Tufts Blogs

As a senior studying Media, Culture, and Identity (if you’re interested, read more about my
major here!), I wanted to make the most of my last year in college by exploring new stuff. In
case you are not familiar with the school structure, Tufts has three schools – School of Arts and
Sciences, School of Engineering, and School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA). While my
major is housed by the School of Arts and Sciences, I’ve been interested in several captivating
classes offered at SMFA. However, due to the additional commute time, I’ve been waiting for an
opportunity to slot in a practice-based art course. Ceramics courses are generally pretty popular
among students too, so the senior enrollment priority was an extra bonus to take the course!

This semester, I enrolled in Introduction to Ceramics, a course designed to introduce students at
all levels to the fundamentals of ceramics such as wheel-throwing, hand-building, and glazing. I
came in with some prior experience from a summer of wheel-throwing classes and sporadic
pottery painting classes. However, I had never taken a semester-long course in an academic
setting and part of me was afraid that I would not be skilled enough.

Fast-forwarding to now, it's the final week of the course. I have absolutely loved the past 13
weeks in the ceramic studio located in the basement of SMFA. The course demands quite a time
investment – a 5-hour weekly session (with a 30-minute break) along with additional studio
hours to finish off the assignments. On average, I've spent an additional 2-3 hours outside of
class. While it might seem like a hefty investment (and truthfully, it is), these visits to SMFA
have not only allowed me to explore Boston more often but have also provided a welcomed
space for my love of artistic endeavors, which often take a back seat to my academic priorities.

Throughout the semester, I explored my dear love toward food and its intersection with clay. It
began with playful creations like onigiri and a fried egg, eventually culminating in my midterm
project – a collection of dumpling cups and a dimsum basket that comes in the set. Moreover, an
in-class project led to the creation of a ceramics swiffer that now serves as a delightful decor in
my room. As I prepare for the final critique (equivalent to a final exam in non-art courses) this
Friday, I've chosen to highlight a reflection of some of my favorite Korean dishes growing up –
gimbap and tteokbokki. Taking this leap into the ceramics course has been both enlightening and
fulfilling. I have also discovered that the ceramics studio is accessible to everyone, regardless of
enrollment in ceramics courses. While my journey in ceramics might pause after this semester,
you'll certainly find me at the studio.