Art Department : Ceramics

Lecturer Sarah Haven Telephone: 509-963-1617 Email: havens@cwu.edu

Why Should You Study Ceramics At Central?

The ceramic art program at Central Washington University is dedicated to assisting students achieve
their individual goals and to express their individual vision. Students are encouraged to explore and challenge contemporary and historical standards, supported with a fundamental education in materials and craftsmanship.

Program Philosophy

The B.F.A. ceramics program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive ceramic education. Students will develop a broad technical skill base, practice critical thinking and idea generating skills, research contemporary and historical ceramics, and develop a personal body of work. The classroom/studio environment is one in which students are encouraged to explore their ideas and facilitate the realization of their own artistic vision. Students are also encouraged to experience other disciplines and integrate those practices into their ceramic work. At the advanced level, students will be expected to have a strong work ethic and practice professional skills such as exhibiting, documenting, and discussing their work within a conceptual framework.

The M.F.A. ceramics program is designed to further the conceptual development, aesthetic presentation, technical skills, and career goals of the M.F.A. candidates. This is accomplished through coursework, research, experimentation and critique. This experience culminates in the creation of a significant body of work that is accompanied by a written report that supports and describes it. The program is intended for self-motivated, dedicated artists committed to the practice of making art and to the dialogue around it. No particular style, aesthetic, or theoretical approach is stressed over any other. Students who have completed the program will have developed the professional skills and a process of personal expression that will allow them to assume the role, in society, of artist as practitioner, artist as educator and artist as interpreter of their times.

There are various types of undergraduate and graduate financial assistance available to students, including scholarships and graduate teaching assistantships. There are also competitive graduate and undergraduate research grants available to fund specific projects. For more info go to the following websites; financial aid, scholarships, office of undergraduate research, and graduate studies and research. There are also opportunities to study abroad at several of Central Washington University's sister institutions.

Central Clay is a student organization that organizes various fund raising activities throughout the year to fund student attendance at NCECA, visiting artists, workshops, and other educational activities.

Program Facilitys

Classroom/Studio - 3,246 sq. ft. common area used for ceramic instruction.
General room particulate ventilation.
8 motorized Lockerbie kick-wheels.
13 electric wheels (Shimpo and Skutt).
1 Slab roller.
2 extruders 1 Lrg. 1 sm.
3 plaster wedging tables.
Glaze mixing area: 6 ventilated workstations with triple beam scales.
Wet glazing area with spray-booth 7'x 4'x 3'. Accommodates large-scale work.
Photo/Slide taking set up with lighting and scrim.
5 sinks with sink traps.
Tool/supply room: various hand tools, mason stains, cones, talisman sieve, etc.
Undergraduate majors group studio space 17' x 15'

Kiln room
598 sq.ft. General room ventilation and tempered make up air.
All kilns have exhaust ventilation.
1 electric kiln H. 27"x 24"Dia
1 electric kiln, computerized. H. 26.5"x 28.5" Dia.
1 oval electric kiln, computerized. H 26.5"x W 25"x L 36"
2 electric kilns H 24.5"x W 21.5"x L. 21.5" each. ( 1 of them computerized)
1 test kiln H 12"x 16" Dia.
1 54 cu.ft. Shuttle kiln. down draft / forced air.
1 16 cu.ft. Olsen kiln. updraft / natural draft burners.
Bench grinder station.
Double decker ball mill.

* Although we currently do not have a soda or wood kiln we do have the resources to build them. If you are interested and have initiative it may be possible to build these.

Clay mixing room
643 sq.ft.
General room ventilation and individual exhaust for each mixer.
1 bluebird clay mixer. 120 lbs. Capacity.
1 very large old clay mixer. 450 lbs. Capacity.
clay reclaim bins
sink w/clay trap
Large storage pallet rack and complete inventory of dry ceramic materials.

Plaster mold-making room
57 sq.ft.
Slotted particulate ventilation, water supply and compressed air.

Outdoor Courtyard
1350 sq.ft.
Multipurpose space. Natural gas, electricity, and water.
Inventory of bricks and space to possibly build soda kiln or small wood (coffin) kiln.
1 Raku kiln H 18" x W 18" x D 18"

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