Spokane Falls Community College

Non-Western Art:  Tradition & Change in Chinese Art & culture

Patty Haag, Instructor c 05

 

5-Day Project:  Chinese Glazed Roof and Eave Tiles

 

This project involves the following learning outcomes:

·         Develop familiarity with foundational expressions of human thought and creativity

·         Understand the function & meaning of visual objects and images within cultural context

·         Organize ideas in a coherent manner

·         Know the relationship of the arts to the larger intellectual/physical community in a specific culture

Preparation

Students will have studied the development of Chinese ceramics through the Ming Dynasty, and have read a handout on the architecture of the Forbidden City.

Instructor will collect tools and prepare the clay in advance, and make arrangements with ceramics instructor for firing & glazing. 

 

 

Day One

Students will watch a 45-minute slide presentation on glazed roof & eaves tiles from the Ming & Qing Dynasties.  We will discuss symbolic value of the imagery and of the four colors (yellow, green, blue and black).

Students will be asked what images and symbols they might select if they were making eave tiles for themselves.  We will talk about the importance of color and again, which colors they would choose and why.  They are asked to bring five designs to the next class, and to wear old clothes or painting shirts.

 

 

Day Two/three

Instructor brings in damp slabs of clay and carving tools, and demonstrates cutting circular forms, transferring designs and carving  into the surface.

Students pick their three strongest designs and begin making three tiles.   The tiles are set aside to dry.

 

 

Day Four (the following week)

Tiles have dried and been fired.  After watching a glazing demonstration students choose  colors and glaze their tiles.  Tiles are again fired.  As an outside assignment, students write a paragraph about each tile describing the story behind it and/or its value as a personal symbol.

 

Day Five

Tiles are displayed in the classroom.  Students pick one of their three pieces and tell the story to the class.