CERAMICS
Overview
The ceramics program at James Madison University aims to provide an excellent learning environment for art making. This environment has evolved over the years. What students bring to their studies in ceramics and what they want from their studies personally and professionally are strong influences on this evolution
The purpose behind the thoughtful—and well-supported—evolution of the ceramics program is to graduate capable artists and craftspeople ready to work as teachers of ceramics or as independent studio artists, or equally ready to take on the challenges of MFA graduate programs in ceramics. More specifically, the ceramics curriculum encourages students to engage across a wide range of contemporary and historical practices, in order to develop technical and design expertise and conceptual awareness that together expand their aesthetic vocabulary. The deeply international nature of ceramic art always influences the program’s purpose. The program’s faculty, and the visiting artists the program has brought in, have intentionally reflected this reality by the examples of their own training and work.
Slideshow of Ceramic Students' work
Facilities
The ceramics studio is a professionally equipped, spacious studio with plenty of natural light located in Duke Hall. The capacious studio includes electric pottery wheels, kick wheels, slab rollers, manual extruders, system 3 power extruder, slip mixer and drain table, plaster drying cabinet, spray booth, decal printer, photo booth, 3D printer, ball mill, clay mixers, pugmills, sand blaster, six electric kilns, and two gas kilns.
Hardware and Software Requirements
SADAH's programs require all students to have a laptop computer equipped with and capable of running any necessary software. SADAH considers a laptop an essential tool for total participation in classes and content. Read more about SADAH's hardware and software requirements.
Suggested Specifications
Operating System (OS)
MacOS
Storage (GB)
512GB
Screen Size (IN)
13”
Random Access Memory (RAM)
32GB
Graphics Memory (VRAM)
6GB
Processor (CPU)
M3 pro or Intel 13th Gen i7 / i9
Required Specifications
Operating System (OS)
MacOS or Windows 11
Storage (GB)
512GB
Screen Size (IN)
13”
Random Access Memory (RAM)
16GB
Graphics Memory (VRAM)
4GB
Processor (CPU)
M3 pro or Intel 13th Gen i5
Required Software
Microsoft 365*
Zoom*
*Provided by JMU
Jon McMillan
Assistant Professor of Ceramics
