UA’s Hulen headed to Africa

Prof. Jeannie Hulen of the University of Arkansas will spend the next year teaching ceramics and engaging in research at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, Africa, as a Fulbright Scholar Award recipient.

Hulen, who has been serving as interim director of the UA’s School of Art, is a ceramics and multimedia sculptor and examines issues related to the body, globalism and personal narrative. She is also an associate professor of ceramics and associate dean of fine arts for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

The Kwame Nkrumah University is in dire need of access to contemporary technology and basic art materials, Hulen said, and she aims to help the university develop relationships with companies that can provide materials and equipment. She also hopes to establish relationships with artists toward curating exhibitions in the U.S.

“In my experience, Africa is an under-represented region in the field of contemporary ceramics in the U.S., whether in terms of scholarly or popular publications, conference attendance, etc., especially when compared to the attention paid to contemporary European and Asian artists,” Hulen said.

Hulen has been with the UA since 2008. She earned a bachelor of fine art degree in ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute and a master of fine art degree in ceramics from Louisiana State University.