December 19, 2016 at 4:50 p.m.
JWMS students creating permanent murals
JWMS students creating permanent murals
By Kayla Thomason-
Both sixth-grade art classes have been working on their clay murals during their 50-minute class period every other day.
Both murals have a nature theme. One depicts a forest scene while the other will be an under-the-ocean view, according to art teacher Josh Calhoun.
In order to visualize the idea and make the project manageable, the students created a sketch of the pieces the size of the mural.
The students drew the creatures they wanted in the piece on separate paper, Calhoun created the background and placed the images so it wouldn't be too busy in any spots.
He also made a numbered grid so the students know where their tile will go in the grand scheme of things.
Calhoun does what he can after school to keep the excitement up so there is no downtime between classes.
"It's a very long project but the excitement level, because it's so different, the glazing is so different than the clay forming that I think it's so exciting for them," he said.
He finishes the day at the Rhinelander High School, then hand-rolls out each tile, allows them to dry out over night and then transports them to the middle school the following day.
Each clay tile measures 6 inches by 6 inches. Each mural has 13 tiles per row, seven columns, for a total of 91 tiles. Once complete the mural will have 3 inches of frame around it.
"They're excited to see it," Calhoun said of his students. "They've planned it, they've designed it, they know where it's going, so it's been a pretty successful unit."
To get the image from the sketch to the clay the students were given 6-by-6-inch pieces of tracing paper with the corresponding number in the upper right corner so they knew which piece of the mural they are working on. Once they had the design on the thin paper they placed it on the clay tiles and traced the image to the surface with wooden tools.
They used slip (a mixture of water and clay, used to help adhere clay parts together) and coils (clay rolled out like a snake or like handmade noodles) to make raised surfaces on the tile.
The clay tiles were slowly dried until they were bone dry. Then they were fired in the kiln once.
To keep the pace going, Calhoun will shove a few desks together and lay out all the tiles so that when the students come to class they can start glazing.
"They'll finally put it all together," he said.
The students will chose the colors and apply them to the correct areas on their tile.
"They paint it just like a painting and I tell them it's got to be three coats," Calhoun said. "The painting is really exciting because the whole class is around two tables, there's brushes everywhere and I give them each a job."
All the glazes came from the Parent Advisory Council.
"We wouldn't be able to afford giving all these kids a glaze experience without the PAC helping us, because it's so expensive," Calhoun said.
This project has drawn the students together around a common goal.
"I just love the whole teamwork idea and that we are making permanent artwork for the school, like this will be here for years," Calhoun said.
He said he is enjoying watching the class grow closer together and work as a unit to complete the class project.
Once the tiles have been glazed and fired they will have to go on the frame, which will be particle board with black paint. It will be in two pieces so two people can install it.
He applies a generous supply of Elmer's glue to the back of the scored tile so it adheres to the frame. He said he led a similar project at another school district and hasn't had an issue with the tiles falling off.
"I've never had them fall off before because I score them on the back really well at this stage and then I paint the Elmer's glue on with a brush and you can feel it - when you paint the back of it - and it really holds it," Calhoun said. "It bonds really well with the wood and the ceramic."
When hanging the permanent artwork they will screw through the frame into the foundation and paint black over the screws.
The students still have to name the artwork, but are taking the project phase by phase.
Odessa Hardin said she enjoys working with the clay and likes the theme.
She said she hopes people will be able to tell which tile is hers when the project is complete.
"I just hope people will be able to tell which one is mine," she said.
She has glazed before and would encourage others to try ceramics.
"If you like clay you should really go for it," she said.
Stacey Radtke is enjoying being part of a large communal art project.
"I think it's pretty fun," she said. "I like that we're making these big animals and stuff."
Radtke likes that they are all working on a small piece that, when combined, makes a big picture.
"I was thinking that we could have done the Northern Lights but when I heard of (the under the sea theme) I knew that we could make bigger things and creatures," she said.
She has glazed before and is excited to do it again.
Alexandria Ganec likes working with the clay and is excited to glaze.
"It's nice," she said, adding that she likes the theme. "I think it's pretty cool, too."
Ganec is excited that the project will hang in the cafeteria for all to see.
"I think that's pretty cool too because we worked hard on it," she said.
Calhoun is grateful for the support from the principal and the PAC.
"I'm really thankful for the PAC to help support us, I'm really thankful to Mr. (Richard) Gretzinger (principal) to allow us to put permanent artwork in the school," he said. "The arts are really important for development for kids and I believe in that."
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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