Annual Online Exhibition for 2014-2015

Saggar Firing

Saggar Firing at HM is quickly becoming an annual tradition.  A saggar is a container or box-like form used to create localized reduction, or concentrate the effects of salts or metals, on clay surfaces. Students constructed saggars using slabs of clay.  To enhance the saggar effects, students brushed their pottery with terra sigillata.  They placed their ceramic objects into the saggar along with a variety of combustibles (saw dust, paper, hay, oatmeal, rice, salt, copper wire, steel wool).  The saggars were then fired to 1640 F.  Results below:

Stuffing the saggars

Saggars stacked in the kiln

Openning the saggars

The results

Featured Artist:  Will Shelley

Statement from the Artist
"What I really enjoy about ceramics is the kind of freedom it allows. When I throw on the wheel, my imagination and interests take form in the clay. Another thing that attracts me to throwing is the constant challenge that inevitably presents itself whether it is a lack of ideas or a lack of skill in a certain area or even the clay itself. Trying to overcome these challenges is always fun because there is no single way to accomplish something when it comes to throwing. For me, I don't really know what I am trying to communicate through my work just yet. However, throughout this year, I have been attracted to flowing forms for some reason. In terms of that, I guess you could call it an attraction to an attempt at a perfection that cannot be reached."

Will Shelley 
April 2015

Welcome to HM Ceramics, a blog for and about the ceramics department at The Horace Mann School, Bronx NY.  Here you will find student exhibitions, featured student artists, instructional videos, and videos and images of work in progress.  Check back periodically for updates.