By Sullivan McGee\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Planned renovations at the Hodson Science and Technology Center will displace kilns in the summer of 2023 that are critical to the ceramics program at Hood College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visiting Assistant Professor Chaz Martinsen, the ceramics program director, said that kilns are essential to graduate programs in ceramics, and are extremely valuable to undergraduate students as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The assortment of kilns Hood has\u2014 a salt kiln, a soda kiln, two reduction kilns and a wood-fired kiln\u2014 is also a special feature of the ceramics program, according to Martinsen. \u201cThey\u2019re very unique because there\u2019s a diversity of firing techniques housed in there,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd typically\u2014 very rarely\u2014 does any one artist or individual have access to this spread of diversity of firing techniques.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hodson\u2019s expansion will replace the pavilion that houses the kilns, removing or demolishing them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Martinsen said that removing the kilns will negatively impact the ceramics department in various ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnrollments could drop, interest within the program could drop overall just because we will be not as competitive in the region or nationally in terms of access to kilns,\u201d Martinsen said. He also said that the undergraduate program will be less in-depth, or less complete, in terms of curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faculty and students from the ceramics program were shocked and upset by the news about the kilns, according to Martinsen. However, they were not informed directly at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t until Martinsen and his colleagues studied the released renovation plans that they realized Hodson\u2019s expansion overlapped with the kiln pavilion. When Hood\u2019s administration was asked about the kilns, they confirmed they would be displaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Martinsen said the graduate students \u201cviewed it kind of as a doom and gloom situation\u201d and were \u201cjaw-dropped and blindsided\u201d by the news. He said many of them were particularly nervous because they were still early in the program and \u201chaven\u2019t had the courses yet that utilize those kilns, or taken the time to learn and research using those kilns as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, the expansion of Hodson may have many benefits for Hood\u2019s health and science programs. Provost Ricker said, \u201cWe have seen a lot of growth in our health and science programs over the past few years both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. We therefore require more lab and classroom spaces to accommodate our students and faculty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of now, the future of the kilns is unsure. The administration of Hood stated that some early conversations are happening with Frederick Community College (FCC) to possibly move the kilns there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, other factors may affect the future of the kilns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provost Ricker said that the ceramics department is undergoing a program review. \u201cThis is an intensive process that all academic programs undergo every five years or so and involves a review of program enrollment, retention and graduation rates, achievement of program goals and outcomes, and the program’s alignment with the college’s strategic priorities. The outcomes of the review of our Ceramic Arts graduate program will help inform our decisions regarding kiln relocation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if the kilns are moved to FCC, it would cause multiple logistical issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCeramics is extremely fragile until it\u2019s fired. And then even once it\u2019s fired it\u2019s still in the state of fragility if you have to transport even further than just across campus, or even, you know, a couple handful of yards,\u201d Martinsen said. \u201cThe less you have to move things in ceramics the better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the problem of moving delicate ceramics to another school, students would have to be able to commute to FCC in some way. Additional resources would also have to be set up at FCC for Hood students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Martinsen discovered the fate of Hood College\u2019s kilns, he wrote and shared a document with the provost about the issue. He called the kiln pavilion the \u201ccrowning jewel\u201d of the ceramics program and said, \u201cThe action of demolishing this important aspect of the Ceramic Arts Graduate Program would be erasing the efforts and legacy of those whose shoulders we stand on.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"