II can't remember the name of it and I left the flier at school today but
they had a kiln that could do glass and ceramics which would be great if you
have small classes . Usually you can't use a large kiln for slumping glass
very easily as the heat can' t be controlled as well. I teach HS art and
have used and evenheat kiln, my college proff sold them on the side and gave
me a good deal I live in NW Ohio. I also agree with the computer program
and you will have to order a venting system also it is required by our
state. It is just a fan that is attatched to the bottom of the kiln and
holes are drilled through the fire brick to allow the fumes and heat to be
drawn out and through a tube. you will also have to purchase kiln furniture
,shelves and such and some hot mitts. I just had to change a thermal
coupler on mine today but it is pretty easy they seem to last about 4 years
for me . But I have about 100 ceramics student through the year. The kids
love the clay I keep a bucket of water in the sink so they can wash the
main clay off into that so it doesn't go down the drain and plug up the
trap. It stays there all semester I empty it out every so often smells
awful after a couple of weeks. At the college we had a sink with a pipe
coming up out of the drain so the clay just laid in the bottom and the water
could fill up and flow over and down the pipe. I t really is pretty easy
once you get the hang of it. I buy my clay from the college I attended they
sell it to all the local schools. it is so much cheaper and I pick it up
and haul it to the school in 30 lb bags every few weeks as I need it. I
don't have to pay for shipping because United arts and the other art supply
places charge the same price as the clay in shipping cost so this way I get
double the clay for less money. The computer systems are very easy. you
just punch in for a bisque or glaze fire , pick slow Med or fast firing
speed and hit start and off she goes . When my thermal couple quit the
kiln stayed on all night and never shut off. did'nt hurt anything but I had
to pull the plug to shut it down. Mine sets in its own room I usually start
it in the AM and watch it though the day the bisque fire shuts down after I
leave but a glaze fire takes about 6 hours so it will shut down before I
leave school. Have fun Its like magic everytime you open a glaze fire and
get to see all the pretty stuff. even the ugly stuff is pretty when it is
shiny. Just teach wedging well it is not fun to open a kiln wwith a blowed
up piece from your sloth child and it has ruined one of your dedicated
students brilliant pieces Aarghh!!!
Sandy Dobbelaere
----- Original Message -----
From: "carmen santiago" <coquilinamar@yahoo.com>
To: "TeacherArtExchange Discussion Group"
<teacherartexchange@lists.pub.getty.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: [teacherartexchange] kiln for ceramics
Hi! I was wondering if anyone could help me decide which kiln is good for my
school's needs.My boss is asking me to give ceramics next year so I have
been taking courses to freshen up my knowledge in this field.But I have no
idea which kiln to buy.Ours is a relative small school with an average of 80
students of art in Middle and high school.Our classes are small too, from 6
to 16 students aproximately.I am planning to give them simple projects
first, so that I get used to it and have time to develop my teaching
ceramics skills, you know, pinch pots, coils, etc. I am a little worried
about dealing with a kiln.I have been a teacher for almost 30 years now,and
now I am presented with this challenge.So any help will be very welcome.
Thank You
Carmen
----- Original Message ----
From: donnalyn shuster <d_shuster@yahoo.com>
To: TeacherArtExchange Discussion Group
<teacherartexchange@lists.pub.getty.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:40:33 AM
Subject: [teacherartexchange] gallery ideas
RE Art Gallery Idea -
I am lucky to have 3 large display boards right outside of my room. I
introduce my 6th graders to the idea of a 'gallery' when they hang their
first project - Self Portraits done as a printmaking unit. I always have a
writing component to my major projects and start them off with a very basic
form for this project: "Some things I have learned about Self-portraits and
Printmaking" that goes on the bottom of the frame. As they progress through
the year, they are directed to more insightful writing. In the 'gallery'
they have to figure out how to hang works to achieve a balance of images -
very basic skills at this point.
In 7th grade I do an Intro to Art Criticism project where they 'visit' a
hallway gallery with some prints and musuem labels. They write a critique
then the unit progresses to either a gallery done as a power point or
actually 'built' using mini prints.
