Lump Boxes - Student Work

These small organic boxes are called Lump Boxes and are a Japanese clay technique.  You start off with a solid lump of clay, throw and bang it all over itself on the clay board until you come up with a pleasing overall form.  I told the kids to go for a more asymmetrical form if possible, more interesting to the eye.  These top three belong to juniors David Hyun, Johanna Paz and senior Christine Castillo. 

Then you take a wire cutter and slice thru the solid form where you want your lid to come off at.  And then proceed to use a carving tool and hollow out both the box and the lid.The above three were made by senior Harry Trieu, junior Alyssa Olea and senior Robert Franklin.

I also encouraged the kids to add surface designs and sculptural elements for more interest.  Also, the lid had to lock.  I gave the kids several different solutions for this.  The above works were created by seniors Jesus Calderon and Matthew Ramos.