A model by Prof... This clay model had been on mum's TV for about 20years until she knocked it off and it broke into a lot of piecs. Woof got me enthused and I glued it all back together and it's now on display in our kitchen... and there's quite a story to it which I hope you enjoy...
I made it when teahing art in Port Pirie in 1977. I had a number of classes of non academic boys who were expected to love making clay pots! Either that or the hierarchy figured thay would be out of their way if they came over to me!
This fertile little brain then hatched a devious plot... I'd get the lads doing something thay could relate to... so I knocked up this sample of what I wanted them to do... initial reaction was "I can't do that"...
...so we spent a term cutting up hotrod magazines and putting all the pics on laminated cards... and then we learnt together about motors and carbies and superchargers etc... and then we had a crack at building our hotrods out of clay.
Most of the guys built models about 15" - 20" long and most were incredibly detailed... right down to the wheel nuts, throttle linkages, plug leads and fan belts. Models were fired in our kiln at 1150ºC, painted and coated with estapol. I couldn't get out of my classroom... the lads would be in there recess times lunch times and after school... they may not have been academic... but they sure could work when something got their interest and enthusiasm... taught me a few things about real education!
We put on a display in the library and staff room and you have never seen so many droppped jaws... gave me great satisfaction. Also the lad's not only achieved something they were really proud of, but learnt a lot of useful stuff in the process...
Chopit'nrideit... Prof