Documentary Highlights Work of Master Ceramicist & MCC Professor

“As a Cambodian-American filmmaker, I feel that Cambodians have a lot of untold stories,” said Vibol Sungkriem, Director and Producer of the new documentary “Yary Livan: Khmer Traditional Ceramic Artist.”

The documentary tells the story of Yary Livan, one of two master Cambodian ceramicists in the world, a 2015 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow, and a ceramics professor at Middlesex Community College.

Sungkriem was introduced to Livan at his studio at Western Avenue Studios by a friend who suggested making the documentary. At first, Sungkriem hesitated because he did not know much about ceramics. After seeing Livan’s work, he was inspired to move forward with the project.

“I knew of the importance of his work and to document it for the next generation,” Sungkriem said. “Due to the rareness and uniqueness of his talent, I decided to work on it. Overall, his rarity got the best of me.”

MCC hosted a film screening of the documentary on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at the college’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center. The event was free, open to the public, and included a reception and ceramics exhibit and a Q&A with Livan and the filmmaker.

Middlesex was honored to have held the event in Lowell where Livan lives and works, according to Dona Cady, MCC’s Professor of Humanities.

“Yary is a national and community treasure whose passion for teaching and preserving the Cambodian artistic form yet also reimagining it, illustrates the power of art and culture to inspire and educate,” Cady said. “His work touches the soul.”

“I am so pleased to see Yary and his work highlighted in this documentary film,” said Matthew Olson, MCC’s Dean of Humanities. “It is important to understand that Yary is one of the last surviving practitioners of this traditional Cambodian art form. We are proud to have him on our teaching staff, continuing this tradition with new generations and all across our community.”

Livan studied Khmer traditional ceramics and architectural ornamentation at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh in 1971, according to Margaret Rack, retired MCC Chair of Art and Design and current adjunct faculty member.

“Cambodian design, or Khmer Kbach, is a thousand-year-old tradition of ornamentation – it decorates objects and architectural surfaces throughout Cambodia and in the diaspora,” Rack said. “It is passed on as an oral tradition, with scant written scholarship except for the collection of examples. Even in Cambodia today, students trying to learn Kback mostly copy forms without knowing the many intricacies of meaning, nor how to distinguish designs that are distinctly Khmer compared to neighboring countries. This is largely the legacy of the Cambodian genocide, as there are few surviving master artists.”

Rack is at the forefront of sharing Livan and his work with the community of Lowell. In partnership with Livan and Lowell Public School Art Teacher Jacqui Miller, Rack participated in a 2016 Fulbright Hayes Group Project to Cambodia and has helped organize the classes Livan teaches to Lowell public school teachers.

Her most recent project ­– supported by a grant from the Lowell Cultural Council – is in collaboration with Joe Eiler, MCC’s Graphic Design Program Coordinator, to introduce classic Cambodian designs into an adult coloring book.

The project will feature descriptive definitions to “both educate and enchant” to go along with Livan’s hand drawn ink illustrations Eiler helped format to print, according to Rack. Miller will help with distribution, which will also be offered to local schools and community groups, and sold in Spring 2022.

Middlesex students have the opportunity to learn ceramics from Livan, working on hands-on projects and practicing techniques. At the end of the course, Livan brings his classes to the Cambodian Kiln located in the Lowell National Historic Park to finish their artwork.

This is just one example of how MCC provides students with valuable and relevant learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom. Flexible and affordable courses and accessible and equitable student support services – with on campus, online and hybrid options – prepare students for the workforce or to transfer to four-year schools.

Get a jumpstart on summer and fall plans by registering now for MCC’s Spring 2022 Mini-mester II – an accelerated eight-week session that offers the same content, academic standards and instructional hours as courses scheduled during the traditional 15-week semester.

MCC’s Spring 2022 Mini-mester II starts on Monday, March 28. For more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 to register.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!