In 2020, I created Josiah Wedgwood’s Legacy. It is RIT’s first studio-based General Education course open to all students. Through a combination of research-based exploration and hands-on, immersive experiences, Wedgwood’s Legacy promotes an atypical classroom experience. It explores the intersection of Technology, Art, and Design; addresses complex social issues; engages perceptions of innovation; teaches about skill and labor; and attempts to place students in the mindset of Wedgwood by actively retracing his steps.

It is in its nascency, having only run twice amidst the pandemic. Still, it brings a distinct flavor to the Ceramics at RIT experience, blending art history with studio practice in a way that brings texts to life. In 2023, I received the Provost’s Innovative Teaching With Technology Award for it, as well as received a Provost’s Learning Integration Grant to build it into a large-format class. In January of 2024, it will launch in this new format to serve 60 students from across all disciplines at RIT.

Here is a glimpse into the studio experience from the first two iterations of the class’s flagship assignment Revisionist Antiquities. Included as well is Elliott Connelly’s final project submission, “A Pelike Through Time”. It encapsulates the class and assignment engagingly.