Ceramics Upcoming Events & News

Clay Underground Ceramics Sale!

December 1 & December 2

11am to 1pm each day in the Foyer of the Fine Arts Building

Dept. of Visual Arts Scholarship Application Deadline
5pm, January 22nd, 2010.

Information and Rules here. [pdf]

NCECA 44th Annual Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2010
Philadelphia, PA
www.nceca.net

Ceramics Program

Ceramics Program Description

The Ceramics Program at TWU introduces students to clay as a medium with a great deal of cross-disciplinary potential within visual arts.  Current practice in this field extends into every other area of artistic practice, including installation art, video, graphics, interactive media, and all traditional media as well – and students are encouraged to explore and exploit those connections.
In order to make those connections accessible and attainable, we begin at the beginning level by giving students a strong background in basic skills, then the main advanced classes each give a perspective based on connections to other media, including sculpture, painting, printmaking (including digital media) and design.  In addition, moldmaking, kilnbuilding, and glaze chemistry are occasionally taught as part of the summer course schedule rotation.
Philosophically, the ceramics program is inclusive of both sculptural and design-based approaches, challenging any student to find a unique direction and develop it to its highest level.  Students are required to develop self-sufficiency in technical areas by taking responsibility for their own firings, and learning a variety of other skills that will allow them to continue to create ceramic artwork after leaving the academic environment.

Ceramics Facilities

GLAZE  ROOM: This room is used for mixing and application of glazes, and is equipped with a spray booth, a slot-hood ventilation system, and a slip mixing table, in addition to storage and work areas.
MOLD ROOM: This room is reserved for plaster mixing, and it also houses a power sprayer for silk-screen cleaning as well as a sand-blasting booth.
CLAY MIXING ROOM: This area serves for general bulk material storage as well as clay mixing, and the room features a powerful ventilation system for safety.
KILN AREA: This includes both a covered outdoor area which houses most of the kilns, and an adjacent area which is walled in but exposed, and which is the site for our raku and wood/salt kilns now in progress.
GENERAL STUDIO AREA:  This is the area where classes are held.  There are 18 potters wheels, extruders, a slab roller, and plenty of tables for work space.  Individual studios for advanced and grad students line the perimeter of the room (these are11 X 8 feet in size, and usually house one grad student or 1-3 advanced students).

KILNS
GAS KILNS
2 large gas kilns (24 and 36 cu. ft.)
1 raku kiln
1 gas test kiln (3 cu ft)
1 wood/salt kiln (planned completion in 2009)
ELECTRIC KILNS
7 electric kilns (3, 3, 5,  10, 10, 10, and 15 cu. ft)

EQUIPMENT
WHEELS
16 electrics
2 kickwheels
MIXERS
Clay mixer (Soldner, 150lb capacity)
Slip Mixing table

OTHER ITEMS
1 Slab roller (24” wide)
2 Extruders (Bailey)
1 Ball mill
1 Spray booth
1 Hydraulic lift cart
1 Hydraulic pallet lift
1 Pallet jack
1 Sandblasting booth
1 tile press (pending)
2 silk screen exposure units

Clay Underground

Ceramics interest organization for students.
Contact: Lacey Voight / lvoight@twu.edu
Advisor: Colby Parsons / mailto:cparsonsokeefe@twu.edu

Ceramics Links

Liquid Dataspace
Ceramics Today
National Council on the Education of the Ceramic Arts
TWU Office of Alumni Relations