A Day in Clay”

(Newburgh) - The Newburgh Enlarged City School District’s Temple Hill Academy recently celebrated “A Day in Clay,” a multicultural ceramic-arts demo and hands-on program featuring artists-in-residence Cliff Mendelson.
In three 75-minute workshops for about 75 students each, Mendelson used his potter’s wheel to demonstrate how to make various types of pottery. During the third workshop, he allowed students to sit at the wheel and get their hands into the clay.

“The pottery demonstration focuses on Greek culture,” said Mendelson. “This includes the display of large photographs of a variety of Greek pottery. The emphasis is on the patterns and how they related to Greek cultural forms and techniques,” he said.

“This is a very inspiring and educational program,“ said Temple Hill Academy art teacher Elizabeth Mills. “But the best part is having the kids try their hand at shaping the clay. That’s what it’s all about,” said Mills.

Pictured to the Left is, ceramic artist, Cliff Mendelson helping a Temple Hill Academy student shape a clay bowl during the school’s recent “Day in Clay.”