Ceramics

• 10 Electric Kilns
• One very large front-loading
• One smaller front-loading
• One large Oval
• Two large top loading
• Four smaller top loading
• One small test kiln
• Gas and Wood fired kilns
• Four downdraft car kilns (one mid-sized, three large)
• Two mid-sized front-loading downdraft kilns
• One smaller front-loading downdraft kiln
• One mid-sized downdraft soda kiln
• One large downdraft salt kiln
• One large downdraft wood-fired kiln
• Clay Mixing Room
• One large 400-500lb. capacity mixer
• One smaller Soldner mixer
• One de-airing pug mill
• One large capacity slip mixer

Plaster Laboratory: The Sculpture and Ceramic Area share a designated Plaster working room. It is large and well equipped and separate from any other clay or sculpture studios.

Clay and Glaze Laboratory: The ceramic area has a fully stocked glaze-mixing laboratory with all the materials necessary for a full studio practice. The material selection is extensive to encourage experimentation across all firing temperatures. The room is large enough to use for glaze application of smaller works. There is a large spray booth for spraying glazes in the kiln building.

Exhibition Spaces: The ceramic area has many designated exhibition spaces including a very large gallery space on the ground level lobby of the Visual Art Center. The entire building has over 25 exhibition spaces for students to reserve and show their work.

Advanced students work together in a large shared studio, each student has their own designated space (the room is locked during off hours). This studio will accommodate approximately 15 upper level students and promotes engagement between peers.

Ceramics 2: Wheel throwing teaches students the basics of throwing on the wheel, but also investigates surface decorations with engobes and glazes, high-temperature gas kiln firing, and conceptual ideas about the vessel.

Ceramics 2: Handbuilding covers the range of handbuilding techniques to create both architectural and organic forms, as well as working with low-temperature surfaces, electric kiln firing, and large and small scale sculptural projects.

Ceramics 3: Intermediate offers the chance to build on previous skills. Projects might include working with mold making and multiples, a large plate project for the development of surfaces, installations, or developing a narrative through objects.

Ceramics 4: Advanced gives students a chance to work more independently on projects of their own design. Students typically have an opportunity to develop their ideas about presentation of their work in one or more group shows. We also have a strong program of Post-Baccalaureate students in the ceramic area; these students are part of the Advanced Class and lend their expertise, as well as setting a high level of expectations for the class.

Special Topics: Special topics courses have included Ceramic History, Raw Materials: Clay and Glazes, The Object as Prop, Political Content in Ceramic Art, and others. Students are encouraged to take at least one special topics course at any point after the beginning level courses.

We are looking for students who will be able to make excellent work, and work within the schedule required of a BFA student. Your track record as a student, therefore, is a very important consideration in our decision to accept you into the BFA program.

To be a successful applicant, you should have:

• an excellent attendance record for your ceramic courses
• all assignments for ceramic courses completed on time
• ambitious projects: do more than what is asked for you for each assignment
• clear internal motivation (you should not rely on external pressure or deadlines to make work in the studio)

In the application, we are looking for:

• a thoughtful artist statement that demonstrates you have insight into your own work, and addresses the questions you are asking of yourself in your studio practice
• a body of work that goes beyond assignments completed as class work; we should start to see cohesion in the work you are making
• a high level of technical proficiency
• formal decisions in your work that support your ideas
• overall, a carefully constructed application, with good images of your work

Always feel free to consult with any of the ceramic faculty for advice on putting together your BFA application. We wish you the best of luck!

BFA Application & Information