Seniors in the ceramics program are showing true progress and are looking forward to using their skills in the future. photo by Laine Gaherty
The advanced level ceramics class includes many 2026 seniors who deserve to have their artwork and their processes featured before graduation.
Marin Herbst
Marin Herbst has taken Lisa Freedberg’s ceramics classes since her freshman year and has definitely learned a lot. Initially, her goal was only to fulfill the fine arts requirements in her schedule, but the past four years have taught her patience and the value of technical skill. This year, Herbst completed her Advanced 3D art portfolio which will be turned in for AP credit this May. Her theme explores “how pieces can be changed by surface treatments.” In ceramics, many techniques are used to build, sculpt, glaze, and fire the work. Herbst personally focuses on sgraffito, a process which includes using underglaze on a wet project before firing and carving away designs. Much like Picasso, Herbst also seems to be going through a ‘blue period,’ as she admits, “I…love making my pieces blue!” In fact, her most recent work is covered in a blue ombre glaze that served as a satisfying challenge.
Laine Gahert
Before starting her ceramics journey, Laine Gaherty had intended to take Drawing and Painting 1. However, the class filled up and she learned that ceramics was where her heart truly lay. Gaherty describes the class as “light and creative,” she says that it’s an “amazing way to end my sometimes stressful day.” It’s no surprise that it is now her favorite class despite its challenges. Working with clay can sometimes be challenging. Gaherty admits that she struggles to build pottery on the wheel. “I like to be able to have total control over the clay with a wide range of creativity. I believe the wheel limits myself due to the lack of range of things I can make on it.” Her freedom off of the wheel allows her to sculpt and paint large, intricate animals. By using a combination of acrylic paint and glossy glaze for the eyes and features, she brings these creatures to life. The animals are all part of a larger theme. In the beginning of the year, Gaherty set out to change people’s viewpoint on typically hated creatures. Although her current project focuses on a squid, her favorite was a vulture with wings sculpted of cardboard and paper.
Skylar Gold
Unlike other students, Skylar Gold has been working with clay since 7th grade, although she didn’t join Freedberg’s ceramics class until her junior year. This creative background set her up for the ceramics class and she describes it as a creative and artistic outlet. Outside of her creative endeavors, Gold is passionate about politics and equity. This comes through in her portfolio as her AP theme is feminine purity in society explored through floral works. Throughout the year she has worked with the wheel and sculpted many intricate and colorful pieces, all with elements of flowers or organic shapes. The main inspiration for the portfolio was built from a work she made this year of a large vase. Gold says that she “played with the idea of geometric versus organic movement with flowers” in order to create a beautiful and otherworldly structure.
Cora Grabel
Although these artists all have amazing talent, most did not start out being good at pottery or working with clay. Cora Grabel didn’t even plan on taking ceramics until it came time to choose her high school classes in 8th grade. This choice has led her to becoming a double major in ceramics at the University of Iowa in the fall. Students in ceramics class learn the foundational skills before having the freedom to explore techniques and designs that they feel drawn to. Now, Grabel is a master of almost all techniques, especially the potter’s wheel. Throwing clay on the wheel can be challenging, especially at large scales, but by working in sections and glueing these parts together, Grabel is able to make much larger pieces than would otherwise be possible to throw by hand. Another technique used by her is called cloisonne, which she described as “gluing wire onto the surface of a piece to create a design then filling in each section with glaze.” This is a historic technique that Grabel has used in her AP art portfolio which explores how older ideas can be combined with contemporary work.
Sahra Mahamuud
Initially, Sahra Mahamuud only took ceramics because she preferred it to 2D traditional drawing. Ceramics means so much more to Mahamuud now. Although she does not build with clay by hand, her true passion lies with the wheel. She said that, “it’s not as relaxing as I expected it to be, the growth I’ve gone through over the years makes me love it even more.” By using the wheel, Mahmuud has been able to bring her portfolio to life. She chose to focus on themes of isolation and loneliness with her work this year, and has created many pieces that evoke these emotions. One such work is an intricate plate with folds of clay that spread outward from the center of the piece. These four folds represent parts of Mahmuud that she feels are secret: “my unshadowed trust in others, how my depression has chained my curiosity, envy, and my defencive walls.” Artwork can be as deep as the artist intends it to be, and in this case, the work connects right to the soul.
Reese Myers
Senior Reese Myers began taking ceramics classes her freshman year and has stuck with it ever since. Part of the draw for her is just how much freedom is given to students in the upper level classes. Currently, Myers is working on a bowl with holes in it. She says, “I wanted to make a piece that represented a phobia.” Trypophobia is the fear of clusters of small holes, and as such, the work is covered with holes that fill the surface. Myers’ pieces are commonly recognizable from their pink or blue glazes, however she also likes to switch things up and use a variety of colors and textures in her works. For her, ceramics has become much more than just a class to take as it will hopefully lead into her career path. In the fall, Myers hopes to become an interior design major and is looking forward to finding ways to include her skill with clay into the homes she designs.
