BFA Program

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Special Topics includes classes in:

Ceramic Mold Making (3 s.h.)
Students produce both two and three-piece plaster molds to be used in the slip casting process for the production of multiple ceramic items. The course examines both the historical and contemporary use of molds and slip casting. During the semester the students are encouraged to incorporate the use of slip casting into their current style of work.

Primitive Ceramics (3 s.h.)
A course concentrating on the use of primitive ceramic techniques. This course is structured to develop skills in locating and refining clay, forming processes, and a variety of low temperature firing processes. This course utilizes many of the pottery techniques of Native American ceramics as one of the sources of investigation.

Two-Dimensional Ceramics (3 s.h.)
The making and production of tiles and other essentially two-dimensional ceramic items for application to interior and exterior architecture. Several processes, techniques and firing methods are explored. These include both high and low temperature firing, mold, and hand pressing techniques. The history of tiles and ceramic wall reliefs are surveyed with concentration on relevant periods and countries.

Porcelain (3 s.h.)
A ceramic course that covers the special properties of porcelain clay. Various hand building, throwing and casting techniques are explored as well as experiments in glazing and the preparation of clay bodies. Historical importance of porcelain is reviewed along with many contemporary uses of this material in vessel and sculptural forms.

Ceramic Structures (3 s.h.)
The approach to this course is to utilize ceramic materials for the creation of sculpture. The history of ceramic sculpture as well as contemporary movements is stressed. Various techniques used in ceramic sculpture, techniques and materials used in conjunction with ceramics are explored.