Kevin Hughes Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Department of Art and Design offers special topics ceramics class

January 6, 2025 by Reynolds College

During the Fall 2024 semester, Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design offered a specialized course in Kiln Building through its ART 314: Special Topics in Ceramics course.

Led by Associate Professor Kevin Hughes, the course is designed for students interested in ceramics, providing a hands-on, immersive experience in kiln construction. It provides students with practical skills and a deeper appreciation for kiln building and firing techniques.

“This isn’t just about using kilns,” Hughes explained. “It’s about understanding and building them from scratch, which is a rare skill that opens creative and practical avenues for emerging artists.”

Course uses variety of materials to teach multiple skills

During the course, students worked with a variety of materials, including kiln bricks, recycled parts from decommissioned kilns and bricks made specifically for high heat. Working in the Brick City outdoor kiln yard, the class constructed their own mini-gama kilns — small, personal kilns made of a specific clay body — then fired them at 1800°F to stabilize them for future use.

Beyond these personal kilns, students also worked in teams to build four unique, experimental kilns: above ground pit kilns, a double cross-draft kiln, a “rocket kiln” and a gas kiln repurposed from an old electric model.

Each type has its own characteristics and construction techniques, Hughes explained. They use fuel sources like wood or gas that can reach varied temperature thresholds, all tailored to different firing needs.

Students working with small ceramic kilns. — Ceramics students fire their newly constructed mini-gama kilns.

Ceramics student Christina Hanula participates in Taiwan student exchange program

July 17, 2024 by Reynolds College

Ceramics student Christina Hanula, from the Department of Art and Design at Missouri State University, participated in an exchange program at Tainan National University of the Arts (TNUA) during the spring 2024 semester.

The program provides students from TNUA’s Graduate Institute of Applied Arts and MSU’s art and design program opportunities to learn about each other’s cultures and educational processes.

MSU and TNUA established the exchange program nearly 20 years ago.

Excited to learn about Taiwanese culture

Hanula learned about the program from her ceramics instructor, associate professor Kevin Hughes.

“I was excited,” Hanula said. “I had never left the United States before coming to Taiwan, so the first thing I did was to gather the documents I needed to apply for a passport.”

While in Taiwan, Hanula hoped to learn more about Taiwanese culture while gaining personal and professional relationships with fellow artists.

Group of people in classroom — TNUA students and faculty with visiting artist Jung Min Park.

Despite the language barrier, Hanula met her goals and then some, explaining that she learned more about a culture full of good food and good friends.

“The friends I have made here have all been extremely helpful, friendly and welcoming,” Hanula said. “Taiwan is full of great food, unique experiences and welcoming people.”

“There is a language barrier, mostly outside of the school,” she continued. “A lot of the students at TNUA know a lot of English, and they have been extremely helpful in translating when we go out into the city together because I only know a handful of words in Chinese.”

“Google Translate has become my best friend,” she added.

Wood firing event creates learning community for ceramics students

August 6, 2023 by Reynolds College

Man preparing wood firing kiln — Professor Kevin Hughes loads the kiln prior to firing (Photo credit: Vonda Yarberry)

Nine Missouri State University ceramics students and ten Kickapoo High School art students recently collaborated in a wood kiln firing ceramics event coordinated by Department of Art and Design professor Kevin Hughes and Kickapoo High School art instructor Joel Blackburn. This innovative program offered a unique opportunity for the students to observe and practice the wood firing process for the first time.