Course Code & No. - Section:
CERM 310,410,481 - Section 1
Course Title (Credits):
Intermediate-Advanced Studio Ceramics
Term & Year:
Spring 21
Course Ref. No. (CRN):
Course 10104, 10105, 10106. Lab 10116
Course Workload
3 credit art course
Instructor:
Rick Parsons
Phone(s):
x 7587 or 970-948-5555 (Rick’s cell for emergencies)
Email:
Class Start date and Meeting Time:
1/25/21 – 4/15/21
T-R 10:00 – 11:45 pm Lab Friday 10:00 - 4:45
Prerequisites:
CERM 210
Lab
Lab Friday 10:00 - 4:45
Blog:
http://sncceramics.blogspot.com/
Course Description
This twelve-week course will experiment with a thematic approach to ceramics as it utilizes and questions traditional ceramic decision making. In this ceramics course, we will be addressing the perceptions of clay and challenging its past and recognizing the forgotten. It is important to know its history to frame this discussion. The goal of this course is to position ceramics in your contemporary context. Are the objects and expressions byproducts of thought or living thoughts in and of themselves? Assignments will be challenging while teaching important ceramic skills while stressing idea development and problem-solving. Wheel-throwing and or hand-building techniques will be discussed. The main goal of this course is to find a personal voice to later attach technique.
Student Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
· Sharpen creative-thinking and problem-solving skills
· Understand possibilities of the potter’s wheel
· Use hand building skills
· Demonstrate knowledge of ceramic materials
· Differentiate clay bodies, types of glazes and firing methods
· Critique ceramic work
Methods of Assessing Student Outcomes
Students will be required to complete assigned ceramic projects by their due date and participate in class discussions. Students will also be assessed for participation in critiques and studio operations such as loading kilns, firing kilns, keeping the studio clean, mixing clay and glazes.
Instructional Strategies
This course will incorporate instructor demonstrations, hands-on help with assigned projects and lab time to complete assignments. Occasionally there will be slides and videos about ceramics. Students will be involved with studio operations.
Required Texts and Materials
There is no required text. Basic pottery tool kit may be purchased at the SNC store. Also recommended: Old hand towel, sponge, texture tools, fettling knife, calipers and paintbrushes.
Recommended Texts and Materials
Make It In Clay by Charlotte Speight and John Toki
Working with Clay by Susan Peterson.
Clay is sold in the ceramics studio, and recycled clay is free as long as student recycles it.
Laptops, Cell Phones, and General Respect for your Peers
Please do not use cell phones or laptops in class except for art related research. Students that disrespect their peers or the integrity of the class by using their cell phone or laptops for non-art related reasons will be assigned an absence.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory, as this class is participatory. The final for this course is mandatory. Plan to stay the entire semester and attend the final.
Office Hours are meant to offer students a chance to meet with faculty individually. You might ask for a meeting with me if you are struggling with the material in our class, if you are experiencing obstacles in participating or if you seek professional advice. These meetings are possible in person or over zoom
Grading Policy
All excused absences must be documented. You are allowed two unexcused absences without penalty. Any unexcused absence beyound this will cause your grade to drop one full letter grade. This means if you have an A and you have more than 2 unexcused absences you will receive a B. In art classes you must be present to learn. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be marked absent. You must stay and participate in class as well. If you leave early, you will also be marked absent.
Completion of assigned projects, due at the start of class. No late projects will be accepted! NONE! No unfinished projects will be accepted. Project grades will be averaged.
Grading Policy
95-100 A
90-94 A-
85-89 B
80-84 B-
75-79 C
70-74 C-
65-69 D
60-64 D-
0-59 F
Safety Issues
Please consider your well-being and those around you when working in the ceramics studio. Wear gloves and safety glasses or face shields when required. Don’t sacrifice your safety for your ceramic work; you can make another piece, but you can’t make new hands. Do not put fired clay into the recycle clay buckets. Tie long hair back when using the wheel, grinder or other rotating tools. Do not have long fingernails; they can cause hand injuries. Do not play with equipment, it can be dangerous.
Studio Usage
Only students registered in a ceramics class at SNC may use the studio. Do not bring in your friends to play. Security will be given rosters, and will be checking to make sure that students using the wheels, etc. are indeed ceramics students.
End of the semester
At the end of the semester please gather all your things that are in the studio and recycle unwanted unfired pieces. Throw out other pieces that you do not want. We need to totally clear out the studio and prepare for the summer workshops. Consider taking one; they’re amazing!
The Mission Statement:
Sierra Nevada College graduates will be educated to be scholars of and contributors to a sustainable world. Sierra Nevada College combines the liberal arts and professional preparedness through an interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking and environmental, social, economic and educational sustainability.
The Core Themes:
Liberal Arts Professional Preparedness Entrepreneurial Thinking Sustainability
Sanctions for Cheating and/or Plagiarism
The Honor Code
The faculty of SNC believes students must be held to high standards of integrity in all aspects of college life in order to promote the educational mission of the College and to encourage respect for the rights of others. Each student brings to the SNC community unique skills, talents, values and experiences which, when expressed within the community, contribute to the quality of the educational environment and the growth and development of the individual. Students share with members of the faculty, administration and staff the responsibility for creating and maintaining an environment conducive to learning and personal development, where actions are guided by mutual respect, integrity, responsibility and trust. The faculty and students alike must make diligent efforts to ensure high standards are upheld by their colleagues and peers as well as themselves. Therefore faculty and students accept responsibility for maintaining these standards at Sierra Nevada College and are obligated to comply with its regulations and procedures, which they are expected to read and understand.
