Amy Garno
Senior Staff Writer
For those who are looking for an outlet from daily studies or just need something fun and creative to do, Siena Heights University (SHU) is offering an adult ceramics class that starts Oct. 8 and is now open for enrollment. The ceramics class is a six week not for credit class that meets three times a week in Studio Angelico for a total of ten hours a week; Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 2-6 p.m. The cost is $160. Winter and spring sessions are also offered.
The class is taught by Dennis Swartzlander and Cody Sieler. Dennis has been taking ceramic classes at SHU since 2000, and Sieler graduated from SHU with a BFA in 2008 with a concentration in sculpture and ceramics.
Swartzlander and Sieler have different approaches in the way they teach. Swartzlander throws the majority of his ceramic pieces on the wheel while Sieler does more hand building. The students get the benefit from both approaches, and some students use a combination of both methods in their pieces.
The class is open to those with different levels of experience. Some have little or no experience so they need more basic instruction. On the other hand, others are more advanced and like to work more on their own.
“Some students never took ceramics, so we first find out what they want to get out of the class. We show them how to make a slab, center the clay on the wheel, and whatever they want to learn. If the whole class wants a demonstration in handle pulling, then that is what we will do,” explained Swartzlander.
Swartzlander grew up working in his family’s printing business, first called Quick Print in 1972 and 10 years ago renamed Legacy Printing. Last year, they celebrated 40 years of business in Adrian Michigan. He and his brother, Gary, now run the business at 142 N. Main Street in Adrian. Ceramics has allowed Swartzlander to break out of the preciseness of printing and be more spontaneous with his art.
Both Swartzlander and Amy Klinger, a 2004 graduate of SHU, display and sell their ceramics in a small gallery in the front lobby of Legacy Printing.
Swartzlander took his first ceramic class at Adrian High School because he thought it would be an easy class. “I had a serious instructor who was very good. I not only learned a lot but I got hooked. When I graduated from high school I got away from it because of the demands of our family printing business. Finally, in 1999, I got back into it at the Toledo Potters Guild in the Botanical Gardens. I was happy to be back doing what I loved”, Swartzlander said with a smile.
Seiler also grew up in a family business doing construction. Ceramics has allowed him to have fun using his more creative side.
Both Sieler and Swartzlander have been teaching adult ceramics at SHU since it started three years ago. They were first throwing around the idea of having a community ceramic class with Tim Van Beke, SHU Art Professor. When Van Beke gave the ok, they decided to give it a go. It has turned out to be very successful. Each semester they have between eight to twelve students.
“It’s nice to have a place for people in the community to come and be involved in the arts whether it’s just a hobby or they want to learn something new. We always have a lot of fun. We even cook pizza in the brick oven outside while we fire our pieces,” noted Sieler.
The Studio has 12 wheels for throwing and several tables that the students can use to spread out their clay and tools to work on their creations.
After a piece is made and dried, it goes through a first firing in an electrical kiln known as “bisque firing.” Then, the pieces are glazed and put through a second firing using a wood, gas kiln, or electrical kiln, or a Japanese process known as Raku firing. Each of the different methods will give the pottery a unique look depending on what the artist wants to achieve.
Jessica Schamberger, a 2009 graduate from SHU, is taking Adult Ceramics for the first time. “My husband is a BFA graduate here at SHU and he encouraged me to take the class to get a taste of the arts. I work in social work all day and it can get very stressful. It’s nice to do ceramics here to unwind and relax”, Schamberger commented.
Whether you’re a first timer or a skilled ceramicist, the adult ceramic class is right here on campus and a great outlet from every day activities. Classes are filling up now for the fall session. Those that are interested can contact Van Beke at: 865 – 424 – 5662.