Ceramic experience in DIS art

Posted on: Dec 6, 2018

A menagerie of unique animals took shape under the careful hands of sixth-grade students in the DIS art room during recent weeks.

The creatures, whose bodies formed bowls, were part of the Ceramic Animal Vessels unit and were the vehicle through which students studied concepts like abstract art, symbolism and realism. In abstract art, the subject does not resemble reality. Symbolism emphasizes the meaning behind the art rather than aesthetic appeal, and realism aims to depict the subject as it actually appears.

“For example, students looked at artworks created by Native American artists to better understand (sumbolism as a) style of art,” said instructor Laura Holland. 

Then they were instructed to use one of those art forms to construct their projects, a process that had students laughing and exchanging enthusiastic comments about their creations during a recent classroom visit. 

“A design challenge was to sculpt a bowl first out of clay and use the bowl as the main body of their animal. Students used five out of six days for the wet clay sculpting of their animals,” said Holland. “Six future days of art making will be used for glazing the inside of their animal vessels and watercolor painting the exterior clay surface according to the style of art they chose to use.”

The project concludes with students writing statements about their artwork and the choices they made during the process.

While the project is not a new unit, Holland said she has adjusted the unit content over time, and built in more decision-making flexibility for students in the experience.

“Students always look forward to working with clay in the art room each year,” said Holland. “They enjoy the unique challenges of working three-dimensionally and sculpting.”

Post Categories: Intermediate School