Ceramics
Instructor: Ann Judy
Intern: Stefani Young
Heroic: relating to, resembling, or suggesting heroes.
What if the things you find easy to do, are actually just easy for you? What if we don’t know what our skills, talents or gifts are, until someone points them out to us? Perhaps your small actions protect those you love. Perhaps your kind words make someone’s day. We will make the connection to the talents, abilities, and caring gestures that give us super powers and then portray these attributes in a clay sculpture.
Students explored what seems to come easy to them and how little acts of kindness can mean a lot. What do they love to do? What interactions make you feel good about yourself? The juncture of these attributes is what their superpowers are!
Their cultural influences include many forms of super hero on streaming devices and in theaters. Things like costume, cape, and logos were a natural expression of outward symbols to identify a super hero. But many students observed that super heroes are in reality, firemen, teachers, parents and more! It wasn’t a big jump to realize that they could be super heroes too.
Students built a ceramic Figurative Sculpture using the coil method for building with clay. Students conveyed a positive message with their sculpture and artist's statement, adding stories and events from their own lives. There were many amusing stories that allowed the viewer an inside glimpse into the imaginations of these kids. In many cases, their super powers included fantastical abilities, but all had a foothold in reality. The boy who shot paint out of his hands to rise into the air was conveying that his artistic abilities made him rise and feel good about himself. The girl whose tears were black ink often resorted to drawing to get through difficult times.
As always, I am touched, amused and amazed by the depth and intelligence of their responses.