Day in Clay: Cultivating Creativity Through Virtual Education

Day In Clay is a unique and hands-on art experience that provides participants with an immersive journey into the world of clay and its rich relationship with art and society. Through their specially designed programs, Day In Clay offers a comprehensive exploration of the art of clay, combining history, culture, and creativity. From in-school Artist-in-Residence programs to interactive Virtual Day in Clay experiences, participants are transported into the captivating realm of three-dimensional art.

Day in Clay provides an interactive and educational learning experience in the art of clay and pottery-making. The virtual program is designed to bring the artist’s studio into the student’s home through collaboration with a professional videographer, virtually. It includes a vibrant mix of interactive activities and lectures that explore the life of a studio artist, cultural arts history, potter’s wheel segments, videos, and exploratory visual media across cultures, with interactive quizzes and Q&A sessions. The program covers civilizations across time and place and explores the technology from which the art of clay emerged. The program provides students with an opportunity to gain the working vocabulary of a ceramic artist, an introduction to design, and an understanding of how each culture tells its unique story through three-dimensional art.

“Day in Clay” can be an effective tool for meeting arts standards in schools as it provides students with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the art of clay and pottery-making through an interactive and engaging learning experience. The program aligns with the National Core Arts Standards, which provide a framework for arts education in the United States.

One of the primary goals of the National Core Arts Standards is to develop students’ ability to create, present, respond to, and connect with the arts. “Day in Clay” supports these goals by providing students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on activities that allow them to create their own three-dimensional artwork. The program also includes opportunities for students to present their work, respond to the work of others, and connect with the cultural and historical context of the art of clay.

The program aligns with standards related to artistic processes and skills. For example, the program provides students with an opportunity to explore the creative process, engage with the artist as the vase emerges from wet clay, and learn advanced techniques and the science behind glazing, painting, and firing. This aligns with standards related to developing and refining artistic techniques and processes.

Through exploring the art of clay across a variety of cultures and civilizations, students gain an understanding of how the art of clay has influenced the art form throughout time. This aligns with standards related to understanding and analyzing cultural and historical context.

The Tile Mural program is another popular program offered by Day in Clay. It is an involved and challenging program, but the results are very fulfilling. Students take pride in seeing their work permanently displayed in an architectural setting in the school. This permanent artwork adorns the school walls with a meaningful legacy of the participating grades. The program is approximately 90 minutes long, learning to go from 2D to 3D, creating relief one-of-a-kind tiles.

Day in Clay also offers a Mask Making program that focuses on African and Native American cultures. The program explores the many ways that beliefs and imagery can manifest in a mask. Students learn about the patterns and imagery that relate to African or Native American culture in forms and advanced 3D ceramic techniques. They explore current themes and various cultures using various techniques to create large-scale masks. The program also relates the mask forms to the themes of nature and the seasons as a connection to the cultures. The program is approximately 90 minutes long.

Professional Development, offered both virtual and in-person, is another service offered by Day in Clay. The program provides arts faculty with the techniques, cultural history, and hands-on problem-solving skills to bring clay into the classroom. The training mirrors college-level teaching, where engagement and sharing expertise are paramount. Lessons are tied into Native American, Asian, African, Latin American, and Greek cultures. The program provides advanced hand-building techniques and the science behind glazing, painting, and firing. Staff development is custom-tailored to meet the needs of the school’s faculty. The program is designed to problem-solve with students through a hands-on approach and learning the limits of the materials to advance their success while integrating it with ready-to-go lesson plans. A lively Q&A is always encouraged.

The vessel-making program invites participants to explore the diverse world of ceramic art spanning continents and ages. Through immersive hands-on sessions, specific cultures and historical eras are celebrated, tailored to seamlessly align with existing curricula. This flexible program encompasses the richness of Native American, African, Greek, Latin and South American, Caribbean, and Asian influences. Designed with a teaching style reminiscent of collegiate classrooms – characterized by challenge and rapid pace – students readily embrace the learning journey. As they engage with the “This Day in Clay” initiative, each student delves into a multi-dimensional exchange with cultures distinguished by their intricate patterns, symbols, and imagery. The program provides a platform for students to master a plethora of advanced ceramic techniques under the guidance of a skilled supervisor, culminating in the creation of their own classical clay vessel – be it a cup, bowl, or vase.

Whatever the subject, these programs provide an opportunity for students to engage in a hands-on learning experience that promotes creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Through the process of creating their own ceramic pieces, students will learn about the properties of clay and the techniques used to shape and form it. They will also learn about cultural traditions and the historical significance of pottery. They will develop mind-body coordination that is so necessary in one’s development of motor skills.

Day in Clay’s Custom Hand Building programs are designed to be flexible and can be adapted to fit the needs of any school or classroom. Whether it’s a one-time workshop or a series of sessions spread out over several weeks, these programs are an excellent way to engage students in a meaningful and memorable learning experience.

In conclusion, Day in Clay’s programs offer a unique and engaging way to incorporate cultural arts into the school curriculum. From traditional pottery techniques to more advanced 3D ceramic techniques, these programs provide a hands-on learning experience that engages students in the creative process while promoting teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving.