By Cathy Zhou’21
Unlike studio or music, ceramics classes experienced significant difficulties to adjust to remote learning. Yet, Ms. Belt and students in ceramics classes have found a way to build unique ceramics studios at home.
Usually, ceramics artists at St. Mark’s rely on various on-campus equipment to make their creations. The ceramic wheel, an electric spinning platform, is used to make symmetrical pots. Glazes of different colors and textures are applied on the surface of the pots. Most importantly, the kiln, an electric stove more than four feet tall, is used extensively to fire the pot two times until they become usable. These instruments are too large and expensive for student-ceramicists to purchase.
As a result, St. Mark’s ceramicists have found ways to pursue their hobby at home. Ms. Belt shipped ceramics supplies to the students’ homes. With the clay and tools that she received, Maya Scully’22 was able to create a small workspace in her house, shown in the picture below. In addition, she contacted a local studio with a wheel and a kiln. Although she has access to most of what she needs, Maya says, “I feel more comfortable in the studio at school. I miss the classroom environment where I can work with my friends.”
Maya‘s Ceramics Space
Another ceramic artist, Anni Zhang’21, took a different approach. Since she is unable to work on a ceramic wheel, she adopted a hand-building method to complete her projects. She is now working on recreating landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall, and the Syndey Opera House. She also incorporated materials other than clay, incorporating cardboard and wires into her creation. “I missed being in the SM ceramics studio and working on the wheel,” she said, “but remote learning has challenged me to use different tools and materials creatively!”
Anni’s Ceramics Space