SYLLABUS

Ceramics I: ART 2346-19164

Ceramics II: ART 2347-19168
Spring 2010

Class Time: Friday 9am-3pm. Cleanup starts promptly at 2:40

Classroom: FAC 109
Class Site: www.hccblog-o-dirt.blogspot.com
Credit Hours: 3 credit hours

Instructor: Kelley Eggert

contact: 713-529-4848 ext 304
Office Hours: By Appointment only before or after class

Required Hands in Clay (A few copies in classroom if you’d rather not buy)
Materials: Sketchbook (minimum size, 8 “ x 11”)
Required supplies – see attached list

Course Description

This course uses clay to introduce art-making to beginning students. Studio projects will be assigned to build
technical and visual skills and to elicit original ideas and individual expression. In the course of the semester,
students will be taught the basics of building skills such as: pinch, coil, slab, wheel-throw, and extrude. They
will also experiment with various surfaces: slip, glaze, etc. Ceramic technology & safety will be an important
part of the class. The role of ceramics in art history and contemporary art will be explored.

Class time will include scheduled and impromptu field trips, slide lectures, demonstrations, practice exercises,
time to work on projects, and verbal or written critiques. Outside of class, students will complete independent
research and further work on their projects. Students will share the work of processing the clay pieces
(including kiln loading and unloading) and daily maintenance of a clean safe studio.

All ceramics courses fulfill the fine arts requirement for the core curriculum. They also fulfill the following
core intellectual competencies: reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy.

Course Objectives

• Complete a minimum of 1000 words in writing assignments

• Demonstrate safe studio habits, materials handling, and equipment operation
• Build a clay form using the pinch technique
• Build a clay form using the coil technique
• Build a clay form using the slab technique
• Build a clay form using the wheel-throwing technique
• Build a clay form using a combination of techniques
• Explore a variety of slip application techniques
• Explore a variety of glazes and application techniques
• Prepare one work for an exhibition and participate according to instructor and college
• Participate in end of semester studio clean-up
• Explore a variety of subject matter
• Explore a variety of styles (representational, abstract, non-representational)
• Demonstrate knowledge of the medium from art historical and cultural contexts

Evaluation

There is a total of 1,000 possible points for both Ceramics I and Ceramics II

Ceramics I Ceramics II Grading Scale

Hand building skills 200 (20%) Casting Project 200 (20%) 100-90 A
Wheel Throwing Project 250 (25%) Abstraction Project 250 (25%) 89-80 B
Proposed Project 300 (30%) Proposed Project 300 (30%) 79-70 C
Research Paper 150 (15%) Research Paper 150 (15%) 69-60 D
Participation 100 (10%) Participation 100 (10%) 59-0 F

*You are responsible for tracking your own grades. There should be no surprise as to how you are doing in the
class. Use the chart provided to keep track of your grades.

* Projects will be evaluated for fulfillment of the assignment requirements; fulfilling design problems, concept
development, craftsmanship and meeting building, firing and glazing deadlines. You must complete all parts
of a project to receive points for the project. Late homework will receive 0 points but must still be completed
in order to receive any points for the completed project.

*It is the student’s responsibility to turn in all work, on time. Work that is late will receive a 10-point drop in
grade for each day it is late. In ceramics, the process requires that green ware be completely fabricated and
detailed, then dried over a period of days, depending upon scale and complexity. The domino effect of being
late is something that will cause you great problems with bisque and glaze firing dates. Please finish building all
wet work on time for green ware due dates and manage the careful drying of your work so that you can meet all
deadlines.

*Studio time is limited. While in the studio you must be working on your projects. In addition to working with
clay in the studio, you will have homework. You may not work on your homework during studio time. All
sketches and Marquette’s for a project must be finished before class. If you fail to do so, you will receive none
of the points for that portion of the project.

*Ceramics can be a fussy material. If one of your projects does not make it through the kiln firing, save all the
pieces that you can. Most times you can glue it back together. If the work is broken beyond repair then you
will need to make a 5” maquette to present for critique.

*Bring your notebook/ sketchbook to every class. It will hold your lecture notes, handouts, written critiques,
and notes from museum and gallery visits. You will also use it to record your ideas, thoughts, sketches, and
homework assignments--which will lead to actual pieces of art. Your 1000 words of required writing
assignments will take place in the notebook/ sketchbook.

Attendance Policy

Absences:
Students are expected to attend all classes. Unexcused absences will be cause for a lowered grade. Your second
absence will result in an F. Absences will be counted from the first class meeting onward. Appropriate
documentation from your health service should be obtained for medical excuses. I recommend that you do not
schedule appointments during this class time. I will only excuse emergencies, illness, religious holidays and
legal matters.

Full participation by showing completed work during all scheduled critiques is required along with active
participation through shared ideas and commentary.
Tardiness:
You will be considered tardy if arriving after 9:00am and leaving prior to 3:00pm. Two such incidences will
count as one absence.

Withdrawal Policy:

Student-initiated Withdrawal:
Students who choose to withdraw from the course must do so by Thursday, April 15 at 4:30 pm. Following this
day, students will receive a grade for the course.

Faculty-initiated Withdrawal:
HCC policy states that students who miss more than 12.5% of class time (more than 2 classes, or more than 10
class hours) may be dropped by the instructor and given a W. After that date, HCC does not allow a W, and
students will receive a grade for the course. Please speak to me as soon as possible if you have special
circumstances that are affecting your attendance.

