Crafts

The Crafts Division provides a challenging yet supportive environment for the student to create work in the unique programs of Clay, Glass, Jewelry/ Metals/ Enamel and Textile Art.

Through the introduction and exploration of traditional craft processes and history, students develops a strong vocabulary within their chosen medium. This foundation facilitates their conceptual interests and personal design aesthetic. Through study of historical, as well as contemporary work in craft media and art in general, students are asked to consider their work contextually, articulating an understanding of its origins as they pursue their own individual direction.

Major Requirements by catalogue year.... (select your matriculation year and degree (BA or BFA degree program - downloads as a PDF document)

The program aims to guide young artists from a mentor/student relationship into the world of the professionally active studio artist/crafts person.

Both undergraduate and graduate students work in close consultation with their advisor. Intense study and personal investigation, within the well equipped studios, culminate in the presentation of a cohesive body of work which is exhibited as the Senior Project for undergraduates and the Thesis Exhibition for graduates.

Our alumni have gone on to pursue careers as exhibiting artists, production crafts people, designers for industry, and, for many, university professors.

Sequence guide for Crafts Majors... (select BA or BFA degree program - downloads as a PDF document)

The Minor in Crafts comprises 21 credits, including 12 credits in one of the craft programs (ceramics, glass, jewelry/metals, or textiles) plus an additional 9 credits in crafts electives (in any program).  To add this minor to your official transcript, please begin in the office of Advising and Academic Services in the College of the Arts, 202C Taylor Hall.

Jewelry/Metals

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The School of Art offers Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts Degrees in Jewelry/ Metal/ Enameling. Students select course work in close consultation with their advisor. The graduate program offers the student an intense 2-3 year period for personal investigation, resulting in the development a cohesive body of work. This work will evidence the conceptual and aesthetic development of the student and serve as a springboard to a career in teaching or studio craft.

The Graduate Program emphasizes conceptual development and does not focus on technique per se, but graduate students will have ample opportunity to enhance existing skills or may sit in on undergraduate class demonstrations to learn new skills. Graduate students are encouraged to investigate inter-media or interdisciplinary approaches to their work. There is an emphasis on critical thinking and the student, upon graduation, is expected to see their own work within the context of, not only craft, but contemporary art in general.

Facilitiies

The jewelry/ metals/ enameling program moved into newly refurbished studios in the spring of 1998. The studios are equipped for a wide range of technical processes.

Among our more sophisticated tools are a vertical mill, a screw-cutting lathe, a 20-ton hydraulic press, a power rolling mill, a copper electroforming bath and a aluminum anodizing set-up.  We are exceptionally well equipped for all types of hammer work and have two forges. We offer vacuum casting, rubber mold making, soldering, and all other standard metalworking techniques.

Seniors in their final semester have their own bench space in a locked room as well as access to a larger studio. Graduate students have large individual studios as well as a common graduate work area.

The studios are completely equipped for enameling and have a satellite facility that houses an industrial enamel kiln for enameling large panels up to 4' x 6' in size. This is the largest kiln housed at an educational facility in the United States.

Kathleen Browne is head of the jewelry/metals program.

Textile Art

Program

The program in Textile Art fosters creative inquiry, critical thought, and extensive skill development.  The unique art and cultural history of textiles studied in conjunction with historic and contemporary art forms a strong visual and contextual foundation.  The disciplined practice of structural processes inherent to the field, provide a distinctive vocabulary for the creation of art and design and a springboard for experimentation and innovation.  Traditions of making built on repetition, geometry and order provide a link with digital design and technology which is also a strong component of the program.

The extensive undergraduate curriculum features courses in weaving - hand manipulated techniques, loom controlled, and digital - complemented by courses in feltmaking, surface design, and screenprinting. Graduate students may supplement their knowledge base through participation in classes or work more independently.

Facilities and Equipment

The Textile Art Studio occupies over 6500 feet of space in the center of campus.  Spacious and well equipped, it facilitates the exploration of various aspects of textile art/design and production within an energizing environment . 

•COMPUTER LOOM LAB

TC-1 Digital Loom (jacquard) 58” wide (30 epi)

TC-1 Digital Loom (jacquard) 15” wide (30 epi)

ARM Looms (2), digital dobbies, 24 harnesses, 20” wide

AVL Loom, digital dobby, 16 harnesses, 40” wide

•The computer lab in the School of Art and the two design stations in the Computer Loom Lab provide access to specialized weave software: JacqCAD©, Pointcarré©, Weavemaker©, and ProWeave©.

•HAND LOOM ROOM

over 30 hand looms with 4, 8 or 12 harnesses  (Macomber, Norwich, LeClerc, etc.)

