Breaking The Mold: Art teacher introduces ceramics to Manteca High

By PEYTON WALTER 
The Tower 

In Manteca High’s ceramics room, there is the collective sound of clay being shaped by wet hands. 

There is the hum of a pottery wheel being used to make a vase. 

Rolling pins flatten slabs of clay on the paint-stained tables. 

And the chatter amongst students fills the air.  

Jesus Valdez is an art teacher at Manteca High and is introducing ceramics into the school. 

The class adds to the already rich culture of art on campus and gives students a new opportunity to try something new and fun or to expand their art skills.  

For the students in Room S4, making things in ceramics is more than just an art project; it’s a chance to create something tangible while learning the techniques behind pottery and sculpture. 

Ceramics has been a recent addition to Manteca High’s large assortment of electives. 

In addition to Ceramics, Manteca High also offers Intro to Art, Advanced Art, Color and Design, and Digital Photography. 

“I think having another window of creative expression is always good for students to have,” says Jeff Harvey, one of Manteca High’s art teachers. 

Jesus Valdez, the teacher for Manteca’s new ceramics class, has a history in studying ceramics.  

He wants to be able to bring it here to give students an opportunity to learn something new and bring a more diverse art environment to the school. 

 “I would recommend taking ceramics because I think it’s a good experience. I know I didn’t get to take ceramics until university so for a lot of people it might be their only chance to experience something like this class.” Valdez explained in his interview with the Tower. 

The Tower sat down with Jesus Valdez and asked him some questions about Ceramics. 

The Tower: What skills are you trying to teach in Ceramics?  

Jesus Valdez Jr.: It’s still developing but I would say I’d want students that have taken my class to have a general idea of knowing how to create and express art into sculptures but also have them be functional items. Another thing is just using clay in different ways both for art and more practical pottery items. 

TT: Why should students take an interest in ceramics?  

JV: I think ceramics are very hands-on and fun. It has artistic elements, but it also has more technical and craftsmanship elements which I think is nice. A lot of students might gain more interest in art through taking ceramics. 

TT: How can students show artistic freedom in your class?  

JV: Compared to my intro class, ceramics can sometimes be a bit more strict or specific with projects, but students still have creative freedom. We have our wind chime project which is just different representations or different things that are meaningful to that student. They get to choose the topic and make it their own. 

TT: What are some of the new equipment or supplies you get to use?  

JV: We got a new kiln so now we have two that are fully functioning so that’s exciting. We haven’t tried it out yet, but we just got a new clay recycler as well. We also got slab tables and new tool kits, and we’re just trying to order more things and build up our supplies. 

TT: Can you explain some ways ceramics are incorporated into everyday life?  

JV: Personally, since I started ceramics, I walk around and see certain things and think to myself that I could make that. 

TT: Is there a career in ceramics?  

JV: I think ceramics is like a lot of the visual arts as far as careers go. There’s obviously teaching, there’s also being a professional and having to be an expert in your craft to be able to make it big and generally just anything freelance, anything that can build on top of their other skills or what they already do.