Art Department - Art 105 Introductory Studio: Ceramics

ART DEPARTMENT - ART 105 SYLLABUS

Art 105 Introductory Studio: Ceramics

Instructor: Jennifer Owen

Office: Ceramics Studio

Phone : 984-3202 (ext. 202) Ceramics studio

Email: jowen@hawaii.edu | Web page : www2.hawaii.edu/~jowen

Office hours in the Ceramics Studio : To be announced each semester.

• Course Description:

Art 105 explores pottery making and ceramic sculpture using hand building and wheel throwing techniques. The course introduces the elements of art and an understanding of craftsmanship through the making and decorating of ceramic form. Students work towards development of individual creative expression.

• Course Credits and Contact Hours per Week:

Three credits, and two hours lecture/four hours lab per week.

• Prerequisites: None.

• Learner Outcomes:

Students completing this course will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the three basic techniques of hand building and in wheel throwing in an effort to develop a personal style, and build self-esteem.

• Distinguish between different clay bodies and explain the relationship of geology to the origin and characteristics of clay.

• Apply their knowledge of the principles of the firing process to the successful loading of low temperature and high temperature firings, practicing proper kiln care and safety.

• Demonstrate an understanding of color and surface as it relates to three-dimensional form in the use of glazes and oxides. Integrate surface treatment with form.

• Explain the physical and chemical changes that transform clay and glaze at each stage of the building, drying, and firing process, and ascertain the appropriate stage at which to construct, manipulate, and decorate their ceramic project.

• Demonstrate knowledge of historic and contemporary examples of ceramics.

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• Course Requirements:

Completion of 14 projects in clay, some being very specific assignments, and others being chosen by the student, following assignment guidelines.
Two in-class written exams, a midterm and a final, which will test the students' understanding of vocabulary, concepts and techniques of ceramics.
Active participation in loading of at least one bisque firing and one glaze firing.
Mixing of at least one glaze or colored slip from a recipe, and the making of several test tiles.
Keeping a notebook that records every clay project, with glaze notes for each piece, as well as lecture notes and notes on glaze tests.
Required reading in text and numerous quizzes based on those readings.

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Course Outline

Week 1 & 2 : intro to clay

pinching pots and joining clay (scoring and slipping)

stamps and signature stamps

burnishing

discussion: aesthetics of primitive pottery

recycling, wedging clay and adding grog

lecture: science of clay: plasticity, particle size, cracking, drying, shrinking, firing, greenware, bisqueware, dust, safety

Week 3 : coil building

slab building

slides and/or videos

Week 4 : loading electric bisque kiln

lecture: loading and firing: atmospheric water, candling, chemical water, red heat

fire kiln

work time on coil and slab projects

Week 5 : field trip to Hui (to conduct sawdust firing and to visit exhibit)

demo: decorating and waxing sawdust pots

Week 6: throwing demo: cylinders

throwing lecture: outline steps (students take notes)

throwing practice

Week 7 : demo: trimming foot

colored slip

mix colored slip

demo sgraffito, mishima, brush work and banding

practice throwing (half of class handbuild, half throw each class)

Week 8 : demo: altering and handles

review for midterm exam

Week 9 : MIDTERM EXAM

Week 10 : glaze lecture and demo

Week 11 : load glaze fire

lecture on glaze fire, vitrification, low fire vs. high fire, gas kilns vs. electric kilns, oxidation vs. reduction

Week 12 : discussion: glaze results

Week 13&14: glazing and firing

Week 15 : review for final exam

review of glaze results

grading of finished pieces and notebooks

student self-evaluation of art work

Week 16 : FINAL EXAM

bring notebooks for grading

cleanup of studio

course evaluations

Attendance and Grading:

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Attendance and punctuality is extremely important if you wish to do well in this class. If you have a legitimate emergency (health, work or family crisis) you must call ext. 202 ( 984-3202 ) to report the reason for your absence before the class meets. If you are not excused from a class, your absence will be marked against you. Tardiness will also be marked against you. If you are tardy four times, that is the equivalent of being absent once. In addition, quizzes are given at the beginning of class and will be marked down half of one letter grade if they are not taken on time.

