Past projects 5
Murals for Life!
Funded Jan 30, 2025Thank you all so much for supporting the arts at our school. We have such creative and talented students, and they deserve the best materials to work with. We are so excited to start work on our Identities Mini Murals project to be hung up in sections along the visual arts hallway. We’ll be sure to send progress pics as we work:)”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Thompson
Claymation Nation
Funded Jan 16, 2018My students are busily creating claymation videos right now in Ceramics class. They are using the tripods that you provided to us through your generous donation. Thank you!
Before we began this project, I showed students some clips of animated film and film makers describing parts of the process in detail. Students were amazed. The process is absolutely unbelievable, time-consuming, labor intensive, and beautiful. The end result can be seamless and artistically rich. Exposure to both professional, polished animated films and the step by step process of creating those films is very eye-opening for my students. We learned about many of the creative careers that are available in the field of film in general and animation in particular. My students now have a better understanding of art careers, the process of claymation, and the storytelling possibilities through the method of animation.
And most importantly, they're having a lot of fun!
We are so grateful for your thoughtful donations.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Thompson
Clay All The Way
Funded Aug 18, 2017The year is well underway now and my 73 Ceramics students are engaged in so many creative projects using the materials you provided. This year a Ceramics II class spent the better part of two months working on coil built large pots based on the Amphora pots of Ancient Greece. They had never built anything so large in scale and really enjoyed seeing their pots come to life day after day. Students in Ceramics I classes have worked on small organic sculptures, pinch pots and functional mugs. The mugs were stand-outs this year; students added very intricate designs on their simple mug forms and really developed an understanding of how form, function and decoration work together in hand-built pottery.
Our school community has been very supportive of the students' work this year as well, and I know that students feel good about their efforts and achievements, their sense of pride continues to grow. Teachers, administrators and staff members at this large comprehensive high school are surprised when they discover that we have a robust ceramics and 3D art program with over 70 students enrolled each year, and you have helped to make that a reality.
Thanks again for your support and look out for a new claymation project from Mrs. Thompson in the coming weeks!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Thompson
Clay Everyday
Funded Sep 25, 2015I want to thank you again for your generous donations to the Ceramics program at my Philadelphia High School earlier this year. With your help we have continued and expanded the strong 3D ceramics course, which enables students to experience first hand the beauty of ceramic processes.
This year we expanded our experience to include mid-range electric kiln firing for functional work. This meant that the glazes we used on some of our projects were more flexible, more variable, more layered and more complex than the low-fire glazes and underglazes we have used in the past. This element amazed students and deepened their knowledge of the glazing and firing processes. Students were excited to see the glazes appear out of the kiln completely differently than they appeared on their pots before firing. This little piece of magic is truly breathtaking, especially the first time. So thank you for that! We also continued our work on low-fire building and surface decoration techniques, which is expansive and allows for great variability in itself.
Your financial help brought rich experiences to my students this year, and for that we are all truly grateful.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Thompson
Clay To Enrich Their Day
Funded Oct 3, 2014I am taking a moment to reflect on the work that has been done in my Ceramics class this year so far, and I realize that it would not have been possible without your support. Through your generosity we received a small table-top slab roller, individual clay wedging boards, and new glazes. When the materials arrived, students were excited to see brand new supplies in the room and curious to understand how to use them.
Since then we have used the slab roller to roll out uniform sized tiles, making their tile project sharp and professional. I see students learn differently when they are using the slab roller because it ignites their practical and mechanical learning abilities while they are simultaneously focusing on creativity and expression. The wedging boards were helpful in ensuring that each student could practice this fundamental process so important to working with clay; wedging. In a small room that is shared with almost 200 other students each day, it is important for students to have the tools needed to make the logistics of learning possible. Each group can wedge at their own table and have the space they need to prepare their clay. Finally, the glazes were new and exciting for us! We have been able to experiment with a wider variety of colors and textures than we have in the past.
Not only were the physical materials you donated integral to our learning process this year, but the gesture of kindness and support has been very important to us as well. The students and I feel special knowing that there are people like you out there who care enough about us to donate to our art program; and we are so grateful for that.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Thompson