Continuing & Contemporizing

Cambodian CeramicsA Community Effort

Maggie Holtzberg * Yary Livan * Jacqui Miller * Margaret Rack

Introducing

Yary LivanCambodian Ceramicist

Bayon Temple, Cambodia Yary Livan & Marge Rack with students

Yary Livan

CAMBODIAN CERAMICS

YARY LIVAN

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Art Teacher Jacqueline J. Cathcart-Miller

PYNE ARTS MAGNET SCHOOL

LOWELL, MA

Yary Livan began as

an Artist in

Residence at the

Pyne Arts Magnet

School, Lowell, Ma.

in 2011-2012.

He worked with

grades 5-8.

Students were

introduced to

traditional Khmer

Ceramic

Techniques.

Traditional Khmer masksGrade Eight students explored the Geography of Cambodia

and viewed exemplars of masks along with demonstrations by Yary.

This mask was

sculpted by an

Eighth grade student

who was instructed

by Yary Livan.

Details taken from

Khmer examplars.

Yary demonstrated techniques of creating a Khmer style mask. Students

also had access to exemplars from Cambodia. In traditional Khmer

Ceremonial masks you will not find a straight line.

Grade Seven students created different

types of fish. Each fish started out as an egg

shape, which symbolizes beginnings of life.

Grade five sculpted dragons,

lizards and alligators.

Ricky and Chris enjoyed leading the Cambodian dragon created

by Yary, myself and the students during our school wide Khmer

Ceramics exhibit. The Cambodian Dragon always has the head

of a lion.

Grade Eight Chan Flower candle

holder.

Cambodian

Ceramics 2012

Exhibit

Pyne Arts

Magnet School

Lowell, Ma.

Grade Seven Students sculpted

fish.

Grade Six students studied and sculpted

Animal Pots with Khmer designs.

So much

excitement after

the firing of the

wood burning kiln.

Results are so

varied but so

beautiful.

In 2013 Students from grades k-8 worked collaboratively with Yary

Livan to create a 500 piece tile mural.

The mural, which was titled “New Waves, Replace Old Waves,”

illustrating the the shifting and moving of the tides within generations.

This illustration was taken from an old Khmer Poem that talks about

the wisdom the older generation has to impart on the younger

generation.

The younger generation will take that wisdom and use it to build upon

and go on to even greater things.

Each student was able

to cut and design their

own tiles along with one for the mural.

Grades K-8 learned how to measure

and cut tiles for the Mosaic mural.

They also were given authentic

Khmer designs to use for their

individual tiles.

After all the tiles were cut for mural

Yary and I started to number each

one then transfer the design. After

the design was transferred to the

tiles the glazing began. We called

it our “Glazing Circle.”

When all tiles were numbered, glazed,

and fired, then came the challenge of

installing the mural in a public school

building.

Graciously the Assistant Superintendent

jumped in and hired a professional Tile

installer and head of Lowell Public

schools building management team.

On a Sunday morning

Yary Livan, Jacqueline Miller, A-1

Tile Company, Lori Lang the Vice

Principal and Assistant

Superintendent, spent seven hours

together for installation.

Everyone was excited and eager to

see the final product.

Our Eighth Graders, who did a lot

of the glazing, took personal

ownership of the mural and

performed the unveiling.

Jacqueline Miller, Yary Livan, and

Marge Rack stand next to a copy

of the original illustration done by

Yary.

Lowell Public School teachers

participate in Lab observations and

one on one time working with Yary.

Yary demonstrates throwing on the

wheel.

The Cambodian Ceramics and Culture

workshop has now turned into a Graduate

course through the Lowell Teaching Academy

and Fitchburg State University.

The workshop’s success has spurred on

another course for the Lowell Public Music

teachers focusing on Cambodian Music,

instruments and Dance.

Khmer mask making and indigenous

animals of Cambodia

Spring of 2015 through the

generous funding of the

Massachusetts Cultural Council and

Lowell Local Cultural Council Yary

is working as an Artist in Residence

at the Pyne Arts Magnet School

with grades 5-8.

Students will be working in

collaboration with Lowell

teachers, MCC and Lowell

High School to create tiles

to ornate the Cambodian

Community Center in

Clemente Park in Lowell.

Building & Operating the Cambodian Wood Fire Kiln by Margaret RackMiddlesex Community College

From dream to reality

The Vision: Sharing cultural knowledge,

creating a ceramics “village”, inclusive, across generations

Collaboration & Partnership

Middlesex Community CollegeFunding & programming

Lowell National Historical ParkHost site

Lowell Public SchoolsK-14 collaborations

Drawing by Kang Proeung

Cross draft designof the kilnYary used as a student at the Royal University of Fine Artsin early 1970s.

July 2010, new Ceramics Studio at Secondary School of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Masakazu Kusakabe,

Our kiln is “smokeless”Thanks to his advice

Livan, Kusakabe and Nancy Selvage.

Yary Livan of Lowell MA and Kang Proeung of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Too many, too close. The bag wall can be rearranged; this more open design is working well.

Families can make their own creations in Saturday workshops organized by the Lowell National Historic al Park.

Photo credit Jennifer Myers

Ocarinas and animal sculptures are popular with families.

Photo credit Jennifer Myers

http://community.middlesex.mass.edu/blogs/cambodiankiln/

Akun cheranThank you very much