Morean Center for Clay at WMU

About

The Morean Ceramics Research Center (MCRC) is a year-round workshop series that brings the best in contemporary ceramics to the campus of Western Michigan University. The MCRC hosts hands-on studio intensive workshops with local and visiting ceramic artists and designers from around the country and around the world. Through demonstration and in-depth discussion, participants experiment and produce artwork under the mentorship of our talented instructors, creating an inspiring and unforgettable experience.

Workshop Formats

2-Week Summer Intensive Workshops

Invited Visiting Instructor(s)
9:00am – 4:30pm daily (with lunch break)
8am-10pm studio access (24hr studio access for enrolled WMU students)
Clay, Glaze Materials and Firings Included

8-Week Special Topics Workshops

Local Instructor(s)
Twice weekly class meetings (ex. Mon & Wed 6pm-9pm)
8am-10pm studio access excluding other class periods (24hr studio access for enrolled WMU students)
Clay available for purchase, glaze materials and firings included.

Weekend Workshops

Invited and Local Visiting Instructor(s)
9:00am – 4:30pm daily (with lunch break)
Clay available for purchase, glaze materials and firings included.

WMU CERAMICS

The Ceramics Area provides students with the foundational discipline and professional skills to succeed in their careers as artists, craftspersons and designers. Students are introduced to all facets of professional practice within the ceramic arts. This includes hand building, wheel throwing, slip casting and mold making, clay and glaze formulation, kiln firing and studio management. The ceramic curriculum enables students to explore the use of clay and related tools and materials in support of their art and design practice, while initiating dialog with issues of utility, aesthetic expression, and diverse contemporary topics. The curriculum challenges students to think critically about their work and the work of others, and to articulate informed ideas in order to advance their understanding of a broad variety of methodologies, including contemporary and emerging technology.

FACILITIES:

Equipment:

30 Pottery Wheels
Two Brent Slab-Rollers
Laguna Spray Booth
Soldner and Bluebird Clay Mixers
Bluebird and Shimpo Pugmills
Shimpo Ball Mill
30 Gallon Slip Tank
2 Heated Plaster Drying Cabinets
Access to forklift and mobile gantry crane

Indoor Kilns:

7 computer-controlled electric kilns
2 electric test kilns
32 cu. ft. gas-fired downdraft kiln
90 cu. ft. gas-fired downdraft car kiln
180 cu. ft. gas-fired downdraft car kiln

Outdoor Kilns:

300 cu. ft. wood-fired barrel-arched anagama kiln
50 cu. ft. wood/gas-fired cross draft soda kiln
6 cu. feet gas-fired drum/cantilevered raku kiln
40 cu. ft gas-fired updraft kiln