Facilities
Ceramics and other studio areas in the MFA program are housed in a five million dollar, state-of-the-art facility on the main SIUE campus. The ceramics studio is generously equipped to accommodate student exploration of the broad range of possibilities within the ceramic arts. The facilities include:
- one on-site Anagama kiln
- seven computerized electric kilns
- two large indoor car kilns
- two soda kilns
- two residual salt kilns
- one salt kiln
- one wood fired train kiln
- one wood/soda kiln
- one raku kiln
- two Soldner clay mixers
- De-airing pugmill
- Wide variety of treadle and electric potter's wheels
- Bailey slab roller
- Enclosed sandblaster
- Fully stocked glaze area
- Spraybooth
- Ball mill
The studio in glassblowing is one of the few remaining locations for this type of study in the central midwest region. The newly equipped facility has a primary focus on beginning- to intermediate-level glass-blowing, casting and cold-work. Enrollment in these classes is limited to senior-level students with prior experience in vessel building.
The Anagama Project
In November 2003, the SIUE ceramics area invited potter Simon Levin to Edwardsville for a two-week kiln building workshop, focusing on Levin's anagama wood kiln design. Over a period of 11 days, the entire construction of the anagama took place. Students and faculty worked alongside Levin for numerous 12-hour days in order to finish the construction on schedule. In the months immediately following the anagama construction, the work continued to complete the brick retaining wall and the roof covering the kiln.
The ceramics program uses the anagama kiln within its curriculum and is usually fired within an academic calendar year. With each firing we learn more about the kiln's idiosyncrasies. Finished results have steadily improved, and with every unloading we're getting back more and more high quality work.