INTERNATIONAL students: Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student Visa. Once a
W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F because of
the visa issue. Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520, if you have any questions about
your visa status and other transfer issues.

Students with INSURANCE: If your insurance is based on being a full-time student, a W in a class could
affect that insurance. Once a W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F because of the insurance
issue.

College Policies

Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited by HCCS.
All work that you turn in must be conceived and constructed by you alone (unless the assignment calls for
collaboration).

Recording Devices:
The following restrictions apply to camera phones, cameras, audio/tape recorders, video recorders, and any
other electronic device that is capable of recording the human voice or image.
“Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms,
laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring or testing occurs. “

Exceptions:
Exceptions can be made for students performing official business on behalf of HCC (investigatory, archival,
educational, and journalism purposes). Please seek approval from your instructor.)

Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs
to arrange reasonable accommodations (Ex: need of a recording device) must contact the Disability Services
Office (Room 102 SJAC, or call 713-718-6164) at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by that office.

Medical Insurance: Information regarding low-cost health insurance for students is available in the Fine Arts
office. Such insurance covers both injury and illness, both on and off campus. Under Texas state statute,
HCCS is immune to liability in the event of accident or injury.

Academic advisement:
Academic advisement with full-time faculty in ARTS is available by appointment through office in FAC 101.
Tutoring:
Students are encouraged to take advantage of tutoring services offered by the English
Department located on the third floor of the Fine Arts Center next to the English office. Tutors will assist
writing assignments and are especially helpful for students when English is a second language. In addition,
online tutoring is available 24/7 at www.askonline.net. Submissions are returned within 24 hours or less.

Studio Policies

Health Policies: The following safety and health policies must be followed:
1. Students must follow all safety rules
2. Students are responsible for prompt cleaning of all their work areas
3. No food or drink in the studio
4. No children in studio or courtyard
5. Due to the toxic nature of some ceramic materials, the following groups should
consult with the instructor before taking ceramics:
a. persons with a chronic disease of lung, liver, etc.
b. pregnant women
c. women trying to conceived. nursing mothers

Studio Limitations:
1. A college ceramic studio is meant to handle the volume of work typically done by
beginning and intermediate students. When kiln space is limited, preference will be
given to students who have had fewer pieces fired.

2. Kilns and ceramic studio are reserved for:

a. students currently enrolled in Central College ceramics classes
b. other Central College Art students when their teacher accompanies them
c. current Central College Art faculty

3. These items are NOT allowed in our Central College ceramic studio:
a. clay that is not on the approved list
b. pieces that have been bisque-fired elsewhere (they can not go in our kilns)
c. slips, glazes, or overglazes that contain lead or cadmium

Open Studio:
Like all college courses, work outside of class time will be necessary. Class time is for that class only. Open
Studio hours are for all HCC/Central ceramics students. See attachment: Open Studio Hours.

Room Keys:
To enter a locked studio, you need to present your key card to the fine arts office secretary. Please return the
key immediately after unlocking the room. However, if you want to pick up or drop off the room key, you must
get to the fine arts office 1/2 hour before the above closing times. See attachment: Use of Art Studios.

Studio Lockers:
You will need a lock. Please give me the combination or an extra key.

Security:
Please keep all valuables (purses, backpacks, cell phones, etc) in your locker. Thieves passing in the hallway
will stop to look for items. For your personal security, please keep the door locked when you are working
alone. Also note the location of the room phone, and the number for the campus police.

Broken pieces:
Because ceramics is a fragile medium it is expected that some pieces might break during drying, loading, or
firing. Please save the broken parts to show me. Oftentimes, they can be glued together. If you break
 someone’s piece, leave an apologetic note with your name signed!

Cell Phones:
Please turn off your cell phones upon entering class. Do not take or send calls or text-message during class time.
Do not leave class in order to use your phone. For emergencies, have people call 713-718-6600 and the office
staff will bring you the message.

Music:
You may listen to music with headphones. The volume must be low enough that I can get your attention at any
time. Headphones must be taken off when I am talking to you or the class as a whole. Failure to follow these
rules will result in the loss of this privilege.

Computers:
You may not use your computer in class. You should come to class prepared with all you need to create your
project.

Guests: During class time, guests are not allowed. However, at other times you are encouraged to show the
ceramics studio to friends who might be interested in seeing your work. However, these guests are not allowed
to make work or use the studio themselves. For that, they need to sign up for a class.

Grade Sheet

*You are responsible for tracking your own grades. There should be no surprise as to how you are doing in the
class. Use this chart to keep track. Divide your total points by the possible points to get your percentage. Ex.
150/200 = 75% = C
* You must complete all parts of a project to receive points for the project. Late homework will receive 0 points
but must still be completed in order to receive any points for the completed project.
* 10 points will be deducted for each day a project is late.
* 1 absences = drop in letter grade. 2 absences = F

Ceramics I
Project Sketches/ Written Completed Project Your Total/
Maquettes Assignment Possible Pts
Handbuilding Skills X /200
Thrown Wall Proj X /250
Proposed Project /300
Research Paper X X /150
Participation attendance, projects in on time, participation in crits and studio /100
duties
Total X X X /1000

Ceramics II
Project Sketches/ Written Completed Project Your Total/
Maquettes Assignment Possible Pts
Cast Object Project X /200
Abstraction Project X /250
Proposed project /300
Research paper X X /150
Participation attendance, projects in on time, participation in crits and studio /100
duties
Total X X X /1000