SOUTHERN FACE JUGS – grades 3-5

Ceramic Face Jugs: A Southern Tradition

UNIT OVERVIEW:

Students will gain an understanding and appreciation for the sculptural art of face jug, a tradition originally begun by slave potters. Art can be both realistic and abstract. Students will improve their ceramic skills and create their own face jug~ a container with human facial features on it. After constructing a jug with a neck, students will add the human features to their pots. The features should be distorted/ exaggerated in a similar style to the ones observed in the PowerPoint presentation. There will be a class display for students to evaluate, judge, discuss the artworks of their peers based on personal preference, craftsmanship, and creative. We will finish with an opening night exhibit to share the face jugs with family and friends.

LEARNING GOAL

I will be able to show my hand-building skills with clay by creating a ceramic face jug with distorted and exaggerated facial features found in traditional southern face jugs.

I will understand possible reasons why potters added faces to their jugs in the mid 1800s.

OBJECTIVES:

The student will create a jug with distorted and exaggerated facial features using their imagination.

The student will use hand-building techniques to create their pot: pinching and coil techniques.

The student will use relief techniques (additive) to create their face jug.

The student will use the tools and materials properly.

The student will use good craftsmanship.

The student will demonstrate an understanding of balance and proportion in their sculpture.

The student will identify and explain his/her intentions in their sculpture.

The student will demonstrate and communicate an understanding of how the elements and principles of design are used effectively/ ineffectively in the sculpture to communicate an emotion or idea.

The student will compare and contrast various face jugs.

NGSSS: Next Generation Standards for 3-5 gradesthat are covered are at the end of lesson.

SSS: Sunshine State Standards (original)

The student will create a jug with distorted and exaggerated facial features using their imagination. VAA121

The student will use hand-building techniques to create their pot: pinching and coil techniques.VAA121

The student will use relief techniques (additive) to create their face jug. VAA121

The student will use the tools and materials properly. VAA122

The student will use good craftsmanship.VAA124

The student will demonstrate an understanding of balance and proportion in their sculpture.VAA123

The student will identify and explain his/her intentions in their sculpture. VAB123

The student will demonstrate and communicate an understanding of how the elements and principles of design are used effectively/ ineffectively in the sculpture to communicate an emotion or idea. VAA123; VAB122; VAB124

The student will compare and contrast various face jugs. VAB121; VAC121; VAD123; VAE121; VAE122

MATERIALS:

Arts & Activities Magazine: February 2006~ Face Vessels: Original African-American Folk Art

PowerPoint presentation of southern face pots; printed images of show for display

Video clip of PBS Antique Road Show- Antique Face Jug

Websites/ Visuals/ PowerPoint of Southern & African American slave face pots

Tokens – paper die cuts of hearts and blue ribbons for critique of student face pots

  • Plenty of Georgia red ceramic clay or other “open” brown/ dark clay
  • White ceramic clay- wet for eyes; slab and allow to dry then break into pieces for teeth
  • Kiln
  • Index Cards (cut in half) for name tags for clay
  • Permanent markers for writing names on cards
  • Clay tools: large paper clips- straighten on one end, popsicle sticks, forks, pencils
  • 18x24 or 12x18 Manilla paper for placemats/ table covers to roll clay on; (optional) can dry clay out
  • Slip, water, and small containers for water & slip – cups from one serving applesauce or cups used for ketchup in fast food restaurants
  • Towels/ Rags for cleanup
  • Spray bottle of water
  • Large plastic bags or old shower curtains & clothes pins to cover pots between classes and keep them moist
  • Bread trays to store clay on carts
  • Glazes – blues, greens, browns, clear
  • Paintbrushes for glazing
  • Vinegar- adhesive for clay; smelly but I add to water bottle; breaks down mildew

RESOURCES:

