Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | ART-1231-VU02 - Ceramics I

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Sarah Camille Wilson
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Dana Lee

General Education Requirements

VSCS Arts & Aesthetics

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

Students explore the design and aesthetics of clay and practice fundamental production techniques including hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, and firing.

Essential Objectives

1. Discuss the nature of ceramic materials, their history, and their uses in different cultures.
2. Apply visual considerations such as form, texture, and color to the design of utilitarian and non-utilitarian ceramic forms.
3. Design and construct hand-built ceramic forms using pinch, coil, and slab construction techniques.
4. Demonstrate basic wheel-throwing techniques.
5. Discuss types of glazes and other surface decoration, and apply basic glazing techniques.
6. Describe and employ low-fire and stoneware firing techniques.
7. Discuss and apply ceramic studio safety practices.
8. Examine, discuss and critique art work, including some reference to the art historical, social, and cultural context.
9. Design and complete individual projects.
10. Create a portfolio of clay projects.
11. Display finished works in a professional manner.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

ART-1231-VU02 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

Ceramics I / ART-1231-VU02

Spring 2024- January 24th - May 1st

Instructor: Sarah Camille Wilson

Office hours by appointment

Email: scw00458@ccv.vsc.edu

Course Description and Objectives:

Students explore the design and aesthetics of clay and practice fundamental production techniques including hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, and firing.

• Discuss the nature of ceramic materials, their history, and their uses in different cultures.

• Apply visual considerations such as form, texture, and color to the design of utilitarian and non-utilitarian ceramic forms.

• Design and construct hand-built ceramic forms using pinch, coil, and slab construction techniques.

• Demonstrate basic wheel-throwing techniques.

• Discuss types of glazes and other surface decoration, and apply basic glazing techniques.

• Describe and employ low-fire and stoneware firing techniques.

• Discuss and apply ceramic studio safety practices.

• Examine, discuss and critique art work, including some reference to the art historical, social, and cultural context.

• Design and complete individual projects.

• Create a portfolio of clay projects.

• Display finished works in a professional manner.

The majority of this class will take the form of practical assignments. The goal of these assignments is to build students’ knowledge of and proficiency with a variety of methods of ceramic construction. These include pinching, coil building, sculpting, wheel throwing, soft slab construction, and hard slab construction. In addition, students will gain an understanding of the process of designing, decorating, glazing, and firing ceramic objects. Research is also an important component of the class, giving students an understanding of the ceramic object across historic and contemporary cultures. The goal of these assignments is to give students a vocabulary of ceramic terms and an understanding of shop usage and safety. Students will be involved in all aspects of the ceramic process, from preparing clay to loading and firing kilns.

Assignments:

Each assignment will be introduced with slide lectures and demos, allowing students to visualize the working process for each project. Outside class time will be required for research and the completion of projects. Sketchbooks are required, and will be collected at mid-term, and after the final critique. Notes and questions during demos are encouraged, and will improve student performance. Each assignment will outline the project parameters, expectations, and due dates. Students are expected to use Canvas to keep track of assignment timelines and deadlines. Failure to meet deadlines and assignment criteria will result in the lowering of the project final grade. All completed projects should be kept at the studio until after the final critique.

Assignments are due at the beginning of class, unless otherwise noted by your instructor.

Sketchbooks:

You are required to maintain a sketchbook for this class. Sketchbooks are a key tool in the ceramic process, allowing for the collection of research and the development of ideas before time is invested in clay pieces. Your sketchbook will be factored into your final grade. Choose a sketchbook no smaller than 8.5x11”, and bring it to each class.

Attendance:

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Attendance and punctuality are critical. More than two absences will result in a lowered grade. Three late arrivals, or arriving unprepared to work, will count as an absence. If you accumulate four absences, you will not be able to successfully complete the course, and you will be asked to withdraw. An excused absence requires prior notice and permission from your instructor, a doctor’s note, or, in the event of a field trip or other special event, a letter from an instructor. If you know you will be absent, make arrangements with me as soon as possible.

Come to class on time and prepared to work. Bring your sketchbook, ideas, and appropriate clothing. Efficient in-class work will save you time and aggravation. Your instructor will always know how hard you are working!

Clean up procedure:

You are expected to clean up your work area, and anywhere you work during class, at the end of each class, and at the end of any work session outside of class. This is the most important part of a safe, healthy and respectful studio practice. Be considerate of the many students who work in this classroom, and leave it in better condition than you found it. Clay is a relatively safe material, but the inhalation of fine clay dust particles over a long period of time can be hazardous. Use a damp sponge to clean- never sweep up clouds of dust. This will minimize your and others’ exposure to clay dust. Clean up will begin 20 minutes before the end of each class, and is a mandatory part of class participation.

Other concerns:

1. No open toed footwear is permitted in the clay studio.

2. Headphones are not permitted during class.

3. Cell phone use is not permitted during class; please turn off upon entering the classroom.

4. All work in wet clay must be complete by the end of class on April 17th.

Supplies: Clay and tools are provided. You are expected to purchase a sketchbook for use during this class.

Academic Integrity: CCV has a commitment to honesty and excellence in academic work and expects the same from all students. Academic dishonesty, or cheating, can occur whenever you present -as your own work- something that you did not do. You can also be guilty of cheating if you help someone else cheat. Being unaware of what constitutes academic dishonesty (such as knowing what plagiarism is) does not absolve a student of the responsibility to be honest in his/her academic work. Academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and may lead to dismissal from the College.

Evaluation Criteria

Grading:

Your grade will be based on the completion of assignments, sketchbooks, in class participation, work time, critiques, and attendance.

• As each assignment is completed, your grade will be entered in Canvas.

• For each week that an assignment is late, one point will be deducted from the final grade.

• For a five point assignment, 5=A, 4=B, 3=C, 2=D, 1=F.

• Each assignment builds on previous assignments. Late work will be accepted for partial credit only until the next assignment is due.

Please feel free to talk to me at any time about your individual progress. Extra work always helps! Extra credit opportunities will be provided. You will be evaluated on the following:

• Technical skills development.

• Satisfaction of the minimum requirements on various assignments.

• Conceptual development in satisfying required assignments.

• Research and sketchbook use.

• Attendance and class participation.

• Safe, respectful, and professional studio practice both during and outside of class.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity