John Hesselberth on mon 31 dec 01
on 12/31/01 9:15 AM, karen terpstra at kterpstra@centurytel.net wrote:
> This is an unsolicited review. I
> do not know John Hesselberth (but now I want to meet him).
Aw gosh Karen, now you've got me all red in the face--I don't think I've
blushed for the last 30 or 40 years. Thanks very much for taking the time
to write about your experiences. I am delighted that the slide set was
useful to you. What a great way to finish the year by reading a letter like
yours!
And yes, it is available from Steven Branfman at the Potters Shop or from my
web site.
If you'll be at NCECA, I owe you a drink. Uh oh. I just remember I never
did get to buy Tony C. that drink I owed him last year. Better save up my
pennies.
Happy New Year everyone, John
web sites: http://www.masteringglazes.com and http://www.frogpondpottery.com
EMail: john@frogpondpottery.com
"It is, perhaps, still necessary to say that the very best glazes cannot
conceal badly shaped pots..." David Green, Pottery Glazes
karen terpstra on mon 31 dec 01
Hi John and Clay folks,
Just wanted to tell you all about using John Hesselberth's Stable Glazes
for Functional Pottery, a Fully Scripted Set of Teacher's Slides for
Classroom Presentations in 3 Parts. This is an unsolicited review. I
do not know John Hesselberth (but now I want to meet him). I just want
to share with you how his Stable Glaze packet worked for us. I'm really
sold on it for a small undergrad situation.
I will admit to all 2000 (more or less) of you that glazes are my weak
point. I won't go into the experiences I had with glaze instruction
when I was a student. There have been plenty of similar experiences
mentioned on Clayart in the past. So, when I heard all the rave reviews
about John's lecture on Stable Glazes at NCECA last spring, I regretted
missing it and couldn't wait to order the scripted slide set. We used it
this past fall semester.
I teach 2 classes, one beginning section with 20 students and one
combined intermediate and advanced section--about 20 students. The
beginning students have access to around 12 class glazes. I give one
lecture using blackboard notes and actual samples and one slide
lecture. This basically (and very basic at that) explains the different
temperatures, corresponding clay bodies, and shows the effects of each,
i.e.. low fire, cone 10, raku, pit firing, salt, wood, etc. That pretty
much keeps them from getting things mixed up in our little studio.
This past semester I incorporated the Stable Glazes lectures into the
advanced class. This was a much needed addition to my boring lectures on
materials, etc. The students loved it!!! After the 1st lecture, they
were more interested in glazes and more excited about doing their glaze
assignments than ever. They were actually looking forward to the next 2
lectures! After the 3rd lecture, they immediately tested all of our
cone 10 class glazes to make sure they were stable. We applied all the
theory and testing to cone 10. The students were happy to report that
we are safe.
The assignments stayed the same with the addition of the testing. They
were to find one recipe from a book or magazine in the library and one
from the internet. I still can't believe how hard it is to get some
students into that library! This assignment helps that problem. When
they look for something on the internet, they actually do enjoy finding
other artists web pages, talk about it, share it in class. I suggest
Clayart archives as well and they usually end up making more glazes than
what I ask for. They work in pairs if they want and however they
want...one person does the vinegar test, the other does the microwave
and dishwasher test, etc.
We looked at the results at the end of the semester. I could see a
tremendous improvement in good glaze test samples from the previous
semesters. The main thing though, was that they learned WHY they have to
be concerned with glaze safety on functional ware and easy ways on HOW
to test. Sometimes its just a matter of students hearing it from
another voice other than mine. The script was easy to follow, concise,
and the slides were a great addition which made all the testing look so
easy (and it was). The visuals certainly helped keep their attention to
my ramblings.
I don't expect undergraduates to know everything and I can't teach it
all in a one person operation. But I'm more satisfied now that the ones
that go on to grad school will be more prpared than I was for a glaze
calculation class, materials class or whatever its called at various
institutions. Art Education students are required to take ceramics here
and this information makes them feel more at ease. I have many students
who consider pursuing ceramics as a hobby or part time career (sometimes
even full time!). I'm more confident they will continue to test their
own glazes they will eventually choose to work with.
They realize that some people spend a life time working with glazes and
testing. I tell them, "thank God those people are out there".
I don't think John would mind if I told you where to order it... His web
site is http://www.frogpondpottery.com And I think I saw it offered
from Steve Branfman's the Potters Shop---am I right?
Looking forward to John's and Ron Roy's new book even though I'm a cone
10 person (to tell you the truth--cone 11/12 wood fire). I know many of
the students who leave here will use cone 6. You never know....I might
have to start testing myself....I might even like it! ;)
Happy New Year,
Karen Terpstra
La Crosse, WI
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