Coil Pottery

Recently in Ceramics, we have been working on the construction of coil pots! 

Coiled pots are built by gradually stacking and joining coils of clay one on top of the other. The coils can be left visible or can be smoothed away depending on your desired aesthetic end result. It is important that the coils join well during construction to avoid cracking or separation during the drying and firing process.

To avoid cracking or coil separation, the clay must be soft and the proper process to connect the coils together must be used. First, you must score or scrape the clay with a toothpick, then you add a layer of slip. 

(Slip is a mixture of clay and water which acts as a glue.)

Students were instructed to smooth out at least one side of their pot. They could use their thumb or index finger to smooth the coils, or use a wooden modeling tool while the clay was still soft. 

Soon, they will be bisque fired and ready for glazing! I'll post final product images in about a week. 

Art Lab: Exploring Metamorphoses

I wanted to briefly share an opportunity that has been presented to me and 6 other Metro High School art teachers.

Thanks to a heads-up from Mrs. Ottinger, I was able to attend a fantastic workshop over the summer through the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Over the course of 4 days, we had the chance to work with 3 of the 4 local artists featured in the current exhibition titled:Metamorphoses. http://fristcenter.org/calendar-exhibitions/detail/metamorphoses

All three artists also happen to be professors in Middle Tennessee which was an added bonus! Not only did I have the chance to create new and meaningful artwork, but I gained quite a bit of knowledge in terms of approaching these new  concepts in my classroom. I could go on and on about my experience…but that’s not what is important! 

So now, each teacher who attended the workshop will select 4 students to take part in a similar experience. Students will meet and work closely with 2 of the artists featured in the exhibit. They will also be able to create their own artwork related to the theme:  Metamorphoses.

I am presenting the opportunity to all of my students, but am asking them to write me a short essay on why they would like to be selected. I will also ask them to submit one of their best drawings to me so that I can pick out who is serious about it and who isn’t.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students who are serious about art and want to pursue it after high school! Best of all, their art from the workshop will be featured in a student exhibition at the Frist Center. I can’t wait to see which students will take advantage of this fantastic experience!

Thanks for your interest in the Cane Ridge Art Department!

-Mrs. Jordan