IMERYS geology team takes time to work with ceramic art students in Sandersville, GA.

IMERYS geology team takes time to work with ceramic art students in Sandersville, GA.

This week GCSU students explored the site of our prime clay mineral in one of IMERYS’ active kaolin mines.   Kaolin is our primary clay for creating the porcelain and glazes that allows for students’ art and ideas to come to life. Thanks to Laura Holly Mock and the invitation, IMERYS generously donated the time of two of their geologists and two of their ceramic engineers to guide the students through one of their processing plants and clay mines.  Students gained knowledge of IMERYS’ worldwide product reach and their commitment to environmental reclamation in Georgia.

As the students geared up and stepped foot on the giant kaolinite bed, some 70 feet below the road, they had one of those a-ha moments when they saw – first-hand- the strata of earth minerals.  The experience combined with the knowledge that the very same clay mineral underfoot was formed 70 million years ago put their artist material for pottery into perspective.

This excursion combined with images of our clays from Dr. Kalina Manolov’s expert microscopic lens created a good circle of experiential learning that combines art in the making and science.  A typical ceramics class at GCSU is always a fabulous mix of our majors including ART, PALS, Psychology, Department of World Languages, Environmental Science, Business, and Nursing – it’s evident here that liberal arts is what we do best!