“I work in clay because it enables me to be expressive in ways I cannot in other mediums”.
-Amedeo Salamoni
The art of ceramics is a journey that transforms raw clay into spectacular forms to express ourselves. At George School, our Ceramics Program witnesses creativity, innovation, and self-expression. This article dives into the heart of our ceramics program, uncovering its significant impact from the hands of our students and our dedicated ceramics instructor, Amedeo Salamoni.
The Ceramics Program
The ceramics program offers various different paths for students of different levels and interests. The program offers three years, but students have the option to create a senior project in their fourth year. In the ceramics studio, creativity has no bounds. Students are encouraged to express their emotions through their creations. From functional pottery to abstract sculptures, every piece has its own story, demonstrating the artist’s passion and vision. From pinching to wheel throwing, students learn how to shape the clay, carve designs, and master glazing, mastering artistic abilities and cultivating a strong sense of craftsmanship.
The GS Wood Kiln: Embrace the Unknown
George School is one of the very few high schools in the United States that owns a wood kiln, which makes the GS ceramics program unique and exceptional. The fired wood kiln opens twice annually, once at the end of October, with 30 to 36 hours of firing, and then again in April, with 40 to 48 hours of firing. The two times of using the wood kiln have different effects due to the time and temperature difference. Compared to April, the pottery formed in the wood kiln during October is more glazed and has more wood ash decorating pieces (in other words, creates more glass) due to the longer time of firing. Students will also get to participate in the wood firing of the kiln and try wood firing with different decorating techniques. Different from electric kilns, wood kilns are more organic and create more “chances”, which are the unpredictable and unique effects (such as patterns, colors, etc.) that make ceramics one of a kind. There will always be “happy accidents”: you don’t always know what will come out. For instance, if there is a pot placed in the front and makes a shadow, it will create a complexity to the glaze of the pot behind. Just like what Amedeo said, “The wood kiln creates ecstatic elements and happy mistakes, it teaches us about the process of starting and finishing. In the modern world of technology, it is refreshing to create our own pieces without technology. Students work from stylistic to wood firing as a group, opening up a surprising gift.” The wood kiln contrasts the reliance on technology today, celebrating the unique and refreshing experience of creating the distinctive pieces collaboratively.
Ceramics and Sustainability
At George School, we believe in nurturing artists’ talents and a sense of responsibility towards our planet. In the ceramics studio, students are recycling clay and raising awareness about the environmental impacts of ceramics production. Outside of the ceramics studio, in the wood kiln, Amedeo and Carter, the woodworking instructor, came up with an idea to be more environmentally friendly. Scraps from wood making are recycled and used for fuels for the wood kiln. The wood that the woodworking studio uses comes from trees in the woods on GS campus. Ceramics and Woodworking have a long-lasting friendship of being green together.
Teacher Spotlights
Amedeo has been the backbone of the Ceramics Program since 2009, and he had been personally making pottery and started wood firing in 1986 in Georgia. Learn about the understanding of contemporary wood-fired ceramics through Amedeo’s marvelous book “Wood-Fired Ceramics 100 Contemporary Artists”! This book includes 100 ceramics artists and their perspectives in ceramics, also including Amedeo’s own perspectives!
The Ceramics Program at George School is more than just a curriculum. It is a program that serves as a nurturing ground for artistic souls, where passions and dreams are shaped. Through this program, we celebrate not just the beauty of the finished pieces but also the hard work and vision of our students. In the future, it is expected that the ceramics program’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations and influence dreams for the future.
