Events at the Johnson Museum have been some of my favorite events in the Rose Scholars program, and the Studio Thursday event did not disappoint. When we first arrived at the museum, we had to wait for a bit while they set up, allowing everyone there to introduce themselves and predict how the clay making would work. None of us knew what to expect; we didn’t know if the clay would be like modeling clay, or real clay that needed to be fired. Before we got to figure out what they clay was like, we went to see clay sculptures from ancient South and Central American groups. The forms and colorings of the sculptures varied based on location and time periods. Looking at the clay sculptures helped to give some inspiration for the next step.

The clay we were given to model with was similar to modeling clay, but wetter and easier to mold. It was also self-hardening, so there was no need to fire it. I decided to make a clay hippo, which was harder than it sounds! Everyone around me was making something different, including a cat bowl and a turtle. Making clay sculptures was super fun and a great way to get to know other scholars!