My name is Zoe, and I’m currently studying Professional Communication at RMIT. This blog was set up as a part of my coursework for Networked Media, and now continues into 2014 primarily focused on Integrated Media One and extending into my other subjects and general life. It’s become a place for me to think through ideas and the week’s coursework. It really is my piece of clay, changing every day.

 Naming the boat

Here she is, the ‘CLAY KNOWLEDGE‘. (All capital letters, thank you very much. As Gaga would say, it’s about the details.)

I’ve taken this concept directly from my lecturer Adrian’s post about the knowledge of clay, and I think it’s a pretty accurate representation of what this is: thickly messy.

Spin it, pound it, fire it, paint it. Use tools, fingers, hands, palms, fire, water, colour. It is thickly messy. That is knowledge. Information? That’s the clay, as a lump and not anything yet. The potter, well, there’s knowledge there, and in the hands, and in the clay.

Using a Wheel

1. Smack your clay. Throw it firmly from hand to hand, smacking it into a ball shape.
2. Dry your wheel. This will help the ball of clay adhere to the wheel once it starts spinning. The last thing you want is a ball of wet clay flying across the room.
3. Have some water. Place a bucket of water where you can easily reach it to wet your hands while you work.
4. Throw the clay. Throw down the ball of clay as close to the center of the wheel as you can, then press it down into a conical shape.
5. Start spinning. As you build up speed, wet the clay, and with one hand on the side of the clay lump, and the other side on top of it, ease the clump towards the middle. Use the upper hand to keep the clay from flying out of control.
   • You can tell the clay is centered when it no longer looks like it’s wobbling, but sitting stationary in the center of the spinning wheel. Don’t stop spinning.
6. Wet your hands. Then work the clay into a cone, then press it down into a thick disk. Repeat this step a couple times.
7. Push a thumb into the middle of the spinning mass.
8. Push 4 fingers into the hole, and work them around until the hole is as big as you would like. Continue working the hole, using a hand on the outside of the clay to shape your pot.
9. Work slowly. Gradually pull the clay up with even pressure, until it’s the desired height.
10. Spread the top. If you want it a bit wider at the neck, just pull back with your inside fingers. Don’t do it too hard.
11. Remove the finished pot from the wheel. Wet the wheel (not the pot) and using a stiff wire or fishing line, and holding it with both hands, pull it from the back the pot towards you until the pot is separate from the wheel.
12. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for finishing and firing your clay pot.

But will it ever be finished and fired? The more I know, the more I know that I don’t know.

Don’t stop spinning.