William John O'Brien

This class will explore both traditional and non-traditional approaches to firing and using clay to explore the topics of humor, exaggeration and perception. Historical references such as 1960s California Funk Ceramics, High Victorian Rococo, as well as more contemporary approaches to clay will serve as starting points for sculptural, installation and performative projects.

This interdisciplinary studio seminar based in the ceramics department is designed for grad students interested in exploring the endless possibilities that clay offers as a material adapted into individual studio and research practices. The first portion of this class will be technically based to learn different modes of construction, mold making, as well as different glazing and firing techniques in ceramics. The second portion will be focused on independent projects, advising and critical discussions.

Readings will be a combination of history of ceramics, contemporary artist, and technical information. Some of the contemporary artists using clay within contemporary art practice we will study in this course include Cannupa Hanska Luger, Elizabeth Jaeger, Woody De Othello, and more. There will be discussions on the history of ceramics and how contemporary artists use clay in performance, sculpture, design, architecture, and print media.

Students should expect to produce a consistent body of work to be presented in a culminating course critique at the end of the session. Junior and Senior-level undergraduate students are welcome to enroll in this course and should email the instructor to seek authorization to register.

This interdisciplinary studio seminar based in the ceramics department is designed for grad students interested in exploring the endless possibilities that clay offers as a material adapted into individual studio and research practices. The first portion of this class will be technically based to learn different modes of construction, mold making, as well as different glazing and firing techniques in ceramics. The second portion will be focused on independent projects, advising and critical discussions.

Readings will be a combination of history of ceramics, contemporary artist, and technical information. Some of the contemporary artists using clay within contemporary art practice we will study in this course include Cannupa Hanska Luger, Elizabeth Jaeger, Woody De Othello, and more. There will be discussions on the history of ceramics and how contemporary artists use clay in performance, sculpture, design, architecture, and print media.

Students should expect to produce a consistent body of work to be presented in a culminating course critique at the end of the session. Junior and Senior-level undergraduate students are welcome to enroll in this course and should email the instructor to seek authorization to register.

This interdisciplinary seminar and studio introduces graduate students from any department to key historical and contemporary issues in the overlapping fields of Contemporary Ceramics. MFA students in this course will learn to navigate both the school community and its resources, as well as the Chicago art scene. Through readings, critical discussions, evaluations, field trips, and presentations, students will expand and deepen their understanding of studio professional practice. Coursework includes engagement with critical theory and the development of methods for analyzing and creatively responding to these theories. Students will also have access to the Ceramics Department for work on clay-focused projects. They should expect to produce a consistent body of work, which will be presented in a culminating critique at the end of the semester.

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.