A highlight of my week, for the past 16 years has been going to a K-5 public school to work with children and clay. I am a teaching artist through the 92nd Street YM_YWHA (School Engagement in the Arts). I am often greeted with gasps and cheers when the students know they we will be working with CLAY!
Happy, engaged students…what could be better. Pottery class seems to provide something for everyone (teachers and para-professionals included). Over the years I’ve noticed that most children work with the clay with such gusto and fun. They don’t hold back – they usually dive in full speed ahead. I usually assure students that they can’t make a mistake…if they don’t like what they’ve created they can just scrunch it up and begin again. That idea sets them free…they explore in ways they might not have the courage to do if they were given a single sheet of paper. As in drawing.
There are so many ways to approach clay. A scientific perspective is always an attention grabber for many students. We are taking a piece of the earth and creating something that is in our mind…our imagination. The thoughts goes through our minds, through are veins, then our fingertips and to the clay. We talk about digging up the clay, how many places it is found on the surface of our planet (almost everywhere). We discuss how the particles shaped like little plates, give clay its properties. We talk about firing the clay in the kiln, how long kilns have been around. We talk about the chemistry of glaze formulation – they love seeing the rocks and metals used to make the glaze. We learn the techniques of pinch pots, coil pots and slab pots and then combine them to create our masterpieces.
We often celebrate with culminating ceremonies like hot chocolate parties to use our newly minted cups, home made cookies to eat from our snack plates or pretzels from our bowls. We also set up scenarios with various components contributed by each student. We make self-portraits, and sculptures of ourselves engaged in our favorite activities.
Occasionally I run into student who has long ago graduated from the school and high school and college. They often tell me they still have their ceramic pieces and how they keep them in safe places so they will have them forever. My wish for students is that they create work that has deep personal meaning…it feels like a big success when I have these encounters.
I have much appreciation for the 92nd Street YM_YWHA (School Engagement in the Arts) and all the staff and director for continuing to make this program available. There are many testimonies that happen casually which I wish they could hear. Bravo to the department that brings music, art and dance to so many school in NYC!
*Stickers used on faces to protect the privacy of young students.
