I'm working at Woods Charter School all this week as an artist in residence with Brett Durham's 10th grade art class. This grant was made possible through the Briar Chapel Community and Chatham County Arts Council. I will be working with the class to construct animal heads that will become several totems to be installed on the Woods campus. The inspiration for the totem project came from a recent visit to the NC Pottery Center where I saw the great animal totems they have there. I have always wanted to do a totem installation and it was exciting to see that the students I am working with were equally excited and could actually roll a pretty good coil. We started today forming the base of the neck and chin and we will continue building all this week. Can't wait to see what they do. I am leaving it almost all up to them and trying to keep my hands off of their work. That's always the hardest thing for me to do, but they should have ownership of this project, so I'm leaving them be.
5 comments:
what fun! love the dreamy stare photo... casting loving glances at one's work - priceless.
I think I actually saw that same look on your face when you were sculpting the Rhino man! I know that feeling, just watching what clay does all on it's own....
How exciting, the students seem to love working with the clay. What a wonderful artist in residence project. I've never seen a ceramic totem, but last year at an art fair in the mountains there was a wood totem and I immediately thought of making a ceramic one. I drew some sketches, but then thought I needed know the right type of clay to use. What type do you recommend to withstand outdoor changes in temperature?
Linda we are just using recycled clay because that is what we can afford. It's cone six, we are going to paint with acrylics and then I am going to put a water sealer on the pieces. I'm hoping this will work! Our winters aren't too bad here, so it should be ok, we'll see!
thanks, our winters aren't too bad here either, I guess as long as they don't absorb water and then freeze they should be ok. Hope I get to see the finished project here, I think it is such a great art project - each person makes a portion and then it is combined as one piece of art.
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