centering ceramics

AP 3D Studio Art students reflect on sculpture at Paly

text by karrie huang // photos by reed jadzinsky & anna thieman

Senior Reed Jadzinsky is in his second year of AP Art (and sixth year of making ceramics). Jadzinsky’s handthrown pieces are often in sets, made with layered high-fire glazes that create a dripping visual effect. The style of his pieces reflect modern, angular silhouettes with clean lines.

What do you like about the AP 3-D Studio Art class?

“I really like that Mr. Ferrera encourages his students to do whatever they want to do. He’ll try to do whatever is possible for that. You can make your own curriculum and whatever you want as long as it’s art and sculpture which is pretty cool.”

What are your plans for art in your future?

“Even though I’m not majoring or minoring in art, I’m still going to take art classes in college and participate in clubs. I currently work in a ceramics studio, so maybe I can find a job in my ceramics studio or do an internship-type thing with a ceramicist. Ultimately, maybe I can have my own studio and work from home.”

What is your advice for those new to wheel throwing?

“I would say just stick with it, it’s challenging at first to get it centered and it takes time to do it consistently. Once you get to that point it’s totally worth it. Seeing something you’re proud of at the end is totally worth it.”

What does art mean to you?

“I do art because I think it’s fun and it helps me. It’s relaxing and totally separate from my academic and social life — it’s something I can just do for myself. If people like looking at it and using the ceramic pieces I make, that’s a totally great feeling.”

Senior Anna Thieman is in the AP 3D Studio Art class. Her work incorporates elements of both glass and ceramics. Conceptually, Thieman’s art shows an interplay of a rainbow of colors and a variety of textures.

What draws you to ceramics and sculpture?

“I really like physically creating things, if that makes sense… making something out of clay or glass can only really be done in one take. For example, once you make something out of glass, it’s done. You can’t reshape it.”

What has been your favorite project to work on?

“Last year, I made a bouquet of glass flowers and a huge ceramic vase to arrange the flowers in. It turned out beautifully, and every flower was unique…With glass, as you work with it when it is hot and moldable, many of the colors just look orange or black because they are so hot. The final color and patina will only come out once the piece cools and hardens. The bouquet was a super fun process because every time I’d come into class to take my flowers out of the annealer, it was a mystery to see what color they’d be.”

What are your plans for incorporating art in your future?

“I totally want to take art classes in college. I don’t think I want to major in studio art, but pursuing an arts minor is totally in the cards for me.”

What is your advice for those new to 3-D art?

“Have an open mind and try experimenting with different mediums. I am not looking to be perfect, I’m just trying to figure out what creative processes are the most fun and fulfilling.”