Vessels of Intention
Meet The Teacher: Marriah Geels
Hello! I am Marriah Geels, a High School Artist Educator in Springdale, Arkansas. I love helping students make their ceramic dreams come true!
Project Description
In this lesson, students will create a sculptural or functional form curated for someone important in their life. This form/vessel will be curated towards the interests of the person it is made for. The students will create ceramic forms using their preferred method of working in clay. They can pinch, coil, slab, or even wheel throw their piece.
Grade Level
High School
Difficulty
Intermediate
Student Hands-On Time
6-8 hours of class time
Teacher Prep Time
Approx. 30 min
Project Cost / Cost Per Student
3
National Core Arts Standards - Visual Arts
- Creating - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas.
- Creating - Organize and develop artistic work.
- Creating - Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work.
- Responding - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
- Responding - Evaluate and critique based on aesthetic and technical qualities.
- Connecting - Connect personal experiences with artmaking and meaning.
21st Century Skills
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
- Creativity & Innovation
- Communication
- Flexibility & Adaptability
- Initiative & Self-Direction
- Productivity & Accountability
STEAM Education
- Arts
Learning Objectives: Knowledge
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to identify and practice ceramics techniques and processes. They will also begin to make connections between artwork and their personal lives by making a special ceramic vessel for an individual who has great significance in their life.
Learning Objectives: Skills
The students will acquire the skills of ideation and planning through sketching and creating a design plan for their vessel of intention. The students will acquire knowledge of ceramic material through making their vessel.
Learning Objectives: Attitudes/Values
The students will consider an individual who made a difference in their life. They will contemplate how to make an artwork specifically for that person. The student will make connections between that person's interests and needs and customize an artwork specifically for that person. The student will give the individual the artwork they made as a form of thanks and recognition of the appreciation they have for them.
Formative Assessment
The students will receive ongoing verbal feedback on their projects. The students will also self-reflect on their projects and participate in an in-progress critique
Summative Assessment
The students will receive a summative assessment based on a rubric at the end of the project. This evaluation will consider attention to detail, creativity, and craftsmanship.
Reflection and Discussion
Have you ever received a handmade gift, if so what was it? How did it make you feel? Have you ever given a handmade gift? If you were to make a gift for someone who would it be?
Lesson Activities
Introduction
To begin my lesson, I will begin with a class discussion. I will ask the students what the best gift they have ever received was. I will ask if anyone wants to share their response to the padlet.? After we discuss I will show then the Craft in America documentary featuring the Artist Ehren Tool. He makes cups and gives them away. https://www.craftinamerica.org/episode/service We will watch the first 10 minutes. We will discuss what it means to give away a handmade object. We will talk about how he sometimes personalizes the cups for the receiver and Talk about thoughtfulness in the décor of the cup. How do you create a personalized cup? Have a discussion centered around this question. How can the surface be personalized? How can the form be personalized? This artist is an opportunity to examine how craft is open to all and how it is used as a form of rehabilitation.
Demonstration
Since the students have free range over the methods of making varying from coil building to slab construction, the demonstration will vary from class to class and will be initiated by students. Example Demonstration for Coil Building: Materials- clay, drywall, rolling pin, needle tool, cup of water, rib (optional), Roll out slab for base, Roll coils, Score and slip to attach coils, Use a rib or a finger to smooth out the texture on the inside and outside of the vessel.Example Demonstration for handles: Handles can be rolled from a coil. These can be braided, thick, or thin. Hand built handles can also be cut from a slab that has been rolled out. Think about how you want your handle to look Plan the length and width of the handle Cut or roll out your handle Let it sit and stiffen Attach by scoring and slipping
Design Plan/ Sketching
Students will sketch out what they desire to make and who they will make it for. They will write a short paragraph about why they chose that person, what that person’s interests are, and how they will cater to those interests in their gift. They will research images that inspire what they will make for their chosen person. They will use these images as a reference as they build their vessel. The students will also consider how they will treat the surface of their artwork. If they finish early with this planning, they can make a small model of what they plan to make.
Making form!
Students will begin making their Vessels of intention. While students are making, we will have conversations about how they can maximize the personal element in their artwork. We will also discuss function and form. If the object is functional, how can the form affect the function? Will the object feel good to use? Is the object more decorative than functional? Is it still a vessel if it is no longer functional?
Surface Design!
We will discuss surface treatment. Do you want to sgraffito? Do you want to use underglaze? Do you want a simple decoration or a complex decoration? I will show the Students Katherine Hackl’s work as an example of Sgraffito. https://www.katherinehackl.com/sgraffito-pottery.php Potter Brooke Thivierge used underglaze to create realistic animal portraits. https://www.instagram.com/batsceramics/?hl=en Matthew Metz is another potter that has descriptive sgraffito drawings on pots https://www.schallergallery.com/maker/198/Matthew-Metz
Grow and Glow Converations/Critique!
The studnets will engage in a grow and glow conversation about their artworks. A glow is something they did well and a grow is something they need to improve. This conversation can happen at the end of the project, utilized as an in-progress critique, or both. I like to have the students do a gallery walk with 5 sticky notes and give a grow and glow to 5 of their peers.
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