Arianna

Assignments:

• 40 sculptures (manipulations) of a list of words
• 1/2 pound intense concentration sculpture
• drawings of manipulations
• 4" bi- and asymmetric models from drawings of manipulations
• two 16" sculptures (scaled up version of one 4" model)
• slipworked pattern over 16" sculpture
• clear glaze over 16" bisqued sculpture
• perfect box using Wayne's slab technique
• different slab "box" to hold 10 manipulations
• pedestal for perfect box (play with gravity)
• glaze slab "box" and pedestal
• make solid object for pressmold (organic v man made)
• make plaster mold
• make 8 of press mold objects
• glaze/decorate mold objects in following categories: bisque, black glaze, white glaze, 2 raku, color glaze, cold glaze, one of our choice
• project phoenix
• write this blog

Videos:

• Isamu Noguchi
• Louise Nevelson
• Maya Lin

Presentations/Other:

• Kiln Orientation with Shawn
• Mahlon's work (undergrad and recent)
• Wayne's work  (sample of body of work + Skywell Falls)
• Discussions over tea
• Raku Saturday

Moments:  I hope it's not cheating when I say that my best and worst moments were one in the same.  Coming out of the manipulation "box" project, I found that I was really unhappy with my work.  Not only had most of it exploded in the kiln, but there was nothing that was really drawing me to the material.  I decided to put my heart into the pedestal project and really make something that I liked.  I worked on that pedestal for a long time, making sure everything was perfect.  I was careful with my greenware box, knowing it was fragile.  But then the later it got that night, I began to focus more on the pedestal and started using the bottom edge of my box as a tool.  

That's when I punched through my box.  After the most sickening crunch I've ever heard, I realized that my hand was inside my box.  I stood back, took a deep breath, and immediately started working.  I remember thinking, "I will not, CANnot let this phase me.  Use it."  It took me about 5 minutes to finish.

So, worst moment?  All the frustration I'd felt from the first half of the semester going into that box and therefore breaking it.

Best moment? The proceeding 5 minutes.