Kilns are typically the final step of the ceramic process. This course an introduction to  historical and contemporary firing methods, kiln design and kiln construction. With a focus on atmospheric firing, students will learn about different types of kilns and how to design and build a kiln for specific results. What takes place within a kiln as it fires and how to control aspects of each unique firing will also be covered. Studio projects will be developed with consideration of the type of kiln to be used and then be fully involved in all aspects of the firing process.

This course is open to all juniors, seniors, fifth-years, and graduate students by permission of the instructor or department head. Prior experience with ceramics is preferred.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $150.00

Elective

Ceramics and printmaking have a shared ethos in the production of multiples and process-driven technical methods. This is reflected in industry but is not often explored in an academic context. This course would be the first at RISD to explore the rich resources of the Ceramics and Printmaking Departments to promote research into innovative ways to combine the disciplines. For almost three centuries ceramics have been enhanced by printed elements. The combination of ceramic and print technologies have tremendous potential for new applications in functional and sculptural approaches to ceramic multiples and printed editions. RISD has all the facilities in ceramics and printmaking required to pursue research in this field. Students will learn ceramic techniques such as hand-building and slip casting to create forms to hold screen printed, intaglio, relief, and digital images. Historical techniques will be presented and new methods and combinations will be developed.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $200.00

Elective

In this class we will utilize an industrial approach and integrate it with a fine art sensibility. Students will learn how to make molds and prototypes; produce porcelain casting slip; strategies in casting; traditional and non-traditional surface applications. Course projects will focus on non-functional concepts. Many tools are supplied, however, students are required to purchase a tool kit to supplement those already on hand.Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

In the first semester, graduate students begin their investigation and produce clay works that allow the faculty to assess their approach and capabilities. Students are available and pursue active contact with the faculty. Students also attend supplemental department presentations.Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

A seminar exploring ceramic idea, method, and expression in ceramic art from the technical perspective. Raw materials, clay bodies, glazes and glaze calculation are studied. The potential connection between technical understanding and the fulfillment of your vision and aesthetic expression is examined. Independent research is required.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

Ceramics: a Global Perspective will focus on two non-western ceramic traditions/movements: the Indigenous Ceramics of the Americas and Asian Ceramics. These two seemingly disparate movements have had a profound influence upon western, modern and contemporary ceramic art. Indigenous Ceramics of the Americas provides a ‘close to home/under the surface foundation’ of material and design. Asian ceramics, with its global reach of historical trade roots, provides insight into the movement and transformation of material, technology, and use value.

This combined seminar and studio class provides a historical context and hand on experience of historical developments and hierarchical structures in the ceramic arts. To enhance the students’ understanding of traditional materials and technology upon form and content, students will make ceramics (using the corresponding traditional techniques) alongside art historical study. Each clay and firing type embodies making parameters that effect form, color, content and use. Through the remaking of historical forms, students acquire a nuanced understanding of the importance of technology upon the content and use value of objects made.

The class will focus on three distinct regions and periods in ceramic history: Indigenous Practice of the Americas (Peru, New Mexico), Asian Porcelain, Production and Kiln Technology (Korea, Japan, China) and the Silk Road Trade Routes from Asia into the Middle East, Africa and up into Western Europe effecting ceramic production between 1600 – 1900. The class will culminate by illuminating the effects of colonialism and globalization of these three periods upon late 20th century, and current ceramics. In particular, we will become sensitive to the cultural appropriation of Indigenous culture and Asian aesthetics by teaching its philosophy, colonial history and initiate sensitivity to stereotypes and cultural erasure within ceramic production and its communities.

The Ceramics department has visiting artists representing artists from many world cultures and students are required to attend these lectures. Independent research is required.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

In the beginning of your fourth year you work independently with a ceramic faculty tutor to develop your individual degree project. Your project is expected to be a body of ceramic work that is unified in direction, significant in its degree of growth, innovative in its resolution, and personal in its expression. Students are pre-registered for this course by the department.

Enrollment is limited to Senior Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

An exploration and development of personal ideas and vision with their materialization in clay. An introduction to the techniques of handbuilding focusing on clay as a sculptural medium.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department; registration is not available in Workday. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

Continued exploration begun during the first year leads to the presentation of a thesis project. Students work during class hours to ensure daily contact with faculty.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department; registration is not available in Workday. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

A seminar exploring ceramic method and expression from technical perspectives. A study of raw materials including clay, clay bodies, and glaze calculation. The focus is the connection between technical development, and aesthetic expression. In-depth independent research required. A materials diary kept.

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

Students in this class will learn to use a variety of ceramic production methods techniques including; molding, pressing, extruding, and giggering, to design and make small pottery editions. The focus is the design and perfection of the objects made and methods used. This class will also serve as a platform for inviting visiting artists to make small editions using our production facilities.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

A seminar exploring ceramic method and expression from historical and contemporary perspectives. The focus is the connection between historical awareness, and aesthetic expression in the student's work. In-depth independent research required.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.
 

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

This class helps you to develop the vocabulary of concepts relating your work to your sources. A number of exercises are undertaken culminating in a presentation of your ideas.

