Lower School Students Enjoying Creative Clay Projects in Visual Arts Classes

St. Margaret’s grade 4 and grade 5 students have welcomed a new 3D art form this year during their weekly visit to the Johnson Wallis Visual Arts Center—clay. 

In grade 4, students have formed, pinched, smoothed and added their own creative flair in the making of simple monster-themed pinch-pots. In grade 5, they created life-like tacos, complete with tempera paint to bring color to their creations. 

“It has been pure joy to see the students enjoy the project so much,” said Lower School visual arts teacher Mary Mayer. “Clay has a wonderful ability for students to connect to the earth and mold, pinch, push and sculpt something creative.”

In creating their pieces, students learned basic hand-building techniques as well as slip and scoring methods of adding embellishments to their work. In total, more than 100 pieces were created, fired and glazed in one of the two kilns in the Johnson Wallis Visual Arts Center. The unit was created and taught by Mrs. Mayer, who collaborated with visual arts department chair Jesse Standlea.

Clay is a popular art form in Upper School and Middle School visual arts classes, and Tartan students have produced many award-winning pieces over the years. The kilns in the Johnson Wallis Visual Arts Center and the recently added kiln in the atelier of the Early Childhood School (purchased with a PTF grant) has expanded the possibilities for clay projects for students of all ages on campus. Early Childhood School students have worked with clay this year, and Mrs. Mayer plans to expand clay projects to more Lower School grades in the future.