CLAY!!
So KCI is very proud to announce that the kiln has been repaired to it's former glory and students have been busy experimenting and creating one of a kind clay art works.
Clay instruction began with the senior art classes and is now being taught to both of the grade 9 classes. So far the students seem to really enjoy this new art making process.
Since the kiln has not been operational in roughly 20 years, most of these students have never tried this medium before. That being said, I too am learning a whole new skill set in regards to instruction and procedure. The clay we are using is Plainsmen white clay which is actually from the Prairie region. The reason we are not using red clay is so that students do not ruin their clothing. The white clay is easily removed from clothing and will not leave permanent stains.
Please take a look at some of our first pieces below. The first few images show the stages of the bisque firing, which is what turns the clay into a porcelain like material which can then accept coloured stains and glazes. (Bisque firing is a very slow firing which takes anywhere from 6 - 9 hours, reaching a high temperature of roughly 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.)
To achieve a smooth finished look, after the bisqued pieces have cooled, glazes can applied by brush and then fired again at a faster rate. The high point of this firing reaches roughly 2200 degrees Fahrenheit .
We fired another glazed selection today so stay tuned for more images!
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