Carpe Lutum

There is a room, filled with students with faces painted with looks of utter concentration, hunched over triangular shaped machines spinning hypnotically while their hands shape what appears to be grey mud into symmetrical masterpieces; it must be the pottery studio.  Here at Brentwood, almost 80 students participate in the diverse world of pottery and ceramics for one of their arts classes. In the beautiful, modern and fully-equipped studio, students can reveal their artistic potential by creating works of art with their own two hands that they can keep and use. Whether it be a mug, bowl, candle holder, or a misshapen mass with their names written on it, each potter is proud of what they have created and accomplished.  There is a variety of students in the studio that work with clay, from the creative, fun, hand-built potters with Ms. McCallum, to the stoic excellence of advanced potters with expert Ms. Elmes, and all of them express how much they enjoy the art of pottery and throwing. Creating practical things with a personal creative twist is what brings students in droves to the pottery program. But their number one drive to come to pottery is just the amount of fun they have using and working with clay! Who doesn’t like playing in the mud? Each student in the program learns all the ins and outs of the studio, like what trimming is, how to glaze, the perfect way to centre, and what the difference between greenware and bisque-ware is. By the last art class, each potter is equipped with a new set of skills ready to use for next year. This amazing program is pioneered by our two incredible and talented teachers Lulu McCallum and Peggy Elmes, and headed by pottery Captains Scott W and Sarah S. The most recent exhibit of students works has been the “Mad Hatter Tea Party” display of bowls, mugs and dishes handmade by students in the arts building. To see even more works, come down to the pottery studio on any arts day and see the smiling (while concentrated) faces of all the potters in the program. Carpe Lutum: Seize the clay! Gina B, Mackenzie ‘15