Ceramics students, alumni sell wares

CSU-Pueblo pottery students and alumni got a chance to display and sell their work during finals week.

The annual student Christmas pottery show and sale took place Dec. 11 and 12. This show has been taking place for 16 years and is one of two pottery shows that are held each year by the art department.

Twenty five percent of the money made at the show goes to the CSU-Pueblo pottery studio. The remaining profit goes to the artists.

All the pottery on display at the show was made by students or alumni. Sixteen artists had their work on display, contributing around 1,000 pieces for the show.

Kate Jarrett, who graduated in ‘97 with an art major, had 50-100 pieces on display. She described her work as functional stoneware. “My pieces are designed for use, in the kitchen or just life in general,” Jarrett said.

Jarrett also encouraged everyone to support student art, as student shows not only support the artist, but also the school. “The reason that the studio here is so well equipped is because of these shows,” Jarrett said.

The process of creating pottery can be complex, as many steps must be taken to create the art. Any mistakes along the way can ruin the pottery and force the artist to start the entire process over.

Pottery wheels are commonly used as a way to shape clay into pieces of art. Lumps of clay are thrown onto the wheel and molded by hand as the wheel spins.

Pots can also be hand-molded, coiled or pinched into shape. These processes are slower than using the wheel, but allow the potter more control over the size and shape of the finished product.

Once the piece is formed, it is fired in a kiln to harden the clay and change it from clay to ceramic. Most pieces are fired at the temperature of 2345 F; however, cooler temperatures are also used to obtain different effects in the piece.

The pottery is then glazed. Different chemicals in glazes create different effects in texture. Glossy or rough finishes are obtained by differences in glazes. Metal oxides and carbonites provide the color in the pieces.

The atmosphere inside the kiln during the final firing process can also affect the appearance of the finished product. The amount of oxygen that the ceramic is exposed to can change the color and texture of the pottery.

Early estimates are that the student Christmas pottery show raised around $3,000. Another show will be held during spring finals week in the Occhiato University Center.

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