Clay Cycle - a Material Methodology : A Visual Presentation Exploring a Material-rooted Methodology, the Impact on an Addiction Recovery Journey Engaging in Gallery-based Pedagogy

Abstract

This visual presentation reports on how a material-rooted methodology was utilised to construct pedagogic content in a gallery setting. We review the methodology utilised, titled Clay Cycle, and its potential for leading democratic and creative knowledge production in a pedagogic scenario - for those in addiction recovery. Particular attention is given to the methodology’s roots in clays epistemic capacity, and how this intersects with the addiction recovery journey. We then present a case study, detailing how my Clay Cycle methodology was used to steer pedagogic creation/curation at The British Ceramics Biennial. An impact report is shared, which details the methodology’s ability to instigate the curation of pedagogic content that enabled deep epistemic cognition relating to the addiction recovery journey. In particular, the way that Clay Cycle’s reflexive, iterative, and cyclical process of presenting data ‘back’ to the individuals with lived experience, afforded ‘space’ for metacognition. Images of the clay-based pedagogic sessions (workshops) as featured, as will images of individuals and artists interacting with the messy and relational maps, that from the backbone of the methodology.

Presenters

Dena Bagi
Lecturer, Curating, Art and Performance, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom

Details

Presentation Type

Innovation Showcase

Theme

2025 Special Focus—Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums: Engines of Innovation and Social Participation

KEYWORDS

MATERIAL METHODOLOGY, CO-PRODUCTION, DEMOCRATIC KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION, PEDAGOGIC PRAXIS, ADDICTION RECOVERY