Cradle, Cape Town, South Africa.

Memberships

From 2018 Museum Association, UK

From 2018 AAH (Association of Art Historians), UK

From 2016 IAC (International Academy of Ceramics, UNESCO), Curators Group, Geneva, Switzerland. LINK

2016-2017 ANdÉA (l’Association nationale des écoles supérieures d’art), Steering Committee for Research in Art Schools, France.

2014-2017 NCECA (National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts), USA

2013-2016 ACASA (Arts Council of the African Studies Association), USA

2009-2016 CAA (College Art Association), USA

2009-2011 AAH (Association of Art Historians), UK

1997-2016 SAAVAH (SA Association of Visual & Art Historians), South Africa

Personal Interests