  • PBS: History Detective: Face Jug (Aired: 08/16/2010; 14:48 min) – Edgefield , SC slave face jugs
  • Video only
  • The date of earliest face jugs? Why is it important? Year of Civil War (end)?
  • Edgefield, SC; illegal slaves from Congo, Africa; 50yrs after Civil War
  • Emancipation Proclamation
  • Jim McDowell: the Black Potter -
  • MEADERS FAMILY TRADITION - History of pottery making in N.Georgia: MEADERS family- famous face jugs/ decorative pottery
  • Folk Pottery of N. Georgia- great YouTube video of the basic utilitarian ceramic pots & jugs to decorative pottery & face jugs
  • Jugs needed for food storage; thing changed with the invention of electricityglass btls; Hewell family began making flower pots; Meaders family began decorative pottery & face jugs; Lanier Meaders most famous for his face jugs made the most face jugs of all the Meaders (made 12 a day)
  • Museum website -
  • Images of Lanier Meaders face jugs/ pottery w/ links to other Meader family members
  • Interview w/ Annette Meaders about family history; childhood memories (first 4min is good)
  • Antique Roadshow: Lanier Meaders Interview/Appraisal *Very Good*
  • Antique Roadshow: Vase w/ grapes – Appraisal
  • Interview w/ Welchel Meaders pottery (lot of background noise)
  • Dirty Jobs w/ Mike Rowe: Pottery Maker- season 3; shown with the “Leather Tanner” episode
  • Visits and makes a face jug w/ David Meaders: southern face jug
  • (for purchase episode)
  • Robin Rodgers- Raku animal pots, face jugs and Indian pottery (makes replicas for Mission San Luis)
  • Additional Face Jug images and information -

DAILY PROCEDURES:

Day 1: Critique/ Discussion of Southern Face Jugs (may last another day)

Watch video clip of PBS Antique Road Show- a critique of a face jug

  • Discuss her first response “ugly”; what she paid for the jug and what the jug’s estimated value was; how can an item can still be worth a lot even though it may be damaged; age sometimes increases the value of artworks
  • Why are jugs worth so much money?

Students will observe a PowerPoint presentation of sculptures of African-American slave face jugs, and other face jugs made in the southern tradition.

  • Give students questions ahead before reading written information:
  • Whatwere the face jugs used for? What did the face jugs hold?
  • What parts were made with white clay?
  • Discuss slavery and the connection between slavery and the making of face pots by slaves. Discuss answers to questions.
  • Observe various face jugs. Compare and contrast the various styles of face jugs.
  • What are the noticeable exaggerated features on the face jugs? Identify distorted/ exaggerated facial features. How are the features different from realistic facial proportions? Are the features symmetrical?
  • What kind of expression do some of face jugs show? Are the face jugs funny, scary? Compare and contrast various face jugs

Students were informed that they would create a jugwith distorted/ exaggerated facial features in a similar manner. The jug should express an emotion or evoke an emotional response from the viewer. The jug should have 2 eyes, 1 nose, and 1 mouth. The features should reflect or give the impression of human features rather than animal or alien (no devil/ vampire like creatures).

After being inspired and given the objectives, students sketched a design or idea for their ceramic face jug. Drawings of jugs should have a neck and have a face with distorted/ exaggerated facial features.

Next week, teacher will demonstrate how to create a ceramic jug and the week following students will practice making their own jug.

Other Variations or Additions for Critique / Historical emphasis

Refer to RESOURCES

Meaders Family – from making utility jugs to decorative jugs & face jugs

Other Ceramic Artists: Jim McDowell (influenced by slave pots)

Compare and contrast face jugs by Jim McDowell and Lanier- discuss similarities/ differences of style and influences.

Robin Rodgers (influenced by Meaders pots)

Student examples of face jugs

Day 2: Teacher Demonstration-Construction of jug with 2 pinch pots

  • Teacher demonstrates how to make a jug with two pinch pots:

Roll 2 spheres (balls) of equal size; QUICKLY, clay will dry out and crack

Create 2 pinch pots: poke your thumb into the center of the sphere and with fingers around the outside pinch and turn, begin by pinching the bottom spiraling around the pot upward; form the pot by pulling up instead of out, pay special attention to the bottom and inside corners; the thickness should be about the width of your palm; repeat directions for the second pinch pot; edges need to be wide enough to support the other pinch pot

Attach 2 pinch pots together: place one pot on top of the other; make sure both pots fit together well without a large dent- gently widen top of pot so they fit smoothly together; using 2 fingers, apply water along the top ridge of the pot; SCORE edges then place one pot on top of the other

SCRATCH over the seam of the two pots; long strokes/ stitches; opposite direction of seams

SMOOTH the seam with fingers

Roll the pot on the placemat to further smooth the pot and REFORM (reshape) the pot

Cut hole at the top of the pot with a straighten paper clip about the size of your finger; insert finger into opening curl finger and pinch up top when it is too thick and smooth opening

Add neck to jug- using practice clay, grab medium amount of clay/hand full; squeeze & roll clay in fist to get in a crude cylinder form; roll fat coil (about size of cocktail dog); flatten slightly w/ palm (thick/ flat coil) and wrap around finger; form around finger lightly like a “clay ring”; cut ends, add water and rub/attach seams together; check size by placing the ring to the opening; add 2 finger water to the top of the opening and attach clay ring/ neck by SCRATCHING with popsicle stick and SMOOTHING with fingers- rub the seams away; S&S the outside of the neck and the inside of neck; REFORM neck by pinching, if necessary

OPTIONAL : ADDING A HANDLE- using practice clay, roll a larger fat coil (about size of the hot dog) and longer length; flatten slightly and form the handle in the way you would like; scratch with fork where the handle will be attached at the bottom and top; add slip/ water and reattach handle; SCRATCH with popsicle stick and SMOOTHING with fingers- rub the seams away; S&S inside the handle and underneath; add additional coils around the attachments and blend in completely to give the handle additional support

Remind students that they will not be adding handles until their face on their jug in complete; Handles will dry more quickly and often split from jug; may want to cover the handle so it can dry more slowly

  • Teacher stress IMPORTANT RULES & PROCEDURES :

Paperclips are used for cutting clay only- NO PLAYING around with them (stabbing, sword fights)

Water- do not use too much or too little; 1 or 2 fingers of water; rub water in like lotion

Do not LEAN pot back when working on it; will round off the bottom edge and the pot will rock instead being stable

Stress the importance of smoothing and proper attachment

Day 3: SKETCH & Jug Construction- student practice (two days, if needed)

  • Teacher reviews REQUIREMENTS for Face Jug: 1) jug w/ a neck; 1 nose; 1 mouth; 2 eyes w/ lids and brows; 1 extra feature (ears, teeth or other)
  • OTHER DETAILS/ FEATURES/ Extras- hair, chin, moustache, beard, hair bows, wrinkles, moles, neck, earrings/ nose rings, handles, etc. (kids have great ideas)
  • Students can have pointed teeth but no vampire looking teeth and zombie features; no bloody anything (esp. eyes/ teeth)- so red glaze cannot be used in those areas
  • Teacher reminds students that sketch must be completed before the make final face jug
  • Teacher will review and write down steps for making a jug; asking students how & what the steps are (refer to day 2)
  • Review important rules (refer above)
  • Students will practice making their own jug with 2 pinch pots as demonstrated last week; using practice clay
  • CLEAN UP: Put all clay in clay recycle tub; teams organize and group supplies for pick up by helpers; quiet teams will clean hands in clay rinse/ wash (5 second rinse/ 2 paper towels)

Day 4: Teacher Demonstration- adding distorted facial features

  • Teacher demonstration ~ shows students how to make exaggerated human-like features using the face jug made during the last teacher demonstration of the face jug; Introduce “ADDITIVE” techniques- ask for definition; just like in math; we are adding clay
  • Making a nose(DISTORTED/ EXAGGERATED)
  • Create a nose from a small flat slab of clay (pre-cut); cut into a large triangle; folding it over your finger like a taco –pointed at one end and fatter at the other end; decide on placement on jug- nose can be tilted/angled, remembering to leave room for mouth & optional-chin/ beard; if nose look like bird beak, you have placed the nose onto pot incorrectly, place on other side of the triangle; remove, scratch surface of jug where nose will be attached with fork (SCORING); add water or slip/attach nose; SCRATCH with popsicle stick around the outside of nose; SMOOTH seams/scratching with fingers; to seal inside the nose, use q-tip and rub the seams inside the nose- should make a “gross & disgusting sound”; REFORM nose to desired shape; do not close nose
  • OPTIONAL: nostrils- make 2 small balls of clay dip in water and add to the side of nose, SSR to the bottom side of the nose; bend the nose by adding finger inside nose and bending the nose on the outside
  • ALTERNATE TECHNIQUEto Make a NOSE - Take a piece of clay push onto placemat to flatten back and form a nose any way you chose; once you like the form; decide where to place it on jug; score the flat/ back of the nose and the placement area on the jug; add slip and attach to jug; SSR (Scratch seams, Smooth away seams/ stitches, Reform if necessary); using you pinky, finger, pencil or similar tool to push in nostrils- using a finger is kind of like “picking his nose”
  • Adding eye sockets- by pressing thumbs into clay jug in the place where you are going to put the eyes later; DISTORTION/EXAGGERATION; they can be uneven (one high/ one low), too close to nose, too far from nose one can be vertical/ one horizontal; eyes should not be lower than the nose so there is room for the mouth;
  • Making lips; tongue
  • Make a medium with/ length coil; pinch ends together into ‘teardrop’ shape; then pinch other end to make mouth; decide on placement on jug and check for size; pinch shorter, if needed; scratch surface of jug where the mouth will be attached with fork (SCORING); add water or slip/attach; SCRATCH with popsicle stick around the outside of mouth; SMOOTH seams/scratching with fingers; use q-tip and rub the seams inside the mouth; REFORM into the desired shape of lips- pinching them out to make the lips fuller or adding more clay; pressing/ blending more of the lips into the jug to make smaller/narrow lips
  • OPTIONAL: Tongue should be added before teeth- roll fat coil; flatten and form into tongue shape; flatten & pinch back of the tongue; dip in slip and attach between lips; use q-tip to blend seams around the tongue; REFORM shape and direction of tongue
  • Remind students that one of the most important things to do on your jug is SMOOTHING- w/ fingers/ hands; using pressure more than water; very little water- rub into clay like lotion
  • WHITE CLAY- WASH HANDS FIRST so that you keep the white and brown clay from mixing
  • Adding teeth with white clay
  • Choose pieces of bone dried pre-made slabs of white clay for teeth; use pieces as is or take the pieces outside and sand on the sidewalk in a designated area (marked w/ blue tape on the sidewalk outside the back door of the art room)- watch not to scrap you fingers and use broom to sweep clay dust onto the grass/ dirt; decide on placement of teeth inside mouth; remove teeth and dip top of each tooth into slip and replace between lips; gently press lips on to teeth slightly to further support teeth
  • Making eyeballs with white clay; eyelids with brown clay; eyebrows
  • Eye balls- Get small amount of soft white clay and small white clay placemat; roll 2 small balls of clay for eyeballs-do not have to be of equal size (distortion); slightly point the ball so it can be easily dipped into slip and pressed into the eye sockets on the jug; gently press into socket but do not flatten; return white clay placemat and extra white clay so it does not get brown clay on it;
  • DO NOT SCRATCH & SMOOTH the WHITE CLAY EYEBALLS
  • Eyelids- USE BROWN CLAY; make small coils; dip into water and surround the eyeballs; blend clay coil away from the eyeballs just like the skin of our eyes go away from the eyes all around the eyes; coils can be shaped all around the eyes to keep the eyes round or can be shaped into a football shape similar the shape of realistic eyes; SCRATCH coil with popsicle stick AWAY from the eyes; SMOOTH seams/scratching with fingers; use q-tip and rub the seams that are in tight corners; ; “Scratch/ Smooth brown clay to brown clay.”Do NOT press the lids onto the white eyeballs; REFORM into the desired shape- thick eye lids can be gently pressed but not blended toward to eyes; smooth well
  • Eye brows- add a lot expression depending on their direction and placement; make coils for eye brows; uni-brow or 2 eye brows; SCRATCH with popsicle stick or q-tip depending on the size/ shape of brow; SMOOTH using fingers or q-tips
  • Making Ears (optional)
  • Ears- roll 2 balls, may be different sizes (distortion); flatten like a thick cookie; tap one side of clay ‘cookie’ to create a flat side to attach to jug; decide on placement on the jug; remove, scratch pot with fork; dip into slip and attach to jug; SCRATCH back and front of the ear; SMOOTH seams of the ear: REFORM the ear into desired shape
  • Demonstrate other features at student request
  • Discuss other suggestions for additional details and additions
  • Stress the importance of smoothing
  • Additional Features / EXTRAS
  • This is the time to add handle (optional) instead of earlier as teacher demonstrated
  • SMOOTHING - Use of sponge on a stick for smoothing inside & some areas outside the jug; put sponge in water; squeeze out all water; stick handle into jug opening to see if it easily fits, if so then gently twist the sponge into the inside of the jug and smooth the inside- rubbing up & down and around; gently twist out of the jug; sponge the outside of the jug only the brown clay areas; DO NOT sponge over the white clay areas; exception- to make dirty teeth
  • Pupils - Use pencil to gently press into the center of the eyeballs for pupils; placement will determine direction the eyes are looking- cross-eyed, looking up, down, side to side
  • SUBTRACTIVE (textures)-Pencil or other tools can be used to create textures for hair and/or other details; subtractive just like math, taking away clay w/ texture, holes, carving
  • SIGN NAME- Use pencil to write first name and code on the bottom of the jug to finish face jug

Day 5: Constructing a jug with a neck