Ceramics

Ceramics at Murray State covers a broad range of clay working, including traditional approaches such as hand-building and wheel-throwing, along with mold making, casting, and the emerging fields of 3D ceramic printing and photographic image transfer. Students are exposed to utilitarian as well as purely sculptural approaches to clay, and are allowed to choose their focus as they move through the curriculum and develop their work.

Facilities

The Ceramics studio includes a large clay and glaze mixing area stocked with over 100 raw materials, equipment for throwing, casting and extruding, two delta 3D clay printers, five electric kilns, a 12 cubic foot salt/soda kiln and a 31 cubic foot gas reduction kiln. Students in Ceramics II and above have individual studio spaces. The ceramics studio has 4,700 square feet of studio space, with 24-hour access.

Ceramics Studio

  

Advanced Student Studio

 

Ceramics Faculty

John Utgaard is a Professor in Ceramics. He received his MFA from Alfred University and his BFA from Kansas City Art Institute.

Contact Information: John Utgaard jutgaard@murraystate.edu

Courses Offered 

• ART 370 Introduction to Ceramics I (3)
  Beginning ceramics introduces students to a broad spectrum of clay working including the making of functional pottery, the vessel as metaphor, and clay as a medium for sculpture. Students learn hand building, wheel throwing, and glazing among other basic ceramic techniques. Design, craftsmanship and critical thinking are emphasized. Six hours per week. Pre- or Corequisite: ART 101 or 111 or 112 or permission of instructor.
• ART 371 Ceramics II (3)
  Continued development of skills and concepts learned in ART 370 along with the introduction of advanced techniques including casting and kiln firing.  Ideation, criticism and discussion are emphasized. six hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 370 or permission of instructor.
• ART 372 Ceramics III (3)
  Continued development of the skills and concepts learned in ART 371 with an emphasis on individual investigation, technical finesse, concept, content, criticism and discussion. Six hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 371 or permission of instructor.
• ART 471 Ceramics IV (3)
  Continued development of the skills and concepts learned in ART 372, largely through individually tailored and self-directed assignments. Students in this class will be responsible for all aspects of the production of their work, from mixing their clay and glaze to loading and firing kilns. Technical proficiency, criticism, discussion, and investigation of historical and contemporary ceramics will be emphasized.  six hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 372 or permission of instructor.
• ART 472 Ceramics V (3)
  Continuation of ART 471. Six hours per week Prerequisite: ART 471 or permission of instructor.   
• ART 571 Ceramics VI (3)
  Concentrated exploration of selected ceramic processes with emphasis on personal expression. Six hours per week. Prerequisite: Two courses in ceramics or permission of instructor.  
• ART 572 Ceramics VII (3)
  Continuation of ART 571. Six hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 571 or permission of instructor.