Description:

This course covers more advanced methods and studio practices in creative ceramic wheel expression and glaze formation. Emphasis is on development of a sense of thrown form and creative decoration or optional creative non-wheel ceramic form development. The course focuses on advanced ceramic form production, aesthetic issues, investigative study and practice. Clay, glaze and firing techniques are investigated in depth.The student acquires a repertoire of studio skills, a deeper awareness of ceramic history and articulated criteria of judgment. Individual interpretation and conceptual development are expected. The study of aesthetics of ceramic form is undertaken. 6 hrs./wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Create and express original ideas, functional and nonfunctional, in clay appropriate to a second level ceramics course.
2. Produce a number of creative, original, well designed and executed ceramic forms beyond that of the specific course assignments.
3. Initiate practice with the creation of larger volumetric studies with forms.
4. Initiate practice with the creation of additional height with forms.
5. Obtain sophisticated form development including closure of forms with lids, combinations of different forms into an unity, and variations of a specific form.
6. Exhibit conceptual expression, including the communication of ideals or ideas with form.
7. Exhibit a historical awareness of the ceramic discipline by producing ceramic ware which reflects and responds to the historical firing methods and styles found in ceramic history.
8. Create specific decorative techniques designed for specific forms.
9. Initiate glaze research.
10. Initiate an individual critique criterion of judgment of ceramic art.
11. 1Begin to utilize in one’s own ceramic ware good, sound formal qualities, including: shape, proportion, size, weight, contour, curve, and decorative design.
12. Develop an increasing awareness within one’s own work of the notions including: metaphor, concept, vessel-sculptural issues, etc.
13. Begin to use additional tool utilization in one’s own working processes including: wooden ribs, rubber ribs, throwing sticks, templates, etc.
14. Demonstrate the making of a wide range of ceramic form including: jars, spheres, bottles, plates, lidded vessels, teapots, etc.
15. Demonstrate more sophisticated throwing techniques including: throwing “off the hump” and duplicate forms in terms of scale and sense of form.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Development of Individual Form and Decoration
   A. Perform wheel throwing appropriate to advanced ceramic level
application, including:
      1. Emphasis on scale in terms of height
         a. Practice with spiral pulling of taller forms
         b. Join multiple thrown forms to obtain height
      2. Emphasis on scale in terms of volume
         a. Practice with larger masses of centered clay
         b. Increase width of thrown form
      3. Create a wide based range of thrown forms, including:
         a. Bowls
         b. Jars
         c. Plates
         d. Vases
   B. Identify and use appropriate decorative techniques.

II. Aesthetic and Creative Research
   A. Demonstrate and apply appropriate design principles to enhance a
variety of individual ceramic projects in the studio.
   B. Obtain sophisticated form development including closure of forms
with lids, combinations of different forms into an unity, and variations
of a specific form.
   C. Research variations of a theme and evolution of an idea.

III. Individual Interpretation and Conceptual Development
   A. Demonstrate the development of a series of ceramic ware which employ
specific conceptual form and color unification.
   B. Initiate the manufacture of a specific ware which reflects an
individual style or concept.

IV. Critique Criterion Development
   A. Develop an individual critique criterion which describes ceramic
ware in general.
      1. Participate in group critique sessions.
      2. Participate in individual critique sessions.
   B. Develop an individual critique criterion which reflects a
self-critiquing of the student’s own ceramic ware.

V. General Studio Work
   A. Demonstrate an individual approach to specific advanced ceramic
technologies, including:
      1. Technological process involved with kiln firing, including:
         a. Low fire
         b. High fire
      2. Firing schedules, including:
         a. Bisque fire
         b. Glaze fire
      3. Types of firings, including:
         a. Electric
         b. Gas
   B. Demonstrate an individual approach to specific advanced decorative
techniques, including:
      1. Slips
      2. Oxides
      3. Stains
      4. Terra sigillata

VI. Individual Development of Ceramic Ware
   A. Create individual ware for the specific assignments.
   B. Create individual ware for the open work assignment.

VII. Safe Studio Practices
   A. Identify hazardous materials and processes common to the ceramics
studio.
   B. Safely handle hazardous materials, including their disposal, and
apply safe processes in the ceramic studio setting.
   C. Describe and follow protective measures for:
      1. Inhalation
      2. Direct contact/absorption
      3. Ingestion

VIII. Attitudes and Work Habits
   A. Identify and develop positive attitudes toward tasks and fellow
students appropriate for the studio, including giving and accepting
criticism and praise.
   B. Identify and develop productive work habits, including attending to
detail, completing tasks, maintaining the work setting and recording
data.
   C. Identify and develop collaborative/teamwork skills, including
solving problems in groups, building consensus and responding to
supervision.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be
accomplished using the following methods:
   Examinations           20-40% of grade
   Projects/Assignments   60-80% of grade
                            100%

Attendance: 21 or more unexcused studio/lecture hours will result in
receiving a grade of failure in the course; 10 to 20 unexcused
studio/lecture hours will result in the reduction of the final grade.

Attitude and Work Habits: Although attendance is essential, productive
attitudes and work habits affect morale, efficiency, accuracy and safety
in the studio and will be a factor in determining grades. In addition,
collaboration and teamwork will be expected and evaluated.

Participation: Students will be assessed on their degree of participation
in the following collaborative activities: Critiques, Demonstrations,
Class discussions, Studio maintenance, Safe practices

General Competencies: Students will be evaluated through testing or studio
behavior in the following areas: Advanced ceramic vocabulary, Ceramic
history and its relationship to their individual work, Ceramic materials,
Advanced techniques/processes

Studio Project Skills: Students will be evaluated in the following skills:
Clay preparation, Building techniques (pinching, coiling, slab, wheel),
Decoration techniques

Studio Project Problem Solving: Students will be evaluated on the
following components of the problem solving process: Ability to analyze
the problem’s requirements, Development of a range of possible
solutions, Exploration of possible solutions in a two- to
three-dimensional medium, Implementation leading to a final result,
Evaluation of the result

Student grades will also be based on at least the following:
1. Overall semester assessment of student work based on technique, design,
and creativity of ceramic form, and process of development and growth. 
2. Semester progress and growth evidenced from starting point of semester
through the end of the semester of form development as represented by the
assignments.
3. Creation of ceramic work that indicates a process of growth, an
evidence of consistency, a quality and concern for both thought and
action, originality and uniqueness, and a development of aesthetic values
and analytical skills conducive to sound works of art.
4. Specific assignment evaluations, as well as additional studio work and
research. 
5. Specific assignment evaluations, in addition to extra work created
beyond that of the assigned work.

Caveats:

1. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor of any disability, which will require special accommodation in this course.
2. Although care will be taken with individual student work, the process of drying, firing & glazing may sometimes result in loss of that work.

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.