Pottery Making

"Pottery Making" is an educational film that explores the art and science of pottery creation through four distinct methods, accompanied by a teacher's guide to enhance learning. Collaborated on by Forest Grant, this documentary is also available in Afrikaans, Portuguese, and Spanish, promoting a broader educational reach. It offers an in-depth look at:
Wheel Throwing: The film shows the traditional technique of creating a vase on a potter's wheel, detailing the shaping, centering, and forming of clay into symmetrical pottery.
Coil Building: It demonstrates how Native American or similar indigenous techniques involve building an Indian bowl by layering coils of clay, which are then smoothed to form the vessel's shape.
Slip Casting: A method where a vase is crafted using a plaster mold, illustrating how liquid clay (slip) is poured into molds to create uniform shapes, which are then refined.
Slab Construction: The film covers the assembly of an angular table piece from patterned clay slabs, offering insights into creative design and construction in pottery.
Each technique is followed through its stages from shaping to finishing:
Drying: The importance of allowing pottery to dry to avoid cracking during firing.
Firing: The initial firing process to harden the clay, shown in different firing environments like kilns.
Glazing: Techniques for applying glaze to enhance beauty and functionality.
Glaze Firing: The second firing to set the glaze, providing a protective and decorative finish.
This documentary not only educates on the diverse methods of pottery making but also celebrates the craft's global heritage, encouraging appreciation for the skill, patience, and creativity involved in pottery production.