A ‘Day in Clay’ for Woodland Middle School

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Woodland Middle School students in the East Meadow School District participated in “Day in Clay” with artist Cliff Mendelson on Feb. 27. “Day in Clay” is a program that invites an artist to demonstrate various aspects of the potter’s wheel for students and how it relates to the history of ceramics.

Mendelson provided a firsthand experience of as a working craftsman and allowed students to partake in the creation of a ceramic pot. He taught the students the meaning of ceramic pots in the Native American, African, Japanese, Chinese and Greek cultures. Students also used historical techniques to create, decorate, and design one vessel using culturally specific patterns, symbols and imagery.

Music and Art Chairperson Kelly Gelfer and Woodland art teachers Erin Nerdalan and Christina Valenti-Linares helped organize the activity.

—Brian Stieglitz