Grades will be based on the following:

Projects in clay	40%
Two pieces for donation to MCC	10%
Attendance and class participation	10%
Midterm exam	10%
Final exam	5%
Quizzes	15%
Mixing glaze, loading kilns, & glaze notes in notebook	10%

• Note: Project grades are based on each student's progress during the class. You will not be penalized for being a beginner, as this is an introductory course. Projects are graded on craftsmanship, creativity, vitality, form, surface, glaze, expression, and effort.

Required Text : Make it in Clay by Speight and Toki

• By the second class meeting, you will be expected to have:

• textbook : Make it in Clay by Speight and Toki (from the MCC Bookstore)

• notebook (You must record glaze notes for every piece you glaze. You will also be expected to take notes during lectures. Handouts should be filed in notebook.)

• a tool kit or the equivalent: needle, wire, wood knife, sponge, loop tool, tool box (available at the MCC Bookstore)

• clay (a 25 pound bag, available at the MCC Bookstore)

• spoon or polished stone

• dry cleaner plastic or several kitchen size plastic garbage bags

• small and medium paint brush (kind that comes to a point)

• rubber gloves (surgical or kitchen type)

• bucket or similar plastic container with wide mouth for water (quart size is minimum)

• optional:

• water spray bottle (spritzer)

• plastic triangle square

• piece of chamois or other smooth cloth(1"x 5")

• ruler

• excellent tools from MCC bookstore:

• scoring tool, clay knife, rubber rib, metal rib, sharp trimming loop

• apron or smock to keep your clothes clean

• small towel for cleaning up or drying hands

• green scrubby pad for sanding unfired clay

• sheet of 80 or 120 grit sand paper for sanding fired clay

• My goal as your teacher is:

• to make you work hard, yet give you lots of freedom about how you work

• to help you put yourself into your work

• to help you experiment, take risks

• to help you like ceramics

• to create an atmosphere of support and cooperation rather than competition

• to give you an understanding of the materials, techniques, and science of ceramics that will enable you to master the clay and express yourself through it.

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Safety:

Throughout the course, safety will be stressed, with particular attention given to safety in kiln firing procedures, glaze mixing and handling, and the prevention and hazards of dust throughout the entire studio and in every stage of working with clay and glaze. Each student will be expected to leave the course with a clear understanding of the health hazards associated with ceramics, and well-developed habits in the safe handling of ceramic materials. Any deviance from safety procedures will not be tolerated and will be corrected immediately.

“Assumption of Risk and Release Forms” are required from all students. Before using the equipment for a class project, your instructor will review safety procedures. It is also your responsibility to review those procedures before using the equipment.

Activities that create dust from clay or other silica-bearing materials require the use of an OSHA-approved particle mask. These activities include: 1) scraping kiln shelves (protective Eyewear is also required); 2) mixing dry glazes; 3) using the dry glaze room; 4) grinding or sanding clay; and 5) sanding glaze. Please ask for a dust mask or respirator when needed, and perform these activities outside the classroom, away from other students. Manipulating clay involves some repetitive motion, which can put students at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome and other disorders. Students are to inform the instructor immediately if they experience any pain or discomfort in or after class.

Ceramics Studio Procedures:

Use of Facilities

• Only students currently registered in ceramics may use facilities; children, family or friends are not allowed in the studio.

• Excessive production of ceramic works will not be allowed, and the interpretation of the word “excessive” is entirely at the discretion of the instructor. The MCC studio is not an environment where the production of commercial work is appropriate, and it will not be allowed. The instructor reserves the right to refuse to fire any work, either because it is inappropriate for the college environment, because it is too large, because it is repetitive, because it is of low quality, or because it poses a risk to other work or to the kilns or other equipment.

Music

• Radios and other music may not be used during class time, except by permission of the instructor.

Smoking

• Smoking is not allowed in or near the studio.

Footwear

• Footwear is mandatory at all times.

Work Space

• Please make it your responsibility to help keep the studio clean. Your contribution to studio chores will figure in to the “attendance” portion of your grade. Work habits and effort are an important part of the evaluation process of your grade. If you come late, leave early, sit around the studio when kilns need to be stacked, shelves need to be organized, etc., you will be losing grade credit towards your final grade in the course. Helping in the studio is mandatory and is part of the course. At the end of each class, studio tools and work surfaces (wheels, tables, slab roller, extruder) are to be clean and all work stored on shelves.

• All clay and glaze (wet or dry) and water containing clay or glaze must be kept out of the lavatory sinks in order to prevent clogging the drains. Instructions will be given for use of the outside barrels.

