Transformations, Clay, and Kinetics, at Art House

Reflecting on the landscape within which we, as adults, move and navigate the numerous transformations happening in neighborhoods all around Cleveland—big moves, vision quests, initiatives for new solutions to current issues, etc.—led me to a recent Urban Bright Program.

The clay Bobble Head project began with learning the pinch pot technique, which became the building block for these kinetic sculptures. The 4th graders learned basic clay and glaze properties, firing facts, glazing methods, and the lesson that objects actually blow up when subjected to extreme heat if they are not properly built.

As the students worked, their chatter filled the room with calls for help, in fun, sometimes in frustration. They didn’t always remember what they had previously done because each week they discover, invent, reinvent, learn to navigate the social landscape, and evolve. Watching, listening to, helping these students as they sometimes struggled to manipulate the clay, to deftly use their hands/fingers to achieve the envisioned goal, also opened up discoveries for me. The big surprise came when the glazed work was revealed, shiny and colorful. Then the springs were added. Characters jumped to life, transformed. The heads wiggled and bobbled. Triumphant giggles erupted all around.

ART HOUSE, INC.
3119 Denison Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
arthouseinc.org
216.398.8556

EVENTS:

Intermediate/Advanced Pottery, 6:30pm Wednesday, June 3

Beginning Pottery on the Wheel, 3pm Sunday, June 7

Plein Air Watercolor, 6pm Monday, June 8

Acrylic Painting-Beginning/Intermediate, 6pm Tuesday, June 9

Friends & Family Art Workshop, 1pm Saturday, June 20

ARTventures in the Garden Camp, 10am Monday, June 22

Kinetic Play Camp, 1 pm Monday, June 22

Art House Artist Virtual Dialogue, 7:30pm Thursday, June 25

Jelly Prints! Camp, 10am Monday, June 29

Design by Accident Camp, 1pm Monday, June 29

Drawing Tools Exploration Camp, 10am Monday, July 13

Glow Camp: Exploring Art Through Light, 1pm Monday, July 13

Friends & Family Art Workshop, 1pm Saturday, July 18

Garden PARTy Camp, 10am Monday, July 20

Masters of the Arts, 1pm Monday, July 20

Friends & Family Clay Day, 10am Saturday, July 25

Friends & Family Art Workshop, 1 pm Saturday, August 15

Community Culture Night, 7pm Thursday, August 20

CAPTIONS:

Denison 4th grade Bobble Heads.

Amie Sell, Teaching Artist, demonstrates glazing techniques and engages students in a Q & A review.