VC ceramics dept. plans a much needed face lift

Ventura College ceramics and sculpture department will undergo many changes with the future remodeling of its ceramic studio.

The ceramics department's inner core of the studio will be gutted and re-constructed as well as the addition of new open cabinets to air-dry the clay after formation and creation. This will give each student more elbowroom to work and more successes in the kiln.

Jen Chi Wu, ceramics instructor at Ventura College, said that the art department needs this upgrade to the studio.

"This studio is outdated," said Wu. "What we will see is a stream line facility with open cabinets and a much safer environment to create."

Starting in the fall of 2012, the ceramics studios of potters, students and the surrounding community of Ventura will undergo a face-lift consisting of updating and remodeling.

News of the impending changes started rumors that the department would be closed for the reconstruction.

Gwendolyn Lewis-Huddleston, Dean of Art/Art Galleries commented on the rumors the department would be closed during construction.

"As far as the Fall and Spring semesters of 2012-13, the ceramics sessions will be as usual on campus: however, with the budget cuts these days, anything is possible and programs do get cut but for now, I do not anticipate any change in the ceramics department," said Huddleston. "As for the summer session of 12 being closed, for now I couldn't say. Usually we two classes are run, but again, it is still too early to say."

While under construction, the ceramics department will have to re-locate.

"We have found a few spots on campus that we may re-locate to, but for now, we are still shifting and moving things around until we decide where we are going to re-locate. We will not be re-locating to other schools for this program," said Huddleston.

Bill Metcalf, kiln operator and glaze maker, brings his experience to the ceramics department and sees the remodeling as a positive.

"Three kilns are fired almost every week with the student's creations. We look forward to the remodeling. It's very exciting," said Metcalf.

The kiln section should not have any problems with the impending construction; however, if any part of this area were to shut down for any reason, the firing would then be done in electric kilns which are significantly smaller in size, volume and temperature.

 "Without the gas kilns, we would have to use electric and that means changing the glaze to a low fire composition," Metcalf explained. "We would have to create a complete line of low fire glaze. Just more time involved, that's all."  

Wu believes that she can give to the students through her instruction, a foundation that builds the right direction for their future. "A University setting defines the major and sets the standard whereas the community college setting can be more flexible with creativity."

"I've always wanted to teach at a Community College" Wu said. "It allows you to explore all aspects of diversity. The community college setting nurtures the student and because of this setting, a student can be more diverse."