By Camden Andl ’19
THE ROUNDUP
3D Ceramics, 3D Advanced Ceramics and 3D Sculpture teacher Mr. Marc Kelly ’87 has been teaching 3D Arts at Brophy for 16 years.
In his classes, Mr. Kelly teaches students hand building, wheel throwing and glazing techniques, as well as the processes of carving and building with materials including wood, plastic, metal and plaster.
Mr. Kelly said that Brophy’s 3D Art classes allow students to explore aspects of creation most students have not experienced before.
“There’s always a variety of different things happening in the studio to get guys interested in,” Mr. Kelly said. “I like to have varieties so people can explore and be introduced to new things.”
Mr. Kelly said that the class is project based, with assignments often including a theme, art movement or a building concept or technique.
“With all the projects that the students do, I always do one with them,” Mr. Kelly said. “I like to be right in with the students, working hand in hand with them.”
Senior Sammy Pistorius ’17 has taken Mr. Kelly’s ceramics and advanced ceramics courses and said he found the courses to be both fun and engaging.
“3D is more involved than 2D art,” Pistorius said. “It’s not just one little 2D aspect of what you see from up front, but it’s what you see from behind it, and from the sides. It’s something that you can really admire at the center of a room and not just on a wall.”
Ryan Cantrell ’18 has taken advanced studio art and 3D art, and said he feels 3D art gave him more of a way to express his personal artistic abilities.
Cantrell said that having Mr. Kelly as a teacher was a lot of fun.
“He brought a lot of positive energy to the class,” Cantrell said. “He’d be playing music and coming around, complementing our work and helping us out.”
“Mr. Kelly’s just a really cool guy and I’m kind of sad I won’t have any more art classes with him,” Cantrell said.
Mr. Kelly said that he holds his advanced classes to a higher standard, and that he thinks that his advanced students create better work because they are somewhat fueled by competition.
“Some guys look around and say ‘I can probably do better than that guy over there,’” Mr. Kelly said. “In that respect it’s a good thing because the creative energy can be bolstered by a competitive atmosphere, and that’s how the industry is: competitive.”
“Guys are also putting their name on the piece they create and it’s going to go up on a wall, so they have to have pride in their work,” Mr. Kelly said. “So the students also hold themselves to higher expectations, not just me.”
Both Cantrell and Pistorius said that they recommend Mr. Kelly’s 3D art classes to anyone who’s interested.
“If you’re taking an intro art course and you feel confident about your art ability, go to Mr. Kelly and ask him, he’ll most likely be able to get you in,” Cantrell said. “They’re really fun classes.”
