Episode Details

Join Stephanie Rozene and guest Garth Johnson as they travel back to 1967 and the West Coast of the USA where an exhibition named Funk would showcase ceramics as a provocative art form. Using humour, satire, colour and form these Funk artists critiqued the world around them and changed ceramics forever.  No longer utilitarian vessels - this was art that shocked.

Artwork in this episode:

Banded White Bottle, 1958, Robert Arneson

Spouted Footed Vase, 1959, Robert Arneson

No Deposit, No Return, 1961, Robert Arneson

Jack and John Trophy, 1964, Robert Arneson

His and Her’s, 1964 ,  Robert Arneson

John with Art, 1964, Robert Arneson

Typewriter #1 (Touch System) 1965,  Robert Arneson

Self Portrait of the Artists Losing His Marbles, 1965, Robert Arneson

Alice House Wall, 1967, Robert Arnson

Assassination of a Famous Nut Artist, 1971, Robert Arneson

Portrait of George, 1981,  Robert Arneson

Other Images:

Relax in Electric Chair (Dirty Guy),” 1965, Peter Saul

Rocking Pot, 1956, Peter Voulkos,

Hole in One, 1978, Peter Voulkos,

Bottle, circa 1955. Antonio Prieto

Fur Rat, 1962,  Joan Brown

Cakes, 1963, Wayne Thiebaud


For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Editor: Fraser Watson
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:16 San Francisco in the 1950s
• 00:08:15 The Origins of Funk
• 00:13:30 Robert Arneson's Early Life
• 00:21:04 The Volkos Revelation
• 00:34:19 The First Funk Ceramic Object
• 00:38:53 UC Davis
• 00:46:21 The Toilets: Censorship and Validation
• 00:54:01 The Typewriter
• 01:02:48 New York Success
• 01:08:57 Legacy