Pitchers of American Life: A Book Talk with Ezra Shales

In this discussion, Shales explores the tactile pleasure of drinking vessels and their role as "time capsules" of American history. From ancient religious rituals to the complexities of mass production and contemporary consumer culture, Shales interprets the history of art right from your cupboard, offering a new way to appreciate the "old stuff" we live with every day.

Ezra Shales is a Professor of Art History at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and a renowned author on the intersections of design, craft, and art. A self-described "chinamaniac" and lifelong devotee to material culture, Shales spent a decade teaching ceramic history at Alfred University. His latest work condenses forty years of expertise into a vision that seeks to move beyond traditional hierarchies of art.

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Host or Publisher Greenwich House Pottery