In the Potter’s Hands

16 February 2024Suhana V, Alex ‘24

Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions – it dates back to 29,000 BC. Like many other discoveries, clay was discovered by accident when villagers found that a solid substance was present in river beds. Ever since, clay has been used to make pots, bricks and pavers – and it is also a major component of our Arts program.

From pinch pots to mugs, the pottery classes have been spinning out pieces that are unique in their shape, colour and size. As each student in the studio has a different skill set, you see a wide variety of pieces produced that are original in thought and design.

The first step to creating any piece is centring. This is where you mount your clay in the middle of the wheel before shaping it. Despite sounding straightforward, centring is rumoured to be the hardest concept to grasp, but April L, Mack ‘24 says it’s all about the technique. She explains that “rather than only using your arms, using your entire body weight to center the clay is important. Rest elbows on legs and lean forward towards the middle of the pot.”

Many also opt for hand-built pottery where they can utilize their unique skill set that helps them craft the clay in a very specific way. Basma J, Allard ‘25 took hand-built pottery in hopes of “refining [her] skill set by using different tools and techniques that differ from 3D pottery. [She] finds it interesting to be able to create something that is completely different even if the whole class is completing the same project”.

Through this experience, Mrs Luna finds it to be fascinating “when [she] get[s] to see students completely enthralled in their work, in the ‘flow’ state – [she] read that this happens when your skills perfectly align with the level of your project’s challenge, so it’s really a magical moment.”

Pottery is significant to many cultures around the world, and it is great to see that many Brentwood students embrace this significance through the work they produce. It is truly an art that students enjoy and is as a therapeutic way to unwind from the bustling Brentwood day.

Suhana V, Alex ‘24

Where Students Choose To Be