Carving Up the Clay

Julia Eilert, Co-Editor

sssss

 Sculpture is one of the fine arts classes offered at McPherson High School to any student that has completed Art 1 beforehand. Art 1 is the prerequisite, or required class, for a number of art electives, such as Ceramics, Drawing, and Glass Forming. Stacy Hall has been teaching for 26 years at MHS, and Sculpture for 23. “You learn small motor skills and you learn how to see objects dimensionally,” Hall said. “It’s very therapeutic.”

  When asked if he enjoyed the class, Andreas Renberger, senior, said, “It’s great, I enjoy working with clay in this class because it’s very ‘clay-tastic.’” The class ranges from sophomores to seniors, and is a semester-long course. Upon passing the class students will receive half of a credit in fine arts. One full credit credit is mandatory in fine arts to graduate from MHS. However, some kids are in the class for more than just their credits.

 

ggggggg

  “It builds character and it helps with artistic forms,” senior, Travis Latta, said. Currently, the class has completed two projects, a realistic hand-model and a spherical piece that deals with the basics of radial symmetry.

  As for the teacher herself, Rose Periest, a sophomore, said, “Mrs. Hall is a great teacher, and she helps out a lot.” Sculpture is a hands-on class, and Mrs. Hall reinforces this by offering her opinion only when it’s been asked for. Students have a project, and are informed of the deadline and of what art principles are expected to be included within the project. What they do in between the time it’s assigned and the time of the deadline is up to the students. Currently the class is learning how to deal with foreground, background, and prominence. They will be carving an image into a clay slab that will eventually be made into a wall hanging.

bbbbbb