CERAMICS
A Clay in the Life “Ceramics is a vehicle to dig into art that pushes boundaries,” mused Helen ShanksHA. What is the role of an artist, if not to question the world around them? At Castilleja, students pose questions in many forms—through spoken words, writing, images, and movement. In some classes, like ceramics, the answer can only be found by asking all of those types of questions. Ms. Shanks would know. She has taught the ceramics course more than thirty times since 2004. “I still love it,” she gushes. IT STARTED WITH A TEAPOT It is perhaps fitting that Ms. Shanks, who grew up in England, assigns a class project associated with tea. After learning the basics—coil, pinching, slabbing, cross-hatches, it’s time to apply them to creating a larger object: a teapot! But it’s no ordinary teapot. This teapot must make a statement about a social justice issue, often related to topics covered in 8th grade. The social justice teapot project has evolved during her time at Castilleja, but its roots began in Ms. Shanks’ college courses, in which she had to create her own teapot. “It’s the perfect way to apply new skills. You have to think about so many components of ceramics and the ergonomics of the object,” she shares. “Not only is there a huge creative piece, but also students have to think about translating ideas from a drawing to a three-dimensional object.” In many ways, the teapot is a vessel for learning. Ceramics is just another way to apply the design thinking process that students learn through the Bourn Idea Lab, and clay offers flexibility in rapid prototyping. It’s important that students have a framework through which to create something of their own. Ms. Shanks explains, “I teach them the right tools for the job. After they know the rules, they can break them in the name of creativity.” BREAKING BARRIERS Ceramics class levels the artistic playing field because many people who feel they can’t draw end up creating three-dimensional objects in which they have so much pride. “I want students to have the skills that will enable them to create anything,” Ms. Shanks declares, with a sparkle in her eye. “The truly amazing thing is that all the teapots look SO unique.” The ceramics studio provides students a space to practice risk taking and creativity so they learn how to push themselves and the boundaries of what is possible.
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