Reinhardt University’s talented art students express their creativity in many ways – from watercolor painting to mask making, graphic design to drawing courses. Thanks to the hard work of our facilities team, Reinhardt artists will once again have the chance to learn the complexities of ceramics.
This spring, the art program unveiled an exciting new addition to campus – a dedicated kiln shed for students to expand their knowledge of ceramic arts.
“In coordination with Dr. Mark Roberts (interim president), Stephanie Owens (chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration) and Brett Mullinix (assistant professor of art), we were able to map out the Fincher Arts building as the best candidate for the revival of the ceramics class,” said Jeff Dale, director of facilities. “We were able to designate a classroom for the pottery wheels and built a new building to house the kiln right outside the classroom.”
The shed houses the kilns and holds all necessary materials. Electrical capacity was included to accommodate additional kilns as the program continues to grow.
“It’s been a pleasure being part of the team to get this building built and program going again,” said Dale.
Ceramics is more than molding clay – it’s an art form that involves historical and scientific knowledge to create pieces by hand. The ceramics courses have been a vital aspect of Reinhardt’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program since 1998 and continue today with a new way to house equipment needed to teach and learn ceramics.
Studying ceramics comes with learning complex processes and acquire an extensive knowledge base.
Reinhardt’s art faculty use their professional knowledge to individualize their courses and use the updated space to provide the comprehensive education students desire from the BFA program.
“Students must have a fundamental understanding of chemistry to create a glaze formula and to understand the processes involved in the transformation of raw wet clay into the final permanent ’ceramic’ state,” said Mullinix.
The process involves using research skills to find the optimal materials for specific clay and glaze formulas and those developed throughout human history. Students gain an understanding of how heat and time affect the firing process, which comes from research and experimentation. Reinhardt’s artists obtain all this knowledge before taking on the skills required to craft projects out of clay.
Reinhardt’s liberal arts education continues to evolve to prepare students with the most current skills and information to take into a world full of change – but does not lack in the history and foundation of one’s discipline. Learn more about Reinhardt University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree here.