 
Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

As Graduate Design students we will consider how ceramics processes could inform your design work. Through demonstrations, discussions, projects, critiques, and much hands-on work, you should arrive at a fundamental understanding of ceramic hand building as a means to make art. You'll begin to understand what clay can and cannot do in its various stages. Unlike wood or metal - ceramics does not have an inherent structure - it must be built into the form and be made to withhold the stress of shrinkage and crack-age during the drying and firing stages. Hand building is the first step to understanding ceramics and the tools, materials and equipment in ceramic production used by designers. Along with hand building students will be introduced to mold-making, digital ceramics, simple clay and glaze chemistry and the various firing processes.

Elective

This course is a practical and conceptual exploration into electronic sensors, processors and actuators in the context of interactive art and design. Students will turn everyday objects into ambient interfaces or "responsive systems" that respond to the conditions of the human body, data networks, and the environment. Contemporary works of art and design - from kinetic sculpture and sound art to installation, architecture and product design - will be examined through readings and presentations. Open source hardware (Arduino) and software (Processing) will be taught along with the fundamentals of electronic circuitry. Emphasis is given to the development of creative projects (individual or collaborative), followed by an iterative implementation process (planning, prototyping, testing, analyzing, and refining). The course is structured around a series of tutorials and exercises, culminating in a final project. Students also present work-in-progress and prototypes during class reviews to receive qualitative feedback from the class and the instructor. Participants will engage with physical computing conceptually and technically in their studio work and are encouraged to leverage their individual backgrounds to excel in the respective context. Prior experience with electronics and programming is recommended but not required.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $200.00

Elective

Generative Systems is an interdisciplinary course designed for students from all majors and varying levels of technical ability, inviting them to develop analog and digital generative systems for their own art and design projects. Students will follow online tutorials as part of their assignments, while the instructor will provide guidance and problem-solving support to ensure students' success. The course is an opportunity for students to explore tools based on their interests, such as Unity, Unreal Engine, Rhino/Grasshopper, SideFX Houdini, Blender geometry nodes, html/css/javascript and p5.js, model training and advanced generative A.I., and Photoshop scripting. Topics encompass randomization & noise, recursion, cellular automata, particle systems, agents, GANs, Diffusion models, LLMs, and more. Featuring guest critics from Generative A.I. research labs, the course enriches students' understanding of the field while delving into a global history of generative art and design, from ancient North African fractal architecture to modernist movements like Neoconcretismo and Nove Tendencije, ultimately showcasing contemporary artists, designers, and tool builders.

Estimated Materials Cost: $100.00

Elective

This studio elective focuses on creating digital image-based artworks. Students will be introduced to a wide variety of contemporary artists working between digital imaging, photography, and digital painting — and a range of technical possibilities for making and producing “painterly” digital artworks. Through several short assignments and one final project, students will experiment and then hone in on image-making processes that suit and expand their practices. These projects are complemented by readings and discussions which provide context for contemporary digital art-making: an exciting and ever-changing space for creative work.

Elective

Introduction to Computation focuses on computational techniques, methods, and ideas in the context of art and design. Studio projects first center on the design of algorithms then shift to involve computer programming and scripting. Critical attention is given to code as a body of crafted text with significant aesthetic, philosophical, and social dimensions, as well as the tension, conflict, and potential possible when computation generates, informs, or interacts with drawings, materials, forms, and spaces. Historical and contemporary works of computational art and design will be presented and assigned for analysis. This course is open to students of all majors and is designed for those with little or no experience in programming. In order to conduct work in this course, students will need a laptop computer. This course fulfills one of two core studio requirements for the CTC Concentration.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $250.00

Major Requirement | BFA Art + Computation, BFA Sound

Introduction to Computation focuses on computational techniques, methods, and ideas in the context of art and design. Studio projects first center on the design of algorithms then shift to involve computer programming and scripting. Critical attention is given to code as a body of crafted text with significant aesthetic, philosophical, and social dimensions, as well as the tension, conflict, and potential possible when computation generates, informs, or interacts with drawings, materials, forms, and spaces. Historical and contemporary works of computational art and design will be presented and assigned for analysis. This course is open to students of all majors and is designed for those with little or no experience in programming. In order to conduct work in this course, students will need a laptop computer. This course fulfills one of two core studio requirements for the CTC Concentration.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $250.00

Major Requirement | BFA Art + Computation, BFA Sound

Introduction to Computation focuses on computational techniques, methods, and ideas in the context of art and design. Studio projects first center on the design of algorithms then shift to involve computer programming and scripting. Critical attention is given to code as a body of crafted text with significant aesthetic, philosophical, and social dimensions, as well as the tension, conflict, and potential possible when computation generates, informs, or interacts with drawings, materials, forms, and spaces. Historical and contemporary works of computational art and design will be presented and assigned for analysis. This course is open to students of all majors and is designed for those with little or no experience in programming. In order to conduct work in this course, students will need a laptop computer. This course fulfills one of two core studio requirements for the CTC Concentration.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $250.00

Major Requirement | BFA Art + Computation, BFA Sound