Richard Mahaffey on mon 17 jul 06
Mel,
We start our classes out handbuilding. We have cluster classes, that
is first quarter, second and sometimes third and fourth quarter classes
together. Both teachers at TCC are throwers by choice.
We start the beginners out with hand building. Pinch pots, coil and a
method whose name I do not know but learned in Japan. We have them
make these first three styles the first day we work in class. These
pots will be used to learn about glazing later and when leather hard
used to teach about trimming a foot. Many of the techniques apply
directly to later throwing demos so everything has a double or tripple
purpose in our program.
For example most students these days have little knowledge or experience
using tools (sad that if we had an economic breakdown most of our
students would starve because they don't have much experience in skills
that kept people alive in the past) and trying to learn how a trimming
tool works on a spinning wheel is next to impossible for them, but after
a little experience trimming hand built bowls they are usually quite
successful.
Then we move on to a coil form with a guideline of 9" minimum height,
this past school year we had several students measuring our kilns to see
how big a piece they could make!
After we do some slab work making a box and slab bowl or plate.
Then we introduce the wheel and the more advanced students are asked to
help the beginners. This is great because the helpers learn more than
the ones being helped and it creates teaching that is horizontal rather
than vertical (students helping and teaching each other rather than
everything comming from the teacher).
Our project sheets all say that any or all projects may be hand built if
the student wishes. We have several handbuilders who are quite skilled
as well as several throwers who are quite accomplished.
It is our choice to be inclusive rather than exclusive, too bad most
graduate institutions are not of the same mind.
It seems that our classes often have a strong handbuilding flavor which
I find refreshing.
Funny, I modify the forms that I make on the wheel quite a bit - trying
to get away from what I call the tyranny of the circle.
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma, WA 98466, USA
William & Susan Schran User on tue 18 jul 06
On 7/18/06 1:16 AM, "Richard Mahaffey" wrote:
> Many of the techniques apply
> directly to later throwing demos so everything has a double or tripple
> purpose in our program.
This struck a note with me.
My students who follow through our program also start with a full semester
of hand building, no wheel until second semester. We start with the pinch
pot and go on from there.
In the wheel throwing course, first class meeting they do pinch pots!
I have them understand the similarities between wheel throwing and pinch
pots - starting at the bottom, working towards the top, even pinching around
the clay in a rhythmic circular motion.
Small studio, wheels on one side, tables on the other.
Ceramics 1 & 2 together, both doing pinch pots.
-- William "Bill" Schran
Fredericksburg, Virginia
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
Jeanie Silver on tue 18 jul 06
I think teaching hand-building first has the great advantage that thre
student first learns how the clay behaves, instead of first learning how the
wheel behaves behaves..and first learning so often is learning that forms a
person's attitude....
Jeanie in Pa.
claybair on wed 19 jul 06
My teaching experience was with adults in small groups
so my approach might not work for large groups.
I was in a small teaching studio.
I usually asked what the individual students wanted to do.
It always broke into groups.
In a small class size I just do not see the benefit in making someone
who has always wanted to get on the wheel make pinch pots etc.
or someone fearful of the wheel being forced onto it.
Quite often I would see a shared respect develop plus
a willingness and desire to try the other technique(s).
My 14 yr old niece visited me for 2 weeks. She was itching to get on the
wheel.
She was centering and throwing the first day but her pieces were overworked
and not exceptional. She got bored.... so I suggested she handbuild some
gifts for her friends. OMG...She made the most wonderful pieces. She made a
clay Llama that was exceptionally beautiful then went on to make several
more wonderful pieces.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: William & Susan Schran User
On 7/18/06 1:16 AM, "Richard Mahaffey" wrote:
> Many of the techniques apply
> directly to later throwing demos so everything has a double or tripple
> purpose in our program.
This struck a note with me.
My students who follow through our program also start with a full semester
of hand building, no wheel until second semester. We start with the pinch
pot and go on from there.
In the wheel throwing course, first class meeting they do pinch pots!
I have them understand the similarities between wheel throwing and pinch
pots - starting at the bottom, working towards the top, even pinching around
the clay in a rhythmic circular motion.
Small studio, wheels on one side, tables on the other.
Ceramics 1 & 2 together, both doing pinch pots.
-- William "Bill" Schran
Fredericksburg, Virginia
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
| |
|
