Art 46 Beginning Ceramics

Welcome to Art 46! This blog will provide you with all your need to know information about due dates, assignments, and any changes to our agenda. I will also use this as an opportunity to share any very cool things I come across and would encourage you to do the same. For instance these nike dunks shown below that are inspired by the "blue and white ceramic wares" from the Qing Dynasty. I will update this site often with various images and information so check in often. Now lets play with mud!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Kate Macdowell

Kate's work was so beautiful! The visual effects she created, combining man and nature, left me speechless. It reminded me of my first impression of Vanitas - trying to link man to earth and time, and the importance of the three. I especially liked when she took animals and made them alive from one perspective, and then carved out their interiors from the other point of view.

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Schedule Fall 2011 (Subject to change)

Th Aug 25: Introductions, Handout Assignment 1: "Vanitas"
* Homework: Post one picture to Blog

Tue Aug 30: Slide Lecture, Distribute materials, Demo: Pinch, combining parts and small slabs
* Homework: Sketches for Vanitas

Th Sept 1: Detailing Demo, Discuss sketches, Work Day
* Homework: Add texture to tests

Tue Sept 6: Work Day

Th Sept 8: Work Day
Homework: You are expected to come in over the weekend

Tue Sept 13: Under Glaze/Glaze Discussion
*Homework: glaze forms

Thu Sept 15: LAST WET WORK DAY 2nd Assignment Moche Pots Slide Lecture, Coil Demo **GLAZE FIRE**
*Homework: Atleast 3 sketches for Moche pots, finish Vanitas wet work and get to Bisque shelf

Tue Sept 20: Vanitas DUE on Bisque shelf by beginning of class time. Extruder Demo and Work Day
Possible Visit to Guest Lecture
*Homework: glaze tests

Th Sept 22: Work Day **GLAZE FIRE** (Load Bisque)

Tue Sept 27: Work Day ** GLAZE FIRE**

Thu Sept 29: TBA SLIP DEMO
*Homework: choose object from mold selections

Tue Oct 4: TBA **GLAZE FIRE** 1st of two for Vanitas Assignment

Th Oct 6: Work Day LAST WET CLAY DAY FOR MOCHE
*Homework: Finish Moche Pot and get to Bisque shelf

Tue Oct 11: Moche Work Day

Th Oct 13: Slip Assignment Work Day

Tue Oct 18: VANITAS CRITIQUE

Th Oct 20: Work Day

Tue Oct 25: Work Day

Th Oct 27: Glass and Foundry Lecture **All Tiles must be finished and ready for Bisque***

Tue Nov 1: TBA (anticipated glass day)

Th Nov 3: TBA (anticipated foundry day)

Tue Nov 8: Work Day, brief demonstration on tiles

Th Nov 10: Work Day

Tue Nov 15: Work day

Thu Nov 17: Work Day

Tue Nov 22: Moche and Tile Crit

Th Nov 24: Happy Turkey Day NO CLASS

Tue Nov 29th: Work Day **Show opening**

Th Dec 1: Work Day

Tue Dec 6: Last Glaze Day

Th Dec 8: FINAL CRITIQUE and Potluck

“MOCHE POTS”

This assignment will focus on the pots of Mochica culture, an early South American civilization that inhabited the northern coast of Peru from about 100-700 AD. Traditional ceramic art of Mochica culture relied on a limited palette of mostly red and white. Moche pots were hand built with strong sculptural and figurative influences. Common forms these pots take are of heads, very often of specific people, animals and whole figures kneeling or sometimes engaging in battle. The social and political significance of these pots are up for debate, but it is evident that these decorated vessels were an integral part of everyday life as well as religious ceremonies. Today in class we will look at and discuss images of Moche Pots.

Objective:

Your assignment will be to create your own Moche pot that depicts an image, object, or figure that is important to you. The subject of your Moche pot is for you to choose but you are required to render your project in the style of Mochica aesthetics. This style includes simple yet bold representation, a neutral palette of earth tones, and the large looping jug handle that characterizes Moche pots. Your design and completion of this project should be in likeness of this very distinct and unique sculptural style.

As Mochica culture is strongly attached to nature, you will follow suit as you design your pot. Seek inspiration as the Mochica people did from your surrounding natural world. Consider also depictions of social activities like the creative arts or games.

Scale will vary for each of you but in general Moche Pots are about 10” in diameter x 12” tall, no more then 18” in any direction. You will be using a coiling technique to construct your pots and they will be surfaced with slips and oxides. These projects will be fired in a Reduction atmosphere to Cone 9.

Pointers for success:

*I encourage you to work slow coiling requires patience as you don’t want your piece to slump.

*You will learn how to use an extruder, I recommend that you work in teams, as it requires set up and clean up.

* Moche pots are highly expressive and bold in their character, be sure to capture this in your project

"VANITAS"

“Vanitas” in Latin meaning “emptiness,” loosely translates to the meaninglessness of earthly life and the transient nature of vanity. This ephemeral nature of earthly existence was subject of many 17^th c paintings. Artists depicted skulls, wilted flowers, hourglasses and snuffed candles to remind their audience of the transience of life. Other objects such as mirrors, lavish clothes, jewelry, and books were also featured to highlight the temporary nature of beauty, wealth, and wisdom. Such art was intended to discourage the viewer from the indulgences of extravagance and place greater value on life’s simpler pleasures.

Objective:

Your assignment is to make your own still life out of clay in response to what we learn about “vanitas”. You will compose your still life of three objects that you’ve constructed using the pinch formation technique. Your challenge is to re-interpret vanitas according to your own life. You will have to choose objects that are relevant to you and contemporary culture. Your interpretation of this assignment is your own but there is one requirement.

I ask that you make thoughtful decisions about the following:

1. The objects you choose

2. The composition

3. The clarity of your ideas (this includes presentation).

You will choose objects that are practical. In other words, chooses objects that you could feasibly construct with the techniques that I show you by the assigned due date. You will develop a composition for your objects that relates to your idea. Also you will have to resolve an “environment.” This could be a piece of fabric, found objects, or even a specific location (again practical) for your critique. This environment will be reviewed as part of this assignment; it should be a thoughtful presentation that iterates the overall content of your project.

To get started perhaps ask yourself how you feel about this imagery and the ideas that drive them?

What objects in your life or in the larger society do these images make you think of?

Do you think there is value in this type of imagery?

Pointers for success:

*I encourage you to bring your chosen objects, pictures, and any other additional props to class in order for you to render and sculpt your objects accurately.

*Choose objects no larger than 12” tall, as this is your first assignment and you are making 3 separate forms!

*Ask questions! If this assignment is unclear to you please tell me. Odds are you’re not the only one who’s lost, so others may be thankful if you speak up!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Kate Macdowell

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