Intro to Ceramics - Online!

Intro to Ceramics - Online
The Struggle is Real, Embracing Disruption, Deep Dives into Dysfunction.

Instructor
Jason Starin

Due to no longer having access to ceramic materials or facilities, this class will no longer be evaluated on a mastery of skill in ceramic hand making. Rather, it will be based on introducing a higher consideration of an object's value by reinterpreting the items we already have in our everyday lives.

Students will acquire a basic knowledge of Craft Thinking by considering an object's function versus its use as that relates to a conceivable reality versus a reality of imposed living conditions. Through a series of prompts, tasks will be assigned to the students which will be meant to disrupt or deconstruct the assumed functions of everyday items associated with everyday acts in a controlled home environment. We will, with humor, embrace the disruption of everyday life by re-considering the assumed functions that we place on the objects we have in our lives which provide comfort and reliability while still trying to live a normal life.
Through acts of mis-use, mis-interpretation, and re-contextualization, students will use everyday objects, such as dish ware, clothing, and furniture, in a series of prompts set by the instructor to create physical re-arrangements and performative everyday acts, such as cleaning chores, making a meal, and relaxing, in order to challenge our assumptions of an object's original design. Through these exercises, students will become more aware of the importance of intention in form. These considerations are analogous to the ergonomic and technical decisions a ceramic object maker has to be aware of while constructing works of either functional or sculptural inclination.
These temporary installations / rearrangements and acts will be documented with pictures and videos, described with critical written explanation, and then uploaded to a class blog that will be created and used by the instructor and all the students. Assignments and attendance will be graded on this weekly evidence. After posting, students will have opportunities to witness each other's work and will be required to comment on their peers' works as a form of group critique. While students will be working from home studios, the blog will serve as a virtual viewing and discussion space for everyone involved in the class, as well as, the public.
Staying in line with a studio based class, I will not be introducing philosophical or historical readings that would be above introductory and non-major levels. Again, this is a class based on the experience of creating physically and analyzing those physical manifestations through the student’s written consideration of works made, as well as instructor, and peer feedback. I will, however, introduce examples of works created by artists that are indicative of the assignment prompts given to the students on the class blog as needed.
Evidence of what is learned in this class will come through the creation of a number of real installations and recorded acts which will show a consideration of the value of everyday objects we take for granted in our everyday lives.