Ceramics
Kiln building, figurative ceramics, and ceramic surface design
Area of Study
Our undergraduate program in ceramics offers comprehensive course of study in wheel throwing, hand building, mold making, material science, professional practices, and a wide range of kiln firing temperatures and technologies. Special topics courses offer intensive focus on processes like: kiln building, figurative ceramics, and ceramic surface design. Once accepted in to the program, B.F.A. students matriculate through a series of advanced courses that introduce the sophisticated technical, critical, and research skills necessary for the creation of an individual body of work.
Our M.F.A. program is a three-year course of study. Graduate students at ETSU come to the program with a mature body of work, material curiosity, and aspirations to strengthen their studio practice through intensive study. Formal and informal interaction with area and department faculty is a critical part of the education; studio visits and critiques with visiting artists are an exciting addition to the ongoing studio dialogue. Each graduate student is provided with an individual workspace within a shared graduate studio. Scholarships and Assistantships are available and opportunities exist for qualified students to teach courses within the department.
In both Undergraduate and Graduate programs, elective courses taken in art history and other studio disciplines deepen the foundation of knowledge students acquire and encourage the integration of cross-disciplinary study. With faculty approval, students have access to facilities in other media, including Extended Media Studies that houses a ceramic 3D printer.
https://www.instagram.com/etsuceramics/
Facilities and Equipment
The Ceramics Area shares the Art Annex building with the Sculpture Area. The ceramics
facility is equipped with two large, high-ceiling, open-format work spaces, a glaze
lab, clay mixing room, graduate studio, ceramic library/lounge, and an extensive kiln
pad. The glaze lab is set up for high and low fire glazing and is fully stocked with
dry materials and shop glazes. Just outside the Art Annex there is a thriving pollinator
garden. All ceramics students have 24 hour access to the facility.
KILN PAD:
Computerized Electric Kilns:
- Skutt 1627- 3 PK (Oval), Touchscreen
Skutt 1227-3 PK, Touchscreen
Skutt 1027, Touchscreen
Skutt 1027, Touchscreen
Skutt 818
Skutt Firebox (Test Kiln)
Gas Kilns:
- Downdraft Reduction Car Kiln, Ward Burners (built 2018)
Downdraft Soda Kiln, Ward Burners (built 2018)
Fiber Basket Raku Kiln
Wood Kilns:
Catenary Arch Wood/Salt Kiln (built 2018)
Manabigama Wood Kiln
Pit Firing Area
CLASSROOM:
- 14 Shimpo Whisper Electric Wheels
4 Brent C Electric Wheels
North Star Extruder
Brent Extruder
Brent Slab Roller
Sculpture Taboret
Community Tool Wall
3 Handbuilding Tables, Cement Board Tops
2 Wedging Tables
GLAZE & CLAY MIXING ROOMS:
- Glaze Spray Booth – 36’’ wide
Peter Pugger VPM-60, Vacuum/Deairing
Shimpo Wheel Jigger Attachment
Shimpo Wheel Ball Mill Attachment
Shimpo Electric Wheel
2 Soda Sprayers
2 North Star Steel 10 Bin Glaze Tables
4 Shimpo Banding Wheels
Triple Beam Scales & Digital Scales
Plaster Reclaim Table
2 Talisman Glaze Sieves
Full inventory of Glaze Materials
High velocity exhaust fan
3 Glaze Spray Guns
SHOP MATERIALS:
- 18 Studio Glazes
16 Colors of Slip
10 Colors of Terra Sigillata
6 Patinas/Oxides
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
- Electric Log Splitter
Bench Grinding Wheel
Air Compressor
HP Inkjet Decal Printer
Die Cutter
Plaster/Slip Casting Equipment
12 Display Pedestals
Photography Equipment (boom, tripod, stand, lighting)
Ryobi cordless drill
Dremel Tool
Hydraulic lift table
OTHER EQUIPMENT ON CAMPUS:
- Two Sandblasters (Sculpture Area)
Clay 3D Printer (Extended Media Area)
Student Activities
The Student Ceramics Association (SCA) is an active student club managed by undergraduate and graduate students in ceramics. Every year the club organizes a number of events including: a gallery exhibition in Johnson City, an empty bowls fundraiser, ceramics sales, outreach events, and visiting artist demonstrations. Ceramics sales happen once a semester and help to fund student activities like the visiting artists, trips to NCECA, and purchasing of specialized equipment for student use.
Visiting Artists
Chris Pickett, Liz Zlot Summerfield, Mark Erroll, Michael Kline, Jason Burnett, Chuck Hindes, Virginia Scotchie, Nick Joerling, Sammie Nicely, Kelly Theil, Donna Polseno, Richard Hensley, Josh Copus, and more.
Faculty
