What is ceramics? I'm sure you have seen the pottery classroom at our school. Maybe you've been a little curious about what goes on in there. Ceramics are actually a really wide range of materials, but for this classes sake we will use a very simplified definition: A type of clay or dirt that because of the materials in it becomes solid and permanent when fired to a certain temperature. Glass, bricks, and cement are all technically ceramics, but the best known of all ceramics is pottery.  Pottery is typically thought of as various types of containers or sculptures that are made from clay.

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Hunter High has one of the biggest ceramics programs in all of Granite School District.  In our ceramic classroom we focus on both hand building and throwing on the potters wheel. Students will get the opportunity to explore a wide range of ceramic techniques and skills

Wheel Throwing

Throwing is a term used to describe pottery made on the potters wheel. This machine has a fast spinning head that allows the artist to use the clay's spinning momentum to shape the clay quickly

Hand Building

Hand building is pretty straight forward. This type of construction describes creating pottery by hand. Artist manipulate the clay using various techniques to create desired effects

Glazes

Glazes are glass-like materials that fuse to the surface of ceramics when fired to certain temperatures. Different glazes create different effects and require different processes.

Firing

Firing is the process that makes clay permanent and allows glazes to reach proper temperature. There are many types of kilns. In our program we use electric, gas, and raku kilns.

Ceramics is an awesome class. Here you will have the opportunity to play in the mud! There is a really high demand to get into our pottery classes. Because of this we have high standards for our students. Students in the pottery program are expected to be in class each day on time. Students in the pottery program need to be mature enough to handle being around large equipment. We have lots of pieces of equipment that could cause damage to the user if not operated correctly. We love having fun in our class but require students use all of our tools and machinery in its proper and designed function. Students in the pottery program are expected to respect each other and each others artwork. Students who cannot handle these expectations will be asked to find a different class, or will not be allowed in the program all together.

If you have any questions please come talk to Mr. Frampton or Mrs.

Quigley. We look forward to making masterpieces with you!