J-Made Loom, digital dobby, 24 harness, 60” wide

•DYE LAB

long stainless steel counters and sinks, cooktops, washer and dryer

steamer, screen exposure area

•WORK ROOM/CRITIQUE SPACE

numerous tables and padded tables

5 Bernini sewing machines, 6 drum carders

•GRAD STUDIO - community space for four or five students

Additional Resources

•KENT STATE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM

The museum houses an impressive collection of historic textiles and garments, and mounts rotating exhibitions on decorative arts and fashion.  Research of the collection is encouraged. 

•SCHOOL OF FASHION DESIGN

Access to a Mimaki digital fabric printer, digital embroidery and digital knitting machines are available through this school along with offerings in Textile and Costume History.

•BLOSSOM/TEXTILE ART

Offered on alternate years, these short term summer workshops focus on specialized topics with Visiting Artists.  Recent visitors include: Bhakti Ziek, Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, John McQueen, Warren Seelig, Emily Dubois, and Barbara Cooper.  

Faculty

Janice Lessman-Moss is head of the textile arts program; website: www.janicelessman-moss.com

Chris Mastroianni, Adjunct Faculty, MFA Kent State University

Glass

The Glass program at Kent State University recognizes and values the traditions of glass throughout history, including both historical and contemporary achievements. With the relatively recent introduction of the Studio Glass Movement in the late 60’s, glass has transcended from being perceived of as solely craft to being recognized and regarded as a valid contemporary craft/art medium. It is upon this foundation that our program builds. Through awareness of glass over thousands of years including that of the past thirty years, it is not only the intent of the Kent State University Glass Program to embrace the accomplishments of the Studio Glass Movement, but to be on the forefront of redefining it.

Aside learning the fundamentals of glass blowing, students will learn various methods of glass casting, slumping, fusing, flame working, enameling and assembly techniques in order to give them a technical "tool kit". From this they can draw upon a variety of techniques in order to most effectively communicate through the medium and realize their artistic ideas. Students are challenged to approach glass as a contemporary craft/art medium, referring to the past but looking towards the future. They are not restricted to or limited by the traditions glass blowing and are encouraged to explore glass as both a material and an idea, pushing the parameters the medium within a contemporary art context. While glass may be at the core of a student's education, exploration in interdisciplinary and mixed media approaches is highly encouraged. We look for serious students who are highly motivated, creative thinkers and are dissatisfied with the ordinary.

The glass program is housed in a spacious, window lined 6000 sq. ft. facility. It is comprised of a 2300 sq. ft. hot shop, 600 sq. ft. cold shop, secure graduate studios, undergraduate major work area, general work space, designated plaster room, and a small gallery area. The facility is well equipped and is not limited to the following:

Hot Shop

2 350 lb. Capacity invested crucible furnaces

1 100 lb. Color melting invested crucible furnace

2 IFB glory holes

Garage

Glass blowing hand tools

Sand box

Casting ladles and tools

15 Ovens for casting, annealing fusing and slumping

Cold Shop

2 30" lap wheels

1 18" lap wheel

2 water cooled diamond saws (14",10")

1 20" oil cooled diamond saw (self feed)

Diamond band saw

Wet belt sander

Merker lathe w/assorted diamond wheels and stones

Drill press

Pumice and Cerium polishing wheels

Pneumatic grinders

2 24" reciprolaps

2 Sand blast cabinets

Flame Shop

1 Carlisle bench torch

6 Minor bench torches

4 National hand torches

1 Bethlehem Lab Lathe

1 Litton Engineering lab lathe

Miscellaneous

Oxy/Acetylene rig (cutting, welding, heating)

MIG Welder

Vertical Metal band saw

Horizontal Metal band saw

Wood band saw

Compound miter saw

Milling/Drilling machine

Metal Lathe

Misc. hand tools

M. Sean Mercer is head of the glass program.

Ceramics

The Mission of the Kent State University Ceramics Department is to give interested students a place to learn and develop their artwork. It is partly the craft of clay that is our focus. This is the  science and alchemy of clay, glaze, firing and it's functional uses.

It is also the intellectual pursuit of making ceramic art. This incorporates one of oldest technologies used by humans. Objects, vessels and sculpture have been made since prehistoric times. They are fashioned with the most common and mysterious of materials that comes from the earth. It is then transformed by heat and fired into stone.

Students are encouraged to find new ways with clay and produce contemporary work with a foundation in history. This idea of history is not only based in just the american arena but in a more universal understanding of the differences and similarities of world ceramics.

Kent State University Ceramics Department attracts a diverse group of  graduate and undergraduate students from the around the country and from abroad. The ceramic lab is a place to experiment, create and discuss working with clay as an artistic medium. A wide variety of materials and firing techniques are employed by the students. Their individuality as people, visionaries and artists is our greatest concern.

Kirk Mangus is head of the ceramics program.