Ceramics teaches students to appreciate the histories and traditions connected to clay, and understand its technical qualities, production processes, and the tools involved in building with it. CCS Ceramics offers instruction in hand building, wheel throwing, slip casting, and more, including design and technology-based classes. Students learn the scientific properties of clay and glaze formulation, how to build with the material, and how to fire a comprehensive range of kilns, including electric, gas, salt, soda, and wood kilns.

The Fiber and Textiles program is influenced by art, design, craft, and technology. Students of this field acquire technical and conceptual skills to create objects informed by materiality, purpose, and the sense of touch. A wide range of technical processes and topics include: weaving, dyeing, screen printing, embellishment, surface design, felting, sewing, quilting, garment construction, knitting, crochet, laser cutting, digital print and pattern design.

In Furniture, students approach object making through a deep investigation of materials’ influence on form and function. Beginning with a strong foundation in technical woodworking in tandem with rigorous material exploration, students are poised to create and design furniture that can fit into a range of industries, from product design, to studio production, to sculpture. Furniture students learn fabrication skills in wood, metal, and foundry.

Glass pushes students to create research-driven work that looks critically at the material, integrates interdisciplinary practices, and utilizes new technologies. Students are taught the technical skills alongside experimental practices to develop innovative and expressive approaches to glassmaking. The curriculum covers of blowing, casting and coldworking in depth and students develop an individualized studio practice where they are asked to solve problems, innovate their own techniques, and develop concepts.

Metalsmithing &Jewelry at CCS offers the full breadth of technical and creative instruction. Whether your goal is to create sculpture, design architectural work or compose and fabricate jewelry, home furnishings or vessels, metalsmithing & jewelry is equipped to meet your goals. Courses in jewelry design, forged iron, nonferrous metalsmithing, as well as alternative materials, casting, fabrication, and enamels challenge students to expand their creative potential and reach new conceptual horizons that explore innovative ideas.