After four clay workshops this week, we have an incredible school of sculpted alewives!  We found it both challenging and engaging to create their unique classic shape, both in profile and in how they taper to a thin wedge to match the “old timer’s” nickname for them, “sawbellies”.  It took patience, attention to detail and a sense of pride which all show in their finished forms!Clay artist Randy Fein coached our techniques to help us bring the clay to life.  Students started with a wedge of clay that resembled a literal clay brick. We slammed the clay, a technique that gradually flattens the thickness so we could then put our templates of the fish on top.  Next, we cut outlines and started some basic shaping; rounding the back and starting to bring the belly to a compressed V-shape.  As we shaped, we used our templates several times to cut back to the overall length and depth we were aiming for. To let them set with a curve in their body as if they were swimming, we created this artistic touch by laying them over folded thicknesses of towels or over a sponge. We also piloted holes needed for hardware involved in hanging them later on and added their large eyes. Tails were textured and cut into their characteristic fork. The next day they were of a firmness known as leather-hard.  Carving tools could then be used to shave away clay to further round the backs of the fish or remove any excess thickness along the belly. We then worked in the absolute final details, like smoothing the sides, or adding scale texture and generally double-checking the fish were completed to their maker’s satisfaction and ready to dry over the next ten days before firing!

In the next phase of our project while our fish dry and become fired in the kiln, we are looking ahead to digging in deeper about the history surrounding our run and the factors that present such a challenge to their return.  With this information students will be creating brief narratives in representing each of the two to three fish that they’ve made that will tell the story of our once abundant Tenants Harbor alewives.

Thank goodness for helping hands!!