Lamonte salter

Capstone A2

Capstone proposal : Ceramic Arts

During my sophomore year at global I took an art appreciation class and at the end of the
year we started working with clay and I was adept at it and wanted to continue with it. With the
help of the art teacher he helped me enroll in the ceramics class at the college. During my senior
year I am taking a College prep and career exploration class called capstone where you do a
yearlong project about your interest or career choice. For my capstone project I am exploring the
field of ceramic arts. My goal for this project is to make at least twenty pieces/ ceramic works
and submit 10 of my works to an art contest or gallery and hold a show featuring my art.
( Below are the action shots of a head I made Junior year, it was on display at navarro for the month of
april while they showcased their art students best works. )

Purpose
The purpose of doing this project is to refine my art skills and to have a better
understanding of soil testing and material testing for my career in civil engineering. So I will be
digging up clay from round the area and testing the drying rates, tensile strength before and after

firing, heat retention, moisture retention, porousness just to name a few. I'm doing these test
because as part of my career field material testing is a major part of any type of infrastructure,
from when deciding what to build roads from to what size of material of pipes to use for water
waste management. These test will give me a better understanding of how natural materials react
and what they can be used for.
In this project my main message for my art is black beauty and how I see myself,
because in western culture anything black, black features on black people it's not beautiful.
Growing up there was very sparse representation for me. When I turned on the T.V. I did not see
myself, I saw other kids of all shapes sizes and personalities but they were all white. Even now I
still am having to overcome not liking myself, my skin because when you grow up hearing
people shame being dark skinned and black it sticks with you, and I am very fortunate right now
to have people that are helping me undo that message but not everyone has friends and a group
like that.
I am going to show good hair, bad hair, 4c hair, natural hair. braids. head scarfs, thick
thighs, big lips, bad skin, dark, light and medium skin tones from all ages and sexes.
My art is Black Art.

Mentor
My mentor is Mr. Jamie Mills, he is the assistant principal at the Waxahachie
global high school and is also a ceramic artist. He has been featured in the Waxahachie
now and has participated and featured in many galleries, installations, and art shows

around Ellis county and the DFW area. Recently last year he held an art show at the 402 studio in
south Dallas in the spring where he showcased his buried books and sculptures.

Research
My research topic is going to be over How does soil composition and moisture levels
affect Texas homes foundations. I have noticed over the years that when the weather changes
that homes foundations shift and you cant build footings big or deep enough for homes to stay
still. I want to talk about if different soil mixes wills top that saving Texans thousands of dollars.
This research paper will also include my art because of the soil samples and material testing to
see what kind of changes and stress the clay and dirt can undergo with different temperatures and
moisture levels. When clay is drying it cracks if the environment is too dry and will not dry fully
and may crack or shatter in the kiln because too much water is left behind. I think what have
witnessed in my art is the same thing happening to Texas homes and would like to expand and
contribute to a solution.

Engineering design process

At my school we are taught the engineering design process. This process help define
problems and ways to solve them and how to go about them. I am going to be applying this

process for my material testing for the clay that I have dug up

1. How deep do I need to dig and what kind of materials are in the lay besides rocks
2. How do I drain any organic matter and rocks out of my clay

a. Dry clay out crush it up then run it through a sieve several times
till rocks are in second tray
3. Dry the clay out then roll out some samples
a. Mesure drying rate, heat retention. porousness, weight before and
after firing, how much weight and it hold before and after firing
4. Test and record results
5. Reflect on it and is the clay usable to make any ceramic works
a. why or why not.

Tasks completed with projected dates

Collect 3 soil samples Oct 30 2015

Dry and sift soil for soil samples Oct 31 2015
Contact UTA art/ceramics department Nov 2 2015
Contact UTA geology department Nov 1 2015
Collect 3 soil samples Nov 18
Filter all viable clay samples Nov 20 2015
Make a pinch pot with the clay Nov 28 2015
Mix a paint out of the clay nov 30 2015
Make 3 mask with the collected clay Dec 2015
Make 2 mask with refined clay Dec 2015
Make a canvases Jan 6 2016
Paint with clay slip Jan 10 2016
Submit works to a gallery Jan 15 2016
Submit works to a contest Jan 17 2016
Find a venue for my art show Jan 30 2016
Make 4 clayworks Feb 5 2016
Finnish bowl of burnished stones Feb 2016

2015

Audience
My audience for this project is going to be the art shows and contest that I submit my
works to at the end of the paper there is a description of one that I have applied to but is only one
of the four I plan to submit to.

The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts hosts a juried ceramic competition every two
years. The competition is open to all artists who are residents of the United States, Canada, and
Mexico. All work completed within the last two years, both functional and sculptural, is eligible.
The 21st San Angelo National Ceramic Competition is coming soon! Entry deadline is January
22.
2016 Juror:
Christy Johnson
Independent Curator and Artist, retired Director of AMOCA, Pomona, California
Invited Artist:
Ron Meyers, Athens, Georgia
SAMFA hosts a ceramic invitational exhibit in odd-numbered years. In 2015 we exhibited works
by Margaret Boozer and Juan Granados; Otto Heino; and various artists in the collection of John
and Darlene Williams.