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The Paly Voice

The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice

The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice

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Quality bronze casting program comes to Paly

Beginning in February, Palo Alto High school will be one of the only high schools in the nation to offer bronze casting.
"This will be amazing opportunity for Paly students to learn a new media," David Camner, who teaches three levels of art classes at Paly, said.

Although the ‘fiery arts’ program started with a just clay kiln, it has grown to encompass glass blowing, which began in 2000, and soon will include bronze casting. Camner has ordered bronze casting equipment and expects it to arrive at Paly on January 15. After a few weeks of set up, Camner expects to start casting in early February.

"Starting in February, over one-hundred students at one time will be working on bronze casting projects," Camner said. Students can begin bronze casting if they take beginning ceramic sculpture class offered at Paly. If they are still interested in bronze casting and wish to pursue it further, they can take advanced sculpting. This will give students a chance to create castings in more depth and more frequently. "I am trying to offer a college level course that serves high school students," Camner said.

Paly students should realize the great art opportunity at their fingertips. "Many colleges and universities do not have a bronze casting program and as far as I know, we [Palo Alto High School] will be the only high school in the country to have this," Camner said.

The costly equipment was funded through a substantial parent donation and PAFE (Palo Alto Foundation Education) Grant. The casting studio will be located next to the glass blowing studio and some of the other equipment will be stored in the art room as well.

Although many Paly students may have no interest in the new casting equipment, the art students including junior Richard Nole can not wait to get started casting.

"I am excited about the new casting equipment coming to Paly," Nole said. "This will give the other art students and me a good opportunity to learn something new. I also hope to learn how to mix the three ‘firey’ medias,"

For the past three years, Paly has been one of the few high schools to offer a glass blowing program to its students. The glass blowing studio at Paly has grown to include two glory holes, used to reheat glass, a kiln, and glass furnace. Last year Camner purchased a polishing machine to create a more professional look on finished pieces. Paly students learn glass blowing techniques from Camner along with various visiting guest artists from around the world.

The expected bronze casting equipment will add greatly to the program Camner has created at Paly. Sculpture students and Paly community members can expect to be exposed to a professional like casting program and they will be exposed to great artistic opportunities.

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