Pulling the Curtain on Clay: A Material Demystification
F05
Chadwick Augstine, ceramics technician
Simple in its sensuality and yet complex in its application, clay, with its many facets and processes, can be an overwhelming medium of which to make use. This term-long workshop will be a general, practical guide to working with the materials and methods engaging the artist interested in clay. This workshop is intended to generate a broad base knowledge of ceramics in hopes of alleviating some of the mysteries and raising the potential of clay as an expressive material. Topics will include clay types and composition, the science of building, drying, and firing, and an overview of raw materials used in the production of glazes and slips. Students will be involved in a documentary project regarding the information gathered, tested, and shared.