The depths of clay

Suzie Harrison

Thurston Middle School sixth-grade students in Linda Erickson’s

exploratory wheel art class were willing to get their hands dirty as

part of a project working with clay.

“When you’re making your box, you’ll design a lid with an animal

handle and you’ll also create an environment for the animal,”

Erickson said.

Erickson gave examples. A frog might want leaves around it or a

duck could be floating on water.

“We’ve learned about relief,” Erickson said. “It’s

three-dimensional in a way, so the surface has depth to it.”

Each had an animal sketch to reference.

“You’ll use the wooden slate to create a good consistency,”

Erickson said. “Roll out the clay evenly then take out the pattern

pieces to make a box.”

In order to prevent air bubbles, the clay had to be picked up and

turned over so the clay would not roll onto itself.

Seena Shahmardi, 12, said she they were working with grey clay.

It’s important that it doesn’t dry because it can be toxic.

“We try and get every side really close so when you get the extra

clay you make sure you have enough,” Seena said. “I’m going to do a

pig. I like its environment with mud and all that stuff.”

Claire La Rose, 11, and her partner Danielle McGrady, 11, worked

well as a team.

“I’m cutting out the squares from the slab,” Claire said. “The top

and bottom are the biggest, the middle size is used for the sides and

the edges are the smallest.”

Danielle said they’re both making elephants, contemplating a

safari look with bamboo or a mud pit for cooling.

“You scratch and stich and use water to make it stick and stay

together,” Danielle said. “The hardest part will be making the animal

environment.”