Ceramics Material, Process, and Ecology

3 units

In this course, students will engage with the origins, transformation, and impact of ceramic materials. They will harvest and process clay from local natural sources such as the banks of the Mississippi River and other regional deposits, create ceramic tools from found materials, and formulate glazes using components found in common household products. Through these explorations, students will gain a deeper understanding of clay and glazes in their geological and chemical contexts and consider the ecological and ethical implications of their production. Students in this course will deepen their studio practice by developing artwork and functional ceramics from scratch, guided by material awareness, experimentation, and research. Students will be evaluated on their progress through peer-reviewed research logs, group critiques of their ceramics, and their contribution to a collaborative class publication.