Ceramics
Interdisciplinary Studio: Ceramics
Youngstown State University’s ceramics concentration lets you take advantage of the expanding career opportunities in the field and develop your skills.
Whether you’re looking to build your career as a fine or craft artist; independent or production designer; or tile, mold, or model maker, YSU’s ceramics program lets you customize your education to suit your passion. As a student, you’ll be able to fashion a part of your curriculum in the specific direction of ceramics that interests you.
Along with a customizable curriculum, YSU’s Department of Art offers one of the largest ceramic studios in the state. The faculty, curriculum, and the facility supports a wide variety of approaches to contemporary ceramic art, including functional, sculptural, and design-based methodologies. Students have the opportunity to work with a variety of formats, including techniques based on the object, time, installation, utility, and industrial applications.
Advanced students have access to a semi-private studio space and work in a creative environment with open studio hours seven days a week. Ceramics facilities feature over 6,000 square feet of studio space spanning two floors, with separate areas for wheel throwing, handbuilding, glaze mixing, clay mixing, plaster work, and documenting artwork. Various firing possibilities are available, with two internal kiln rooms, and a gated and covered external kiln area. There is a Student Project Gallery where all students can exhibit solo, group or experimental work. Well equipped, YSU’s Ceramics program offers an interdisciplinary approach to working within the medium.
Ceramics studio equipment includes separate and completely equipped studios for handbuilding, wheel throwing, mold making & slip casting. There are also research possibilities in utilizing innovative technologies such as 3D Digital printing.
The Ceramic studio also includes the following vented labs: a spray room, fully stocked glaze lab, clay mixing lab, and three kiln rooms that include computer controlled electric kilns, gas and atmospheric kilns with a pit firing area.
With access to first-rate facilities and the ability to customize your educational experience, students gain an all-encompassing knowledge and understanding of contemporary ceramic practices. Ceramics Facility includes:
Ceramics Facilities
Clay & Glaze Mixing
250lb capacity Soldner mixer
Slip-O-Matic casting slip mixer
Laguna spray booth
Vantto Double Jar Ball Mill
235 sq ft Glaze lab with multiple flex arm exhaust systems
215 sq ft Designated Plaster area with multiple flex arm exhaust systems
288 sq ft Vented spray room
395 sq ft Stocked bulk materials room
Electric gram scales
Triple beam gram scales
350lb beam scale
Research & Documentation Lab
Apple iMac computers with software (2 stations)
Space and lighting for documenting finished work
Library of 20yrs of Ceramic magazines & misc. art and ceramics books and videos
3D Digital Media Lab
Apple iMac computers with software (18 stations)
Epson LCD Projector
HP 2100n laser printer
HP Color Printer
Cannon 84 10 x 17inch Scanner
Epson LCD Projector
Kilns
4 – 16.5 cu ft. Bailey oval electric kilns with Bartlett computerized controller
4 – 10 cu ft. Bailey electric kilns with Bartlett computerized controller
2 – 3 cu ft. Bailey electric kilns with Bartlett computerized controller
2 – 2.3 cu ft. manual electric kilns (Duncan and Skutt)
.5 cu ft. Cress test electric kiln
50 cu ft. Bailey ^10 front loading electric kiln, with Bartlett computerized controller
40 cu ft. Alpine gas kiln
20 cu ft. Alpine gas kilns
4 cu ft. Sprung Arch Raku kiln
30 cu ft. Sprung Arch Atmospheric gas kiln
Pit fire area
Studio Lab Equipment
15 Brent wheels
2 Brent SR-36 slab rollers
2 Bailey Extruders
A Bailey System 3 Power Extruder
Sand blasting cabinet
Rosetta Technologies CerPrint 3500 Ceramic Decal Printer
A variety of handtools (ex. drills, grinders, heat guns…)
Funded by Classroom Enhancement
• Visiting artist workshops presented in Ceramics:
Since 2012: Linda Cordell, Julia Galloway, Carrie Longely, Kyle & Kelly Phelps, Joyce Jablonski, Christian Kuharik, Liz Smith, Malcom Mobutu Smith, Sergei Isupov, Teri Frame, Greg Pugh, Elizabeth A. Emery, Rebecca Harvey.
• Yearly visiting MFA workshop/lecture series:
Since 2012: Craig Hartenberger, Tirzah Legg, Shannon Black, Clarissa Pezone, Alana Wilson, Hannan Pierce, Sara Catapano, Didem Mert, Ashley Bevington, Royce Hilderbrand, Neil Simak, Sara Morales, Jason Piccoli, Ben Lambert, Austin Wieland, Jocelyn Howard