Ceramics
The department of ceramics at the Otis Campus is housed in
its own building, which includes separate studio, glazing, clay-
mixing and firing facilities.
The department believes in the necessity to establish a firm
technical base in the various ceramic media (clay bodies,
glazes, formmaking approaches, etc.) and to use this as the
foundation for increasingly bold exploration of the creative
range of the ceramic medium. Thus, over the four years of the
undergraduate program, the student will have the opportunity
to study and develop both traditional and experimental forms
and to apply a wide range of three-dimensional decorative and
conceptual approaches.
Freshman Year—Foundation Program (see page 6)
Sophomore Year
Fall Spring
CFS
\l Art History
2.0
2.0
210 Ceramics I
(a) Clay & Glazes
3.0
3.0
(b) Basic Pottery Forms
6.0
6.0
(c) Intro to Firing & Glazing
2.0
2.0
y Studio Electives
2.0
2.0
Liberal Arts
3.0
3.0
18.0 18.0
Junior Year
Fall Spring
HA 340
History of Ceramics
2.0
2.0
CR 310
Ceramics II
(a) Clay & Glazes (intermediate)
3.0
3.0
(b) Pottery & Forms (intermediate)
6.0
6.0
(c) Firing & Glazing (intermediate)
2.0
2.0
Studio Electives
2.0
2.0
Liberal Arts
3.0
3.0
18.0 18.0
Senior Year
Fall Spring
CR 410 Ceramics III
(a) Clay & Glazes (advanced)
(b) Pottery Forms (advanced)
(b) Firing & Glazing (advanced)
Studio Electives
Liberal Arts
3.0
3.0
8.0
8.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
3.0
3.0
18.0 18.0
Note to Ceramics Course Descriptions: Ceramics I, II and III
are taught as a cohesive unit by several instructors.The designations a, b, and c are used here to clarify the importance and
proportion of course components. They may overlap or run together in actual studio practice.
CR310/Ceramics II
(a) This course deals with the wide range of possibilities in
the use of technical information, decoration, and glaze
applications. It will cover the testing of colorants in glaze
bases, special glaze techniques such as china painting,
lustres, underglazes, raku, earthenware and stonewareglazes,
model making and slip casting.
(b) Continued work on the potter's wheel, including functional form combinations of thrown form and other ceramic
sculpture techniques.Students will be encouraged to develop
their own projects, individual directions and ideas.
(c) Continued experience in firing of kilns, stacking, care of
equipment, scheduling and special glaze effects.
CR410/Ceramics III
(a) Studies in the calculation of glazes, engobes, clay bodies,
materials testing and other lab techniques. Glaze experimentation and creating from the testing of combinations of raw
materials as well as the effects of temperature changes on
glazes and clay bodies.
(b) The emphasis of this course will be on the development of
work that takes as its point of departure a combination of the
particular skills developed in Ceramics I and 11,combined with
the particular interests and needs of the individual student.The
course is concerned with conceptual problems and solutions
confronting the contemporary potter who uses clay as a fine
arts medium.
(c) Advanced practice in the firing of kilns as well as lectures
in the fundamentals of kiln building. When time permits, students will build a raku kiln as part of class work.
HA340/History of Ceramics
This course will examine the conceptual and technological
developments of ceramics, including: work from prehistoric
Near East, China, Japan, Africa,Oceania, pre-European America, and the Modern Industrial Revolution and study of thedual
role as sculpture and utilitarian craft.
Art History and Liberal Arts courses are described on pages 9
and 11.
Otis faculty are listed on page 14.
CR210/Ceramics I
(a) Clay & Glazes. In the first semester, this course includes
basic lectures on clay mixing, clay body composition, color
and texture in clay, drying and firing.Thesecond term will cover
basicglaze technology, testing and the demonstration of glaze
uses.
(b) Basic Pottery Forms. Hand building and throwing on the
wheel. Introduction to the sculptural and 2-dimensional use of
clay. The course will explore traditional pottery forms and will
move toward the development of concepts based on the main
directions of contemporary ceramics.
(c) Introduction to Firings Glazing. Basic techniques in raku,
earthenware, oxidized and reduced stoneware.and porcelain.
