Day in Clay

I wanted to highlight one of my favorite programs - the Native American vessel making program. This year, students explored patterns, symbols, and imagery from various Native American cultures. They truly rose to the challenge in this fast-paced, 60-minute workshop; the pieces they created were both incredible and unique. The students got to experience the satisfaction of seeing their ideas come to fruition in the form of a finished work of art.

As we come to the close of the 2019-2020 school year, I wanted to reflect and acknowledge the great work that has been achieved by students in various Day in Clay cultural arts programs - African mask making, the multicultural potter's wheel program, tile murals, and Native American vessel making. A big thank you especially to the PTA members, art teachers, art coordinators, and principals that helped to make this all possible, and for giving the students a chance to experience something out of the ordinary.

A PTA member from Robbins Lane Elementary School photographed and edited hundreds of photos and added music to create this wonderful documentary video of the Multicultural Potter’s Wheel Demonstration program. K 5th grades all participated in the program. Over 60 students per group witnessed how a lump of clay was transformed into a finished work of art in 60 minutes.The workshop engaged students with dialogue regarding design and the relationship of form to cultures around the world. The 5th grade classes hand-decorated the vase using culturally specific patterns. The vase was later glazed, fired, displayed and auctioned off to raise money for the Cultural Arts program at the school.