Kitah Gimmel's Vertical Clay Sculptures

Kitah Gimmel continues their exploration of clay in the Atelier. Their current focus is creating something “vertical.” They are given wire, skewers, and coffee stirrers to use as “armature.” We talk about how this is like a skeleton for the clay. The armature helps the clay hold shapes that it cannot on its own.

Last week the children drew pictures of what they wanted to make next. They are given their drawings to use as reference for their sculpture.

First, they soften their clay with rolling pins.

Then they tear or cut their clay into smaller pieces.

Morah offers them a skewer or a stirrer and shows them how to make their stick stand, using a piece of their clay.

Morah offers the children some wire. The children ask for either long or short pieces. They twist and wrap the wire around their stick.

Morah shows the children how to roll the bits of clay into thin, snake-like pieces and then pinch them around the wire. Some children roll tiny balls and stick them onto their wire.