Feb 22, 2025  
2025-2026 Course Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Course Catalog
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ART 1072 - Introduction to Ceramics: Hand-Building

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 1 Lab 2 Studio
Course Description:

This course is an introduction to the study of one of humankind’s oldest art making media. The course presents the basic properties of clay and the techniques that are used to manipulate the medium. In addition, projects explore aspects of three-dimensional design (form, line, plane, volume, mass, space, texture, and color). Course activities focus on various hand-building techniques emphasizing creative problem solving and craft. The course also delves into the general history of ceramics, as well as contemporary issues. Open studio is available for outside class work.              

 
MnTC Goals
Goal 6

Prerequisite(s): None
Recommendation: Course placement into ENGL 0950 and RDNG 0950 or above OR completion of RDNG 0940 with a grade of C or higher OR course placement into ESOL 0051 and ESOL 0052 and ESOL 1033 OR completion of ESOL 0041 with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0042 with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0043 with a grade of C or higher.

and ART 1025

Major Content
1. Hand-building techniques 

  1. Pinch pot method
  2. Coil Building method
  3. Soft-slab method
  4. Hard-slab method
  5. Mold-making
  6. Integrating different hand-build techniques

2. Clay bodies

  1. Earthenware
  2. Stoneware
  3. Porcelain

3. Glaze and glazing methods

  1. Brushing
  2. Dunking
  3. Spraying
  4. Glaze components (flux, silica, allumina)
  5. Glaze temperature range

4. Kiln types

  1. Pit firing
  2. Wood firing
  3. Gas firing
  4. Electric firing
  5. Oxidation vs Reduction 

5. Evaluating art

  1. Learn vocabulary for talking about art
  2. Assess elements of 3D design to evaluate art
  3. Participate in critiques

 
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. demonstrate the principles of design through the creation of functional and nonfunctional ceramic works.  

2. demonstrate skills in construction, surface treatment, finishing or firing techniques in ceramic materials and techniques to successfully complete class assignments.  

3. create original works of ceramics that explore a variety of formal and conceptual problems.  

4. analyze historic and contemporary ceramics materials, terminology, styles, and techniques.  

5. apply the basic vocabulary of three-dimensional artwork and the aesthetic concerns of using three dimensional form. 

6. explain the vital role and value the fine arts and humanities have on the development of culture.  

7. critique the effectiveness of personal artwork and the work of others. 

8. demonstrate procedures to ensure good health and safety issues within the discipline.   

9. demonstrate proficient skills using various hand-building techniques.

10. identify appropriate techniques for building specific works. 

 
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies Goal 6
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
06.02 Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.

06.03 Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.

06.04. Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.

06.05. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities. 
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
None


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