Description:

Students will have the opportunity to pursue advanced individual research under the direction of the instructor. Emphasis is on creative expression and development of technical skills as well as the further pursuit of technical studies that have relevance for emerging personal specializations. Students will conduct a personal program of study on one aesthetic issue that emerges as personally significant and present the outcomes in an appropriate and acceptable manner at the close of the semester. Students should initiate and pursue studies in directions that inform and further their individual professional and creative growth, which leads to invention, innovation and refinement of their personal semester work, as agreed upon with the instructor. This course enables further pursuit of technical studies that have relevance for these emerging personal specializations. Skill refinement, three-dimensional imagination, with increased creative expression and creative product generation are anticipated. 6 hrs. lecture, lab/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. Focus emphasis on individual development of advanced ceramic skills involving individual directions and ideas.
2. Achieve individual development of idea expression by completing a volume of work showing these ideas manifested in form.
3. Develop an appreciation of ceramic art as an useful and expressive art of men and women, reflecting our culture from prehistory to the present.
4. Gain a more advanced working knowledge of glazes and various methods of kiln firing approaches by participating in the kiln firing process.
5. Develop an individual approach to ceramic form making involving skill refinement, three-dimensional imagination leading to an increased creative expression and creative product generation.
6. Develop a semester plan for specific assignments and directions with the approval of the instructor.
7. Develop an individual critique criterion for evaluation of ceramic ware.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Individual Development of Advanced Ceramic Skills Involving Ceramic
Techniques and Processes
   A. Perform wheel throwing techniques which are appropriate to the more
advanced ceramic level application, including:
      1. Individual sense of wheel thrown form involving the vessel.
      2. Individual sense of decorative closure.
   B. Perform non-wheel manipulation techniques which are appropriate to
the more advanced ceramic level application, including:
      1. Individual sense of sculptural form with non-wheel manipulation
techniques.
      2. Individual sense of closure with glaze and non-glaze surfaces.

II. Individual Development of Idea Expression
   A. Produce ceramic ware which reflects variations on a theme
including:
      1. Multiple series researching matching sets.
      2. Individual ceramic ware which exhibits a style.
   B. Initiate the evolution of a conceptual basis for ceramic ware
including:
      1. Scale variations.
      2. Variations of volume and height.

III. Historical Influence and References in Individual Student Ceramic
Ware
   A. Produce ceramic ware which reflects historical references.
   B. Produce ceramic ware which exhibits firing methods reflecting
cultural and regional influences.

IV. Creative Expression with Ceramic Ware
   A. Establish a personal repertoire and palette by emerging a clay,
surface, glaze, and firing combination that works best for their
individual direction. (Magazine, book, and journal readings as required
and appropriate for their individual research should be completed.)
   B. Establish the content of this course largely in a self motivated
fashion after establishing an over-all semester direction with permission
of the instructor. (Study, reading and research with the task of preparing
an acceptable proposal leading to a final presentation of work at the close
of the semester is expected. Study is complemented and catalyzed by various
directed reading, exhibit viewing, guest speakers, tutorial discussions and
individual advice and critique by the instructor.)
   C. Develop specific course content by consultation with the instructor.
(The number of projects to be completed and the standards expected will be
clearly established at the beginning of the semester in individual
critique and conferences.)

V. Students Will Demonstrate Proficiency in a Range of Research Directions
Including But Not
Limited to:
   A. Advanced ceramic design.
   B. Individualized decorative style development.
   C. Advanced glazes; researching their properties and reactions.
   D. Glaze calculation and formulation; utilization of computer
technology is encouraged.
   E. Advanced ceramic wheel throwing techniques.
   F. Kiln design and firing research.
   G. Computer/liquid light images on ceramic ware.

VI. Development of an Individual Critique Criterion
   A. Analyze, evaluate and critique specific ceramic ware including
historical and peer ceramic examples.
   B. Demonstrate the basic elements of art and ceramic form which leads
to more clearly defined notions of what is creative form, good form, or
bad form.
   C. Critique ceramic ware with specific articulation stated in written
analysis and group critique discussions.

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:

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:
Group critiques, Demonstrations, Class discussions, Studio maintenance,
Safe practices

General Competencies: Students will be evaluated through testing or studio
behavior in the following areas: Fundamental ceramic vocabulary, Ceramic
history, Ceramic materials, Techniques/processes

Grading:
Assigned major projects and various minor projects: 60-80% of grade.
Quizzes and tests: 20-40% of grade.

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.