Ceramics Making

Activity Category: Cultural Expansion

Points: 5

During Christmas break, I returned to my former high school to take pottery, something I had done regularly before college. Since starting college, I haven't had access to a studio or the materials needed for ceramics, so this was my first chance in a while to work with clay again.

I used the hand coiling method to make a pot. This technique involves rolling clay into coils and stacking them in layers to build up the walls. The whole process took three sessions. In the first session, I built the base and started the walls. The second session focused on further developing height and shape. In the third session, I completed the form and prepared it for firing and glazing.

This experience made me realize how much I miss having access to a pottery studio. College offers many opportunities, but it doesn't always have the specialized spaces you need for hands-on work, such as ceramics. Even though I hadn't worked with clay in a while, the skills returned quickly, though it took some time to get comfortable with it again.

Going back to my high school studio showed me the value of staying connected to places that have resources I can't access otherwise.

Christine 'Cycy' Cherestal