Consequences of Violating the Student Honor Code
SNC students and faculty share the responsibility for maintaining an environment of academic honesty. Thus, all are responsible for knowing and abiding by the SNC Faculty/Student Honor Code published in the current SNC Catalog. Faculty are responsible for presenting the Honor Code and the consequences of violating it to students at the start of their classes AND for reporting all incidences of academic dishonesty to the Provost. Students are responsible for knowing what constitutes CHEATING, PLAGIARISM and FABRICATION and for refraining from these and other forms of academic dishonesty. Violations of the Honor Code become part of a student’s academic record.
1st Offense: Student receives a zero for assignment/exam and counseling with faculty on the honor code, consequences for violating the honor code, and the value of academic honesty in learning.
2nd Offense: Student fails course and receives counseling with faculty on the honor code, consequences for violating the honor code, and the value of academic honesty in learning.
3rd Offense: Student is expelled.
ADA Accommodations
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, students with a documented disability are eligible for support services and accommodations. If a student wishes to request an accommodation, please contact the Director of Academic Support Services, Henry Conover, at (775) 831-1314 x7534, hconover@sierranevada.edu or go to the OASIS offices on the third floor of Prim Library within the first week of the semester.
Native Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge Sierra Nevada University is located on land that is sacred to many Indigenous communities, including the Washoe. The Washoe people have lived, thrived, and stewarded this land long before the school was here. We acknowledge the Washoe people for their care with this land and pay our respects to elders past and present. More information here: http://landacknowledgements.org/
Personal Pronouns
All people have the right to be addressed and referred to in accordance with the personal identity. In this class, we will have the chance to indicate the name that we prefer to be called and, if we choose, to identify pronouns with which we would like to be addressed. I will do my best to address and refer to all students accordingly and support classmates in doing the same. More information here: https://www.mypronouns.org/how
Discussion + Instructional Guidelines
Class Instruction: This class will be conducted in person and virtually using Canvas.
Class Conduct: A positive learning environment relies upon creating an atmosphere where diverse perspectives can be expressed, especially in a course that focuses on pressing and controversial social and political issues. Each student is encouraged to take an active part in class discussions and activities. Honest and respectful dialogue is expected. Disagreement and challenging of ideas in a supportive and sensitive manner is encouraged. Hostility and disrespectful behavior is not acceptable. Just as we expect others to listen attentively to our own views, we must reciprocate and listen to others when they speak, especially when we disagree with them. However, in this class, our emphasis will be on engaging in the mutual exploration of issues as presented in the course readings as scholars rather than in defending points of view we have formed outside the classroom.
Religious/Cultural Observance
Persons who have religious or cultural observances that coincide with this class should let the instructor know in writing (by e-mail for example) by [date]. I strongly encourage you to honor your cultural and religious holidays! However, if I do not hear from you by [date], I will assume that you plan to attend all class meetings. If you communicate about an excused absence in advance, your absence will not be counted against your grade.
Title IX Statement
Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the SNU resources here: https://www.sierranevada.edu/campus_life/on-campus-2/sexual-harassment-assault-prevention/
The SNC Email System
The SNC email system is the official communication vehicle among students, faculty members and administrative staff and is designed to protect the confidentiality of student information as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 Act (FERPA). Students should check their college email accounts daily during the school year.
Students have a right to forward their SNC e-mail to another e-mail account (for example, @hotmail or @gmail). However, confidentiality of student information protected by FERPA cannot be guaranteed for SNC e-mail forwarded to an outside vendor. Having email redirected does not absolve a student from the responsibilities associated with official communication sent to his or her SNC email account.
Prim Library Resources
Using the library’s resources effectively (not just Internet resources) contributes to developing each of SNC’s core themes by exposing students to high quality academic resources, diverse opinions, new ideas, and a future that includes building on a liberal arts education. In this course, you will be expected to utilize the library’s resources (either on-site or remotely) as you complete your assignments.
1. Lib Guides: http://Libguides.sierranevada.edu These web pages contain instructions about how to use resources available at Prim Library, how to evaluation the appropriateness of information from the Internet for a research paper, how to cite sources, and other topics related to finding and using information.
Class Schedule
Week One on Zoom
Jan 26 - Introduction, go over syllabus and Paper Models William( Bill) Daley , Keith Baskin, Anne Currier
Jan 28 - Paper Models
Week Two on Zoom
Feb 2 –Work Day Paper Model
Feb 4 – Work Day Paper Model
Week Three
Feb 9 – Move In Day
Feb 11 - Critique 1 paper Models- Pick one and make. Slab Demo!
Week Four –
Feb 15 - Presidents Day -No Class
Feb 17- Due Paper Model piece. Intro Self- portrait.
Week Five
Feb 23 - Self-Portrait
Feb 25 - Due- Self Portrait. Tripods Coil vs. Thrown vs. Slab Cups (Cups and Culture )Research Form and Function
Week Six
March 1 - 2 + 2+ 2= 6 Cups
March 3 - 2 + 2+ 2= 6 Cups
Week Seven
March 9 - 2 + 2+ 2= 6 Cups
March 11 - Decal Demo
Week Eight
March 16.-Old and New (make two of the same objects)
March 18 - Old and New and Final intro “Don’t sweat the technique “
Week Nine
March 23 -Flex Day (Glazing Day)
March 25 - NCECA (Online Conference) response piece
Week Ten
March 30 - Work on final and Response Piece
April 1- Load Soda Kiln
Week Eleven
April 6 - Load High-fire
April 8 - Work on final
Week 12
April 13 - Final- Finished and glazed work , Self Portrait, Don’t sweat the technique .
April 15 - Final- Finished and glazed work , Self Portrait, Don’t sweat the technique .