Ceramic students finished their chapters as the first semester ended with final projects. Throughout the semester, projects were put on display in the commons. With nine projects in total for all three levels, students were kept busy with the clay.
Each level catered to students’ skill levels. Projects that included wheel throwing, slab building, and more were assigned. Mrs. Balko, the ceramics teacher, gave students creative freedom as the basis for each assignment.
“Students teach me things all the time. It’s been a pleasure,” Balko says. Watching students grow in a short four months is a special sight.
Seniors Hannah Carasia, Chase Demangone, and junior Sophia Trunzo are great examples of Balko’s words.
Winding down after a long day of classes with ceramics is calming for Carasia. Getting to turn your brainoff and mindlessly create a piece from scratch is like a reward. “I feel like I could relax a
t the end of my day,” she says. “I can also take my projects straight home instead of carrying them all day.”
Not only did students get to create from scratch for a grade, but projects also came home for decor. “My vase, I’m putting flowers in it,” Carasia explains. Projects have practical use behind them, not just for shelf-sitting purposes.
Ceramics I made projects like slab boxes, plates, and more. “I really liked working on my phone,” Demangone said. “I worked on it the most, and it turned out really good.” Taking pride in work is a skill that can be taken beyond the studio.
Ceramics II made projects such as wheel-thrown mugs, bowls, plates, and much more. Students were kept utterly busy with high expectations that were exceeded greatly. In the second level, students were taught how to throw on the wheel. While it’s a tough skill to master, projects were visually displayed around the school because of the hard work and dedication everyone put in.
Ceramics III made projects like wheel-thrown chalices, face sculptures, and plenty more. “I loved doing the landscaping project where we got to create a house freely. I got to mirror my favorite artist and try something new,” Trunzo says. “I also love doing landscapes, so I got to enjoy that part as well,” she explains.
Trunzo got to display passion projects along with her class-assigned projects. Passion projects give free rein to any creative ideas students come up with that don’t fit the criteria for a current assignment. She created a unique tomato piece, along with a creative egg piece.
Going into the class, not much thought is put into it. On the surface, ceramics is a class where you build with clay. While that is true, the deeper meaning goes beyond the clay; it’s the pieces that you get to show to future kids, display on the mantle, and bragging rights to the beautiful handmade piece.