Phones

• Cell phones and beepers should be turned off during class. Only in an emergency should phone calls be made or received during class time, and the student should inform the instructor before class begins if a situation requires them to have their cell phone or beeper on.

Special Accommodation

• Reasonable accommodations will be provided for students with documented physical, sensory, systemic, cognitive, learning and psychiatric disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodations in this class, please notify the Special Needs Coordinator at 984-3496 or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) 984-3325 or the Text Telephone (TT) replay service at 643-8833. That office will verify your disability and provide the course instructor with recommendations for appropriate accommodations.

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READING ASSIGNMENTS in TEXT

• pp. 1-12, 17-25

• pp. 13-16, 26-40, 129-133

• pp. 159-169, 134-138, opt: 128-129

• pp. 41-54, 81-88, opt: 55-57

• pp. 59-80

• pp. 95-99, 104-105, 107, 111-115

• pp. 108-110, 116-125

• pp. 140-145, 146-152, 155-156

• pp. 170-175

10) pp. 182-185, opt: 89-93, 153-154

Service Learning Option

Instead of the 5 assignments listed under “Week 6,7,8, & 9”, or instead of the “Special Project” assignment, or instead of taking the final exam , a student may elect to volunteer for a non-profit arts organization for 20 hours during the semester. Possible organizations include the Maui Arts and Cultural Center Exhibit Program (helping with the installation of shows in the gallery), the Hui No`eau Visual Arts Center (assisting the teacher in a children's or adult ceramics class or assisting in the printmaking studio), and Hale Makua (helping with craft activities or creating decorations for the facility).

Service Learning is a learning method that connects meaningful community service experiences with academic learning, personal growth, and civic responsibility. It enhances what is taught by extending students' learning beyond the classroom and providing opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge in real-life situations in the community.

Your instructor has already arranged for certain non-profit agencies to participate with MCC and our class in Service Learning. Students make their own contacts with the volunteer coordinator or director at an agency of their choice. Students arrange their own schedules, keep a time log and have it signed by a supervisor, record their experiences in a reflective journal, share their experiences with their classmates, and submit a two-page paper at the end of the semester.

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Extra Credit Opportunities

There are 10 quizzes, one based on each reading assignment. If a student wants to raise any quiz grade by a full letter grade, they may take advantage of several extra credit opportunities.

There are three videos on ceramic artists on reserve in the library, for viewing in the library only. If any student views a video and hands in a one-paragraph summary or notes taken while viewing the video, they will raise one quiz grade by a full letter grade.

There will be some other opportunities to earn extra credit by viewing art exhibitions or attending visiting artist's slide lectures and writing a 3-6 sentence response to the exhibit or lecture. These opportunities will be announced by the instructor as they arise.

Library Resources

There are two periodicals in our MCC library devoted to ceramics: Ceramics Monthly and Studio Potter. There are also many books on ceramics with call numbers in the range of TT 900-950 and NK 3600-4500.

Three videos have been placed on reserve for your use. They are:

Toshiko Takaezu: Portrait of an Artist

Randy Johnston: The Nourishable Accident

Betty Woodman: Thinking Out Loud

Declaring grade when student registers.

Under the banner system the student must declare a grading option when he registers (either online or in person). If he does not, it will default to GR (letter grade). He may choose GR, C/NC, or L for audit. However, if he does not choose any grade when he registers and it defaults to GR, the student has until the end of late registration to change to an “audit” grade. He must go online to his record or ask student services to do this for him. The second choice is if he wishes CR/NC, he has until the end of withdrawal date to go in and change the grading option on the class to CR/NC. The instructor cannot change the student's record.

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ASSIGNMENTS

Note: Projects are graded when they are unloaded from their final firing. If a piece is damaged or broken before it can be completed, show the instructor what remains of it, for partial credit.

• Week 1 & 2

• 6 quick rough little pinch pots to use for glaze tests

• *creative pinch pot or sculpture (must be a minimum of 4” tall)

• *burnished pinch pot or sculpture

• *stamp or roulette(signature or decorative)

• keeping a notebook, containing:

• lecture notes

• record of every piece made

• glaze notes for each piece made

• handouts

• Week 3, 4, & 5

• *coil pot or sculpture

• *slab box or sculpture of similar complexity

• *slab vase or sculpture of the student's own design

• 4 test tiles (made from scraps of slabs) for glaze and oxide tests, pierced with a drinking straw to make a hole to hang it up by

• *2 pieces for donation to MCC

• Week 6, 7, 8, & 9

• mix one colored slip or glaze with partner, make tests on test tiles, and record in notebook

• *slip decoration on a piece (may be some other assignment)

• *5" cylinder (made on potter's wheel)

• *mug with handle (mug may be hand-built or made on the potter's wheel)

• *bowl (made on potter's wheel)

***SPECIAL PROJECT : choose to do one of the following projects:

***The grade for this piece carries the weight of three other pieces.

• 1) combination pot or sculpture piece combining two or more forming methods (pinch, coil, slab, throw), at least 10” tall

ART DEPARTMENT - ART 105 SYLLABUS

Art 105 Introductory Studio: Ceramics

Instructor: Jennifer Owen

Office: Ceramics Studio

Phone : 984-3202 (ext. 202) Ceramics studio

Email: jowen@hawaii.edu | Web page : www2.hawaii.edu/~jowen

Office hours in the Ceramics Studio : To be announced each semester.

• Course Description:

• Course Credits and Contact Hours per Week:

Three credits, and two hours lecture/four hours lab per week.

• Prerequisites: None.

• Learner Outcomes:

Students completing this course will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the three basic techniques of hand building and in wheel throwing in an effort to develop a personal style, and build self-esteem.

• Distinguish between different clay bodies and explain the relationship of geology to the origin and characteristics of clay.

• Apply their knowledge of the principles of the firing process to the successful loading of low temperature and high temperature firings, practicing proper kiln care and safety.

• Demonstrate an understanding of color and surface as it relates to three-dimensional form in the use of glazes and oxides. Integrate surface treatment with form.

• Explain the physical and chemical changes that transform clay and glaze at each stage of the building, drying, and firing process, and ascertain the appropriate stage at which to construct, manipulate, and decorate their ceramic project.

• Demonstrate knowledge of historic and contemporary examples of ceramics.

• Course Requirements:

Completion of 14 projects in clay, some being very specific assignments, and others being chosen by the student, following assignment guidelines.

Two in-class written exams, a midterm and a final, which will test the students' understanding of vocabulary, concepts and techniques of ceramics.

Active participation in loading of at least one bisque firing and one glaze firing.

Mixing of at least one glaze or colored slip from a recipe, and the making of several test tiles.

Keeping a notebook that records every clay project, with glaze notes for each piece, as well as lecture notes and notes on glaze tests.

Required reading in text and numerous quizzes based on those readings.

Course Outline

Week 1 & 2 : intro to clay

pinching pots and joining clay (scoring and slipping)

stamps and signature stamps

burnishing

discussion: aesthetics of primitive pottery

recycling, wedging clay and adding grog

lecture: science of clay: plasticity, particle size, cracking, drying, shrinking, firing, greenware, bisqueware, dust, safety

Week 3 : coil building

slab building

slides and/or videos

Week 4 : loading electric bisque kiln

lecture: loading and firing: atmospheric water, candling, chemical water, red heat

fire kiln

work time on coil and slab projects

Week 5 : field trip to Hui (to conduct sawdust firing and to visit exhibit)

demo: decorating and waxing sawdust pots

Week 6: throwing demo: cylinders

throwing lecture: outline steps (students take notes)

throwing practice

Week 7 : demo: trimming foot

colored slip

mix colored slip

demo sgraffito, mishima, brush work and banding

practice throwing (half of class handbuild, half throw each class)

Week 8 : demo: altering and handles

review for midterm exam

Week 9 : MIDTERM EXAM

Week 10 : glaze lecture and demo

Week 11 : load glaze fire

lecture on glaze fire, vitrification, low fire vs. high fire, gas kilns vs. electric kilns, oxidation vs. reduction

Week 12 : discussion: glaze results

Week 13&14: glazing and firing

Week 15 : review for final exam

review of glaze results

grading of finished pieces and notebooks

student self-evaluation of art work

Week 16 : FINAL EXAM

bring notebooks for grading

cleanup of studio

course evaluations

Attendance and Grading:

Grades will be based on the following:

Projects in clay

40%

Two pieces for donation to MCC

10%

Attendance and class participation

10%

Midterm exam

10%

Final exam

5%

Quizzes