Bronzed plaster, soft clay, and heaps of variously shaped wood adorn the newly manned ceramics classroom – strange materials for a class that, only last year, focused strictly on ceramics.
This transition from pure ceramics to a more diverse exposure to 3D art serves as a gateway to a new Foundations of 3D Design class which will become a prerequisite for any art class next year. And within two years, ceramics will have developed into a three-year long course.
According to ceramics teacher Ms. Alyssa Vallecorsa, the class previously possessed no developmental aspect with which to provide a base of artistic knowledge for students. Therefore, administration felt the need for a change. Simply, they wished to alter the class from a “here’s some clay, now make something” class, says Ms. Vallecorsa. Despite the change, the new course will not replace the original ceramics class, which will still be offered next year.
These changes are seen in the plaster of Giacometti sculptures, and in the class’s current project with “found” objects, or everyday objects transformed into something unique. Currently Ms. Vallecorsa strives to impart a solid artistic foundation in her lessons, but she hopes to provide more freedom with the found object project.
Though Ms. Vallecorsa was initially intimidated by the standards set by the previous ceramics teacher, according to Mrs. Silvia Wiedmann, head of the art department, students seem to “really enjoy” the altercations. Conversely, several surprised students found the change too much, and dropped the course.
Mrs. Wiedmann, a driving force behind the changes, outlined the benefits the new foundations course will bring. Besides building a “much stronger foundation and understanding of the other classes”, says Mrs. Wiedmann, teacher collaboration will increase, classes will become more project based, and students may reach a higher level in their course, sooner.
Furthermore, according to Mrs. Wiedmann, most high schools possess strong foundations courses, so CCHS would need to instill its own program so as to compare favorably.
