Department of Art + Design,
Art History, Art Education
BS/BA of Art + Design
Ceramics Area (not accepting new students)
The goal of the ceramics programis to teach students the foundations of technical skill and aesthetic considerations, through a broad range of classes. Students are encouraged to pursue functional and sculptural directions which will lead them to opportunities as ceramic artists, functional potters, sculptors, and teachers. Each course in the curriculum helps build the skills and knowledge needed for students to create a unified body of work. The final term culminates in a senior project.
The ceramics area offers basic and advanced courses in hand building and potters wheel techniques. A raku class is offered during the minimester.
The ceramics studio at Towson is one of the largest and best equipped in Maryland. Facilities include:
Two studios for general classes (one hand building studio, one potters wheel studio)
Private workspace and shelving
for students in the ceramics concentration
Two graduate studios for MFA students
Fully-equipped glaze room
Clay mixing room
Outdoor concrete pad for alternative firing methods, such as raku
Two kiln rooms
Two Bailey Shuttle Studio gas kilns
17 electric kilns, Bailey, L&L, AMACO and Paragon
Four clay mixers, Soldner and Bluebird
Two Scott Creek clay extruders
35 Brent C electric wheels
Nine Randal kick wheels with motors
One Bailey slab roller
One spray booth
Two ball mills
One Peter Pugger de-airing pug mill
More than 70 ware carts for accessible storage
Various studio slips, cone 10 and cone 6 glazes for reduction and oxidation firings
Seven professors and art instructors teach ceramic courses and manage the the facility. Master of Fine Art students join the undergraduate students and lend their expertise in the studios. A large student ceramics sale and exhibition is held twice a year and open to the public. The student Ceramic Guild is one of the most active in the department.
Students are encouraged to work closely with a ceramics faculty adviser each term to develop an individualized course sequence.
Peter Callas, known for his strong ties to the traditions of Japanese ceramics, visited Towson as an artist-in-residence in 2007. Here, Callas
explains how he captures gesture in his wheel thrown forms.