Job posting: Ceramics Technician AA (1230)

Institution: Pratt Institute
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Category:
  • Faculty – Fine and Applied Arts – Art
Posted: 06/21/2012
Application Due: Open Until Filled
Type: Full Time

POSITION SUMMARY
Beginning Summer 2012, the full-time Ceramics Technician will oversee the day to day operations
of the Ceramics area.

POSITION DUTIES
– Clean and maintain the Ceramics Studio to ensure a safe working
environment.
– Ensure that clay, glazes and slip are always ready and available for student use (i.e., mix clay bodies and compound
glazes, and periodically test new clays and glazes).
– Maintain a
firing schedule which keeps work flowing through the ceramic
process in a timely fashion (i.e., .program, fire and supervise the
computer-controlled electric kiln; develop customized programs; train
faculty and students; etc.).
– Inventory, order and receive supplies and materials (i.e., clay and glaze chemicals, equipment repair
parts, safety equipment, etc.).
– Maintain and repair equipment (i.e., trobuleshoot kilns, change kiln elements, replace switches,
lubricate wheels, etc.). Clean and maintain kiln furniture.
– Maintain slip casting equipment and supervise its use (i.e., run slip
mixer and casting table daily, train faculty and students, etc.).
– Maintain and oversee studio safety rules and procedures to OSHA
standards. (i.e., provide respirators, gloves, goggles; ensure adequate ventilation of toxic fumes and mists, etc.).

Oversee,
direct and maintain efficient operation of studio (i.e., organize space,
maintain efficient flow of work and materials from forming through
finished piece, etc.).
 -Manage the Ceramics area budget.
– Hire, supervise and schedule work/study students and graduate
assistants (i.e., train, schedule, direct and monitor student workers on a daily basis.).
– Perform all other related duties as
assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Education:

Must have B.F.A. in ceramics or equivalent combination of education and experience; M.F.A. preferred.
Experience:
Technical knowledge of ceramics materials, processes, and equipment
required
Skills:Must
have ability to handle
computer-operated kilns; and ability and desire to upgrade and maintain
new ceramics skills as needed. Excellent verbal and interpersonal
skills and above average organizational and follow-up skills required.

PRATT INSTITUTE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
EMPLOYER AND RECOGNIZES AND VALUES THE BENEFITS OF A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.

Application Information

Contact: Pratt Institute
Online App. Form: http://pratt-edu.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jo
bid=248&company_id=16145&version=1&jobboardid=101

More Information on Pratt Institute:

technical tuesday: how’d they do that?

From the aludean website:
 “This sculpture was hand modelled in 4 tonnes
of clay and then cast in reinforced resin. During the clay modelling
stage, studio lighting was tuned to match the final installation site to
allow adjustment of the form and control the shadows that give Voyage
its life and rhythm.

The sculpture is 14 m long, 3.6 m high and roughly 8 cm deep.”

Gorgeous…incredible….but seriously how’d they do that?

technical tuesday: doesn’t everyone want a studio assistant?

i often dream of studio assistants.
oh the things i could get done,
the ideas that would finally be realized.
not that i’d want someone to do all the work for me.
heavens no.
just a bit of help.
i wonder, for those of you that have studio help, 
when did you get to the point where that was actually the best decision,
financial and otherwise?
 once you’ve had the joy of someone else mixing your glazes for you, could you ever go back?
well for now i’ll take the help i can get.
our coffee breaks sure are